Pakistan and Bangladesh continue to enjoy warm, brotherly relations in the aftermath of last year’s political changes in Bangladesh. Across Pakistan, there is a sincere belief that these ties can be taken to even greater heights through mutual respect, people-to-people contact, and forward-looking policies.
Historically, United Bengal played a pivotal role in the freedom struggle of the Indo-Pak subcontinent in the early 19th century. The founding of the All India Muslim League in 1906—spearheaded by the late Nawab of Dhaka, Sir Salimullah—proved to be a decisive turning point. The Partition of Bengal was the first major step toward creating improved socio-economic and political space for the Muslims of present-day Bangladesh. However, this initiative was undone in 1911 under immense pressure from the capitalist class of West Bengal, a reversal for which the British rulers of the time bear primary responsibility.
Despite these setbacks, Bangla leaders such as A.K. Fazlul Huq, Abul Hashim, H.S. Suhrawardy, and Khawaja Nazimuddin, working in unison with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Liaquat Ali Khan, and others, continued their struggle for the rights of Bengali and other Muslim brethren across India.
The Congress leadership failed to grasp the gravity of the situation. After accepting the Cabinet Mission Plan in 1946, it later withdrew its support—an act that proved to be a major setback. Had the plan been implemented, India might have remained united under a federal framework. During this period, Mr. Suhrawardy and Abul Hashim, after consulting some West Bengal Congress leaders, proposed the idea of a united and independent Bengal and sought the consent of Quaid-e-Azam. While he appreciated the proposal, he rightly foresaw that the Congress leadership would reject it. Indeed, leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel refused this visionary compromise, and the opportunity was lost. Similarly, the division of Punjab became inevitable as Sikh leadership failed to foresee the dangers facing the entire population of the province.
This is now history. In retrospect, the people of Pakistan—then living in two wings—should have exercised greater vision and wisdom for the betterment of future generations. Sadly, political leadership on both sides lacked foresight. Misunderstandings, both real and perceived, fostered hatred and distance. While it is true that certain bureaucrats and politicians from West Pakistan played a negative role, the common people of East and West Pakistan largely shared bonds of affection.
A notable example was the then Governor, General Azam Khan, who maintained close contact with the Bengali people and kept his doors open to them day and night. His popularity was such that when he left office in 1963, hundreds of thousands gathered at Tejgaon Airport to bid him farewell, many with tears in their eyes, pleading with him not to leave. This narrator recalls a brief meeting with the late Azam Khan in Lahore in 1994, during which he emotionally shared memories of his tenure in the then East Pakistan—memories he carried with him throughout his life.
Much water has flowed under the bridge since 1970. Today, leaders and citizens on both sides must work to heal the wounds of hatred and acrimony to secure a happier future for coming generations. While political developments in Bangladesh or Pakistan remain internal matters, those at the helm should prioritize easing travel and visa restrictions, promoting trade, tourism, education, and bilateral exchanges among students and media professionals.
Some time ago, His Excellency, the Ambassador of Bangladesh, Mr. Muhammad Iqbal, during his visits to Karachi and Sukkur, expressed support for such initiatives. There exists vast potential for expanding imports and exports between the two countries. Introducing visa-on-arrival facilities and similar measures would greatly benefit traders and business communities on both sides.
Culturally, the people of Pakistan and Bangladesh already share much in common—our love for tea, Bengali rasgulla, and fish. Pakistan, in turn, can offer mangoes, kinnow, rice, and other agricultural products.
Long live Bangladesh and its people.
True feelings of the people of the two countries are expressed by Khwaja Sahib. He has taken the history and regional socio- religion-politics necessities and realities into account to emphasize his point of view. He is a former senior journalist from the state run news agency of Pakistan that is why he is well versed with the topic and sentiments of the people of two countries.