The Bangladesh model

Who’s the basket case now?

The debacle of Dhaka is regarded as a national tragedy in the history of Pakistan whereas the people of Bangladesh celebrate December 16 as their day of Independence. 40 years have passed, but our feudal vanity has restrained us from learning any lesson from the catastrophe of Dhaka or to mend our policies or priorities in any sector. I have no desire of highlighting the reasons for the creation of Bangladesh. Instead, I would prefer to highlight the reasons of the prosperity and peace in Bangladesh.

Soon after its creation, the people of Bangladesh had carried out fundamental reforms in their constitution and system of governance. Like vast majority of the Muslim countries, the prefix of “Islamic” was omitted from the name of Bangladesh. This was the case of Pakistan as well for some years after its creation. Neither the Quaid-e-Azam nor the Independence Act of 1947, called Pakistan an Islamic Republic. Instead, it was called “Dominion of Pakistan” or simply “Republic of Pakistan”. There was logic in this decision as religions are meant for the people and not for the state. In their constitution, the people of Bangladesh very wisely decided to specify four cardinal principles of the state namely secularism, socialism, nationalism and democracy. Initially, there was a clause in their Constitution that stated that “Islam will be state religion”. Subsequently, even this clause was deleted. The superior courts of Bangladesh imposed a complete prohibition on issuance of any fatwa by any religious organisation or scholar in the name of Islam, on any issue. The said decisions have created religious harmony and saved minority sects of Muslims from being branded as kaafir. Resultantly, incidents of sectarian killing or religious militant extremism and intolerance, which are rampant in Pakistan, rarely occur in Bangladesh.

Religious harmony and absence of terrorism are the key factors that have contributed to the phenomenal economic development in Bangladesh. Peace is a precondition for any country to prosper. Unfortunately, we have destroyed the same. The intense floods that Pakistan has suffered from in 2010 and 2011, the people of Bangladesh suffer the same if not more, virtually every year along with the cyclones. But unlike us, they apply efficient flood control management to minimise the losses and suffering. Despite these natural disasters, most economic indicators of Bangladesh appear to be much better than Pakistan. Unlike us, Bangladesh allocates a high percentage of about 12 percent for education and technology in its annual budget. On the other hand, their allocation for defence is merely 7.3 percent in the current budget. The GDP growth in Bangladesh has been around 6 percent and 6.7 percent this year. Until recently, the Bangladeshi Takka was better by 20 percent in comparison to the Pak rupee. Bangladesh does not grow a single ounce of cotton, but it is one of the largest exporters of cotton garments and materials. In contrast, Pakistan is one of the biggest growers of cotton, but rarely, we have surpassed the export targets of Bangladesh in the recent past.

Bangladesh does not possess nuclear weapons or technology. We do possess nuclear weapons and technology, but regrettably, we are incapable of maintaining even our nuclear power generation station in Karachi in working order or use this energy to meet the colossal energy shortage. Though Bangladesh had more population at the time of its creation in comparison to Pakistan, but it has managed to control its population, which is now around 145 million as opposed to 180 million in Pakistan. The foreigners visiting Bangladesh are in much larger number because of the peace and economic growth. Sadly, our hotels are rarely full and the foreign investors/visitors now hold their meetings with their Pakistani counterparts in Dubai, due to the insecurity in Pakistan.

Unlike Pakistan, Bangladesh is fortunate not to have any major territorial dispute or tension on its borders. Recently, when the Indian PM visited Dhaka, Bangladesh resolved its territorial disputes amicably by signing an agreement with India. They still have serious differences with India on water issues, but resolution is pursued through peaceful negotiations. Bangladesh is much smaller than India, but it does not fear threats to its existence. Most painfully, our country is much larger and our arm forces are much better equipped and we do possess nuclear weapons but, Pakistan’s integrity is consistently been threatened by the religious extremists militants within Pakistan and from both Western and Eastern borders.

If Bangladesh being one of the largest Muslim countries can have a secular constitution and system, I see no reason why we can not. It is absolutely false and baseless to allege that secularism is against Islam or promotes la-deeniyat. The undeniable truth is that in a secular society people are more free and safe to follow the religion or sect of their choice, as was guaranteed by our Quaid-e-Azam. It is the plight of Pakistan, more particularly after the dictatorial reins of Gen Zia and Gen Pervez Musharraf, that religious extremism and militancy has risen to such a level that Muslims in Pakistan are being constantly killed by the Muslims in the name of Islam. It is all due to exploitation of religion for nefarious selfish political aims and objects of our dictatorial rulers and their civilian collaborators that we are in such a mess that neither the life nor property nor places of worship of Muslims or that of non-Muslims are safe in our country. In all four wars with India put together, our armed forces, law enforcement agencies and ordinary citizens have not suffered as many casualties as they have at the hands of religious terrorists.

It is high time that Pakistan must radically correct its internal and external policies, political strategy and priorities to eliminate all kinds of terrorists and bigots from our soil, establish relations on peaceful basis with all our neighbours and learn lessons from the constitutional, political, religious and cultural reforms and strategies adopted by Bangladesh.

The writer is a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, a former Senator, Attorney General and Federal Minister. He may be contacted at [email protected]