M. Golam Mustafa Bhuiyan
1 October 2024, the 75th anniversary of the Chinese Revolution. China's National Day. On this day in 1949, the official journey of the 'People's Republic of China' began after the successful revolution led by Mao Tse Tung, the great leader of China. Congratulations to the people of China on this occasion.
Whichever party is in power in independent-sovereign Bangladesh, everyone wants to maintain sincere friendship and cooperation with the most populous country in the world. All seeking to strengthen economic ties. The prosperous country of the Asia-Pacific region has now become Bangladesh's main trade and development partner for good reason.
China-Bangladesh relations are bilateral relations between the two countries. Historians say that Bangladesh-China relationship is ancient and about three thousand years old. Bengali civilization and Chinese civilization have been in contact for thousands of years before the birth of Christ. Human communication between China and Bengal was established through the Brahmaputra River since ancient times. Although China-Bangladesh modern diplomatic relations have been established since 1975, China is currently one of the partners in the development of Bangladesh. And Bangladesh is China's second largest trading partner.
Historians say that the route that connected Bangladesh with China is famous in history as the Silk Road was the Western Silk Road, which started from the capital Xi'an (then Chang'an). That route reached Bangladesh (Mongchiala) via Xinjiang through Afghanistan through India. For centuries, Mangchialai was the bridge between China and South Asia. There was also an Eastern Silk Road, which originated from Kunming in southern China. It was connected to Bangladesh through Myanmar. Trade and commerce expanded along these two routes, increasing cultural exchange.
Since ancient times, both China and Bangladesh are maritime countries and the exchange between them by sea has been excellent. About 600 years ago, Yongle was a powerful ruler of China's Ming Dynasty. Admiral Zheng He, the best sailor of the time, was the emperor's ambassador of peace; He traveled the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. He created the Chinese Silk Road by sea. From 1405-33 AD, Admiral Zheng He conducted seven inter-oceanic expeditions with a large fleet of over a hundred ships and visited 30 countries and territories in Asia and Africa. Admiral Zheng He's fleet came to Chittagong port twice. Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah, the ruler of Bengal, gave a warm welcome to the admiral from China in his capital Sonargaon.
The sultan later sent valuable gifts to the court of the Ming king, including a long grubber giraffe. According to Chinese tradition, the giraffe is considered a symbol of good luck. Although China has been a very powerful country in naval and land power since ancient times, China has never colonized or conquered any other country in its entire history. Rather, it has shown deep respect for the independence and sovereignty of all countries.
Immediately after the Chinese revolution in 1949, China's relationship with Bangladesh took a new form. This relationship was not bound by state formal political rules; it was an ideological and spiritual relationship. This relationship was developed on the basis of the leftist movement of Bangladesh. In the fifties and sixties of the last century, Chinese Premier Chou En Lai visited Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) several times. Even before independence, the Chinese Communist Party maintained friendly relations with the nationalist leaders of Bengal, especially the visionary of an independent Bangladesh, the founder of the Bangladesh National Awami Party-Bangladesh NAP, Majlum Jana leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani. National leader Moshiur Rahman Jadu Mia, the next NAP chairman after Maulana Bhasani, visited China in 1962 as the deputy leader of the opposition in the Pakistan National Assembly and took initiative to promote friendly relations with China. At that time, when Maulana Bhasani fell ill, he led the delegation. Mao visited China during the period of China's New Journey under the leadership of Tse-tung. During his visit, he tried to learn many things about the new China that people usually want to avoid.
Maulana's visit to China was very valuable. During his visit to China, he gained the experience of observing China's past history, current politics, culture, and the lifestyle of ordinary people with keen attention. After the visit, Maulana Bhasani said, 'China is a great wonder in today's conflict-ridden world. China today is the leader of the liberation struggle of the oppressed peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America. China is the place of liberation of the new people of the continent, I visited that place. My pilgrimage did not fail. I have learned to see my eighty years of chaotic life anew in the bright light of a new sense of life, and therefore I have no songs in my mind; One day those who are still slandering will be wronged.'
"China is your most steadfast friend in the liberation struggle of the deprived people of the world. China is therefore the biggest enemy of imperialism. The plot to eliminate China, the struggle of the Chinese people is all around. Our country was also a part of that conspiracy. It is the sacred duty of the 190 million people of Asia, Africa and Latin America to resist the anti-China conspiracy wherever possible.
"If my travel experience can help even a little to inspire my fellow countrymen in that international resistance struggle, I will consider myself blessed."
Maulana Bhasani, a famous public leader of Lal Maulana, impressed by the progress of New China, said, 'I have come to see China. At my age, there is no time to initiate anew. Not possible But still, seeing China, the country of 72 million people built by Ao Tse-Tung and his companions, I at least had the opportunity to know myself and my country in a new way. It is difficult to say how much this realization will bring about my own transformation; and can I help my country - I have a serious question. Just as I found a new life in China, so many of my friends and allies found many doubts during my visit to China. Just as what I got from visiting China cannot be easily measured, the warmth created in the minds of many of my friends will not be easily measured. Of course, even if one thing did not go well in China, it would not be impossible for my friends to find a reason to be angry with me. My experiences in China are unmatched in the colorful and colorful picture I have drawn from my seventy-seven years of experience. But the reaction I saw in the minds of friends is all-too-familiar to me.'
Sino-Bangladesh relations have deteriorated due to Bangladesh's independence struggle. During the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971, China sided with Pakistan and against Bangladesh in the complex geo-political rivalry in South Asia. China's hostile relationship with the then Soviet Russia for various reasons and China's bitterness with India in the 1962 Sino-Indian War took a serious form. In this situation, when Soviet Russia and India sided with Bangladesh in the independence war of Bangladesh, China supported Pakistan as the only country in South Asia.
Bangladesh established diplomatic relations with China in January 1976. Security issues were the mainstay of the Sino-Bangladesh relationship at the end of 1975 and beginning of 1976. From that point of view, this relationship was circled in the military-political circle. As a result, the primary source of the country's relationship with post-independence Bangladesh was formed through the supply of arms.
It is not unusual for many of our generation to have some skepticism for ideological reasons as China sided with Pakistan for 'strategic' reasons during our war of independence. However, we can also understand that China's position at that time was a product of international politics beyond regional chemistry.
Martyr President Ziaur Rahman followed an eastward diplomacy during his tenure as the head of state of Bangladesh. At this time, China was also careful to develop relations with Bangladesh. The political philosophies of the two countries are different. There is also a huge difference in language and culture. Still, our relationship is a role model for the world. It never faltered. Ziaur Rahman, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina visited China. He continued to make maximum efforts to develop relations between the two countries.
Almost all political parties in Bangladesh, including the ruling interim government, BNP, Bangladesh NAP, want good relations with China. For this is done. Our people also want this bond of alliance to remain strong forever.
We are getting support from this country in various ways. China is not cooperating in trade relations, infrastructure construction, and sports. There is special cooperation in the defense sector. Armed forces of Bangladesh are contributing to the peace of different countries of the world. They have earned a reputation as an efficient and agile force. China's role must be remembered behind the status of our country's armed forces as a modern and professional force.
Writer: Convener, Peasant-Labor Liberation Movement.
