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The Times of India, Aug 15 2015

`Land swap with India was Mujibur's dream'

Exactly 40 years ago, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, was assassinated in an army coup along with his wife and three sons. Syed Muazzem Ali, Bangladesh's high commissioner in India, speaks about how the life and death of Bangabandhu continues to impact the nation's politics. Excerpts from an interview with Amit Bhattacharya

What's the relevance of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in today's Bangladesh?

August 15 is our national day of mourning because on that day in 1975, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was assassinated in one of the most gruesome killings in our region's history. Without Bangabandhu, we could not have achieved independence.

Posted as third secretary in the Pakistan embassy in Washington DC, I vividly remember his historic speech of March 7, 1971. The people of East Pakistan had voted overwhelmingly for Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the 1970 elections. His party captured 167 out of 169 seats in the region. But when the military junta refused to hand over power to elected representatives, Bangabandhu in his speech gave the famous ultimatum -if you don't restore democracy and stop aggression against East Pakistan, the people of the east would declare in dependence and fight for it.

As prime minister, Bangabandhu successfully faced huge challenges of gaining international recognition for Bangladesh, reconstructing a ravaged economy and rehabilitating 10 million refugees. But in midst refugees. But in midst of all this, Bangladesh adopted a constitution in less than 24 in less t months what our previo u s country Pa kistan couldn't in 24 years (till 1971).

Despite pressing problems, Bangabandhu also did not forget the long term needs of cooperation. This year, I observe August 15 with satisfaction because Bangabandhu had dreamt that people in our enclaves in India and Bangladesh would be able to live as free citi zens in their respective countries. He had taken the initiative for the IndiraMujib Accord of 1974. On the basis of that accord, we have now signed the historic land-swap agreement.

The year preceding Mujibur's assassination was marred by curtailment of basic freedoms. He himself imposed one-party rule...

After liberation, Bangabandhu always exercised a moderating influence. He asked the population not to take revenge.He asked only for those who had committed major war crimes to be put on trial. Others who had corroborated with the Pakistani army were forgiven. If Bangabandhu had wanted or even permitted it, these people would have been eliminated in 1972. That perhaps would have resolved many of the issues that continue till today . The main opposition that we see today in Bangladesh, from the elements who had opposed independence, relates to the war crimes trial.

Bangabandhu declared one party rule in 1975 -rather a one-coalition rule -as a temporary measure to restore the law and order situation that was endangered by these elements. But as a democrat, it was Bangabandhu who had taken the initiative to restore parliamentary democracy . He could have run this country on his own without any constitution for any length of time.

Mujibur Rahman wanted a secular Bangladesh. But today we see a rising trend of religious intolerance, typified by the killings of blogger. How do you view this trend?

The state remains committed to arrest these criminals. But the groups that are claiming to be responsible (for the killings) are some of the well-known, internationally recognized terrorist groups.We all know who are behind these things. We would like to eliminate all forms of terrorism. And PM Sheikh Hasina has reiterated our commitment not to let our territory be used by terrorists to launch any aggression against neighbouring countries. Since she came to power in 2009, there has been peace on our borders.

Social media is a powerful tool. Bloggers should be careful not to hurt sentiments. But I would like to reassure everyone that the killers (of bloggers) would be found, tried and punished.