“RAW and Bangladesh” by Mohammad Zainal Abedin
Most of the members of the forums know that RAW’s nefarious activities in subcontinent in general and in Bangladesh in particular has become menacing.Many of You might be knowing that journalist and researcher Mohammad Zainal Abedin has written a revealing book:”RAW and Bangladesh”. Two Pakistani writers have highly spoke of this book:
1. http://www.bdsdf.com/index.php?showtopic=3417&st=30
2. http://www.bdsdf.com/index.php?showtopic=3417&st=45
About the author: Mohammad Zainal Abedin did masters from Dhaka University.As a student leader he was detained many times in pre-Liberation days under Defence of Pakistan Rule and Martial Law.He took part in the Liberation War and was trained at Haflong in Assam as a member of BLF popularly known as Mujib Bahini.He worked in Weekly Ittehad and daily Ganokantho.
Zainal Abedin is a prolific writer and regularly contributes to the daily New Nation, Inqilab, Ejkaler Khabar and websites: NFB and Global Politician. He has authored many books and monographs. Some of the titles are: Class Crisis in Politics,Secrets Behind the Killing of Zia, Ek Nadi Rakto(dramatised in the training camp of Haflong in Assam during the Liberation War), Parbattya Chattagram-Swarup Shandhan, Why India Needs Veto Power?, Chittagong Hill Tracts-A Victim of Indian Intervention etc.
“RAW and Bangladesh” was published in 1995 and as such many information may seem redundant and obsolete.But the basic premise is still relevant, RAW’s area of operation and modus operandi in today’s Bangladesh appear to be same.
For today, the the first few pages:
“RAW AND BANGLADESH” By Zainal Abedin Published by :Fatema shahab
7. Fakirapool,Inner Circular Road Motijheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh, First Edition: November, 1995
Cover Design : Zobayer Alam
Dedicated To Those Fighters Who Shall Protect Our Independence, Sovereignty And
Religious Identity From Generation To Generation. Printing:Madina Printers.
38/2. Banglabazar Dhaka-llOO. Bangladesh. Distributor: Madina Publications 38/2, Banglabazar Dhaka-I 100. Bangladesh All Rights Reserved by the Author Price: Taka-125 US $ -5
PREFACE
The eventful days of 1971 remain ever fresh in my memory despite the passage of long 25 years. As I ponder over the events, one particular incident chastises me the most. It happened during April 1971. Although the operation of Pakistan Army had started in Dhaka on the night of 25 March but my home district Noakhali was still out of its purview. I, along with some other leaders was busy in organising resistance forces in our area. Volunteers from far off villages and shoals had assembled in large numbers in the district headquarters. They carried assortment of weapons, some even carried bamboo sticks, spears, arrows, javelins etc. They were determined to fight for realization of the just rights of the Bengalis.
I, as a student leader had played significant role in popularising 6- points in my area. I had many admirers and political supporters. My most staunch supporter and admirer was a neighbour. He was a middle-aged, ‘mature and sober person. He had stood by m)’! during difficult days of Ayub regime. In fact, without his assistance and support, it would not have been possible for me to become a front rank student leader.
I had immense respect and regard for him. I was thrilled when I spotted him in the make shift camp set up for the resistance forces. I greeted him warmly. But he remained cold and unmoved. His eyes were dazed and he seemed lost. I thought that he was concerned about Pakistan Army’s imminent advance to our area and its consequences for us.He got hold of my hand and took me to a nearby restaurant. As we sipped tea, he started narrating the history of pre-1947 Bengal. He mentioned gory details of how the Hindus used to treat the Muslims and explained the reasons for creation of Pakistan. He said that struggling for one’s right is different from break up of the country. He stated that India would first weaken us by breaking our unity and then exploit us. He added that his life time experiences had told him that India would never be sincere to Muslims. With tears in his eyes and hands trembling with emotions he quipped, “Are you again going to make us the slaves of the Hindus?”.
I must admit that I did not give any serious thought to his urging. I was too young and emotional. Besides, I was so involved with my cause that I had little time or scope to think about future. In fact, had I not known his background, I would have dismissed him as a ‘ collaborator’ .
However, the said question now haunts me often. The realization of what lay in store for us had started soon after I crossed over to India where I was assigned to elite Mujib Bahini. The attitude of our Indian handlers and trainers indicated that they treated us (the Freedom Fighters) not as friends but as agents. However, the real Indian face lay bare after the surrender of Pakistani forces, when I saw the large scale loot and plunder by the Indian Army personnel.
The Indian soldiers appeared to be the modern edition of the Maratha Cavalry who is notorious in history for plundering Bengal during the middle age. The Indian soldiers swooped on everything they found and carried them away to India. Their haste for plunder made our people believe that they had been waiting for such I an opportunity for centuries and they were not ready to waste even a single moment when the cherished opportunity arrived. Indian soldiers imposed curfew on our towns, industrial bases, ports, cantonments, commercial centres and even residential areas to make the looting easier. They lifted every thing from ceiling fan to military equipment, utensils to water taps. Thousands of Army vehicles were used to carry looted goods to India.
History has recorded few such cruel and henious plunders. Such a large scale plunder could not have been possible without connivance of higher Indian authorities. Otherwise how could the soldiers have dared to commit such a pillage?It was evident from the conduct of the Indian Army that they treated Bangladesh as a colony. That was the time when the question asked by my neighbour seriously surfaced in my mind. Since then I have been pondering but am unable to give any definite answer. I only pray that history proves his .apprehensions wrong.Frequently I face question from some quarters how I write about Indian misdoings while I am myself a freedom fighter, who had got training, shelter and help from Indians during liberation war. My answer to them is that I do what a real freedom fighter ought to do. I cannot remain quiet about excesses committed against my motherland irrespective of who is the’ perpetrator of the excesses. If India had given a fair deal to Bangladesh,nobody would say anything against her. But India through her notorious deeds has proved time and again that she is not our friend but an arch roguish foe. India has posed a grave threat to our independence and sovereignty.
Thus the duty and responsibility of a genuine freedom fighter calls upon me to stand up to the enemy of Bangladesh in whatever manner I can.It is now evident that India had helped the creation of Bangladesh with the aim that it would be a step forward towards the reunification of India. Soon after creation of Bangladesh, India let loose all forces at her command to cripple the newly born country. Their aim was to precipitate its collapse and eventual merger with India to realize part of the Brahmanic dream about ‘Akhand Bharat’.
The most significant player of this henious game is India’s notorious intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing commonly known as RAW.Since its inception in 1968 RAW has been an unobtrusive instrument for achieving Indian foreign policy objectives. RAW had worked assiduously in the erstwhile East Pakistan and had succeeded in establishing an elaborate network of spies and subversive elements. After establishment of Bangladesh the said network was further expanded as there was no check or obstacle in her way in the new country. RAW has spread her tentacles in almost all spheres of Bangladesh. Its network is growing like a cancer.
However, except for occasional news and features in some newspapers, no detailed account of RAW’s activities has been documented. During 1994-95, I wrote a series of articles about RAW’s nefarious activities in Bangladesh in the Weekly Muslim Jahan. Having read the same a large number of my readers and friends goaded me to publish a comprehensive book on the subject. The result is in your hands in form of this book.
Here I would like to dispel the impression that RAW is an insurmountable or a super organisation. In fact, contrary to that it has stagnated into an unwieldy and sluggish organisation. Its strong point is its vast resources. But there is no reason to be over-awed by it. Certainly the RAW’s onslaught can be effectively countered as has been proved time and again by patriotic Bangladeshis.
Through this book I want to send a clear message to RAW in particular and Indian rulers in general that Bangladesh is not a country which will bend down in the face of their covert and overt intrigues. Let RAW and its toadies understand that the nation that achieved her independence through tears and blood will foil their designs. There will never be any compromise with the enemies. Therefore, intrigues RAW has been indulging in during the last quarter century must end. We may live in hardship and misery, yet we value our independence and sovereignty. Bangladesh may be a small and a weak country, yet it is our pride, our identity. We believe in Tipu Sultan’s dictum, ” One day life of a lion is better than hundred years life of a jackal”.
I may add that some well wishers had advised me due to concern for my security, not to antagonise RAW, a ruthless organisation. My answer to them was that as a true Muslim and patriot I cannot keep quiet when my motherland is being trampled. For me life is not more precious than the sanctity of my mother land. Moreover, I could have been killed in 1971 war. This life is a bonus. I am not afraid of sacrificing anything for my country.
The publication of this book could not have been possible without support and encouragement from the Editor of the Weekly Muslim Jahan, Mr. Mutafa Moinuddin Khan. I am also grateful to Moulana Mohiuddin Khan, a renowned intellectual, for his invaluable help and suggestions. Besides I am indebted to large number of my readers and friends who after reading series of my articles in the Weekly Muslim Jahan encouraged and persuaded me to compile this book. I am also thankful to of those dailies, weeklies, periodicals and authors of the books from whom I took help and also quoted in the book
The original book was in Bengali. But later I decided to publish an English version as well for greater awareness about RAW’s nefarious activities particularly by the international community. For obvious reasons the English version is not a literal translation. Besides, some portions have been revised and updated. Hence some variance may be found by readers of the two versions.My head bows down before Almighty Allah in all humility to thank him as He gave me strength to undertake this arduous and sensitive work and enable me to present it to my readers. All glory and praise be toAllah. Errors, omissions and limitations, if any, are mine. I must frankly admit that it is not an all encompassing work. Full exposure of RAW’s machinations requires hundreds of volumes. I urge all patriotic writers and researchers to come forward and help in unveiling the ugly face of this treacherous organisation which is eating into the vitals of Bangladesh. May Allah help us. Amin.
Zainal Abedin, Dhaka, Bangladesh 30 October, 1995, Posted by Isha Khan bdmailer@gmal.com
Why do I see these hyper delusional characters parading on these pages one behind the other..it is OK to be ignorant, but must one open his mouth and remove all doubts about his stupidity..
When I read the following sentences, in quotes, I had to fight hard to contain my laughter..though it is not OK to laugh at people who are little deficient in the upper chamber.
“History has recorded few such cruel and heinous plunders..their haste for plunder made our people believe that they had been waiting for such an opportunity for centuries”..is he talking about Bangladesh, a bloody hole in the ground, where people are dirt poor and cant cover their fannie and their bosom at the same time (yes we have them plenty in India too)..I can understand if it is Hernando Cortes the Spanish invader who plundered South America or Nadir Shah of Persia who plundered Delhi and carted off the Peacock Throne..but Bangladesh..what can anyone plunder in that godforsaken country..what do you have…other than Hilsa fish..your brother Pakistan soldiers had already plundered all that you prized most..I can understand your waxing eloquent about your fight for motherland, as long as the fighting was done by the heathens from across your Amar Shonar Bangla..did you kill Mujibur Rehman because he was a RAW agent..or because he didn’t have a beard in the prescribed religious fashion..what bothers me is that you ungrateful rats turned right back at us, forgetting all that was done by your half brother from Punjab..we were stupid, we should have left you to stew in that miserable juice, instead shedding our blood to liberate a bunch of doodahs.
And then you say “India had helped the creation of Bangladesh with the aim that it would be a step forward towards the reunification of India”..why would anyone want to do a stupid stuff like that..do you think that the whole world is fighting to get into B’desh or acquire it, like it is the Kohinoor diamond..you got nothing , brother..you cant even feed your people..that’s why you are fleeing your Shonar Bangla in the millions and walking into that accursed Hindu land where the communist traitors are waiting for you with a Ration Card and Voter ID card..and you say RAW is screwing your country..if RAW has screwed anyone it is their own people..I do understand the pain that emanates from the feeling of being a nobody and the delusional grandeur it creates in your head, to escape that desolation..take a cold shower for a couple of years and maybe that will clear your head.
You claim you are a journalist, yet your writing is horrible..the kind of stuff people write when they start using the pen..maybe your translator needs to go to school..oh, BTW I do laud Mr. Younis, the Grameen banker..now he is one Bangladeshi I can admire. Probably you guys will kill him too, because he is an agent of some country yet to be named !
Hello Moin, can’t you do better than this drivel….
India hardly assisted in the liberation war of Bangladesh.
When the Bangladeshi were already winning the war, India came to picture from nowhere as if without india it was impossible to win the war.
“..is he talking about Bangladesh, a bloody hole in the ground, where people are dirt poor and cant cover their fannie and their bosom..”
…. its because of the plunders by the british and the brammans who assisted the british in doing so ……….
………… its not about we have this and that or not ………… its about selecting the right ideology for the revival of 150 million people and a strong foreign policy ………… but ……….. unfortunately ……….. because of some capitalist or masked brammans or pimps like hasina wajed ……. in our country ……….. we aint being successful in doing so ……………
Thank you for your comments. We agree
Pakistan is with Bangladeshis, even though the enemy did place wedges between Pakistanis. That is all past history. Today Bangaldesh and Paksitan are good friends, and may the freindship grow towards a propserous future.
there are a lot of bengalies working with me in my
company and they have there mindset that paksitan
did wrong with them in 1971. And sometime i was
also thinking about this that our elders did wrong.
but now with this facts i can clearly say to all the
bengalies that it was india who did wrong with them.
@ Tariq
Even the Bangladeshis have looked at the events and re-written the Bharati version of events. Read “India Doctrine” by MB Munshi and bangladeshpatriot.com and daccatimes.com to see wha the Bangladeshis are saying
1) Mujib’s daughter recently admitted that Mujib had been planning for Bangladesh since Agartala–so he was a traitor
2) He and you talk about “democracy”. Right after he came to pwoer in Bangladesh, Mujib declared himself president for life, and banned all political parties. If he had become premier of Pakistan he would have done the same to pakistan and broken it up into little pieces.
3) Mujib was an Indian agent–he allowed the Rakhi Bahni with a sitting Indian general rule Bangladesh and signed
4) Bangladeshi patriots did not want Bangaldesh to become part of Bharat. Mujib had signed a treaty of friendship with Delhi which would have reduced Bangladesh to the status of Sikkim. That is why he was murdered by Bangaldeshi patriots
5) The Mankshaw biography clearly describes the recruitment of 80,000 Hindus into the Mukti Bahni who disguised as Pakistani soldiers raped and murdered Bengalis. The also were sent for sabotage.
6) Bharat is a totally a hegemonistic state. It illegally took over Hyderabad, used a fake article of accession to occupy Kashmir and threatened 560 states to join Bharat.
7) Bharat sent terrorists into Sikkim, Bhutan, China, Lanka, and Pakistan. It is trying to wrest the Chittagong Hill Tracks from Bangaldesh
Dr. Tajjamal Navved posts this addendum to his article
Thank you for your reply. In any academic discourse one needs to verify the facts before venturing to give a point of view. As far as the voicing of your opinion is concerned, it needs more in-depth study. Furthermore, as far as the feelings of your good friends from Qandahar are concerned; if they have been fed wrong history then they, too, are at fault for having read wrong books.
Ahmed Rashid may be an author who appeals to your perceptions and has probably resulted in your present article under critique, as well, but whatever you may have read of him, I am sorry to say that the fellow, to my mind, is equally clueless of the subject. No wonder you took the liberty of writing such a nasty piece against our state.
Likewise you may have studied various books on the history of Afghanistan, but it seems you never took time out to study the actual books which are regarded, till now, the main reference books on the subject matter.
It is in these books that you will find the real geographic name of this region – now called Afghanistan or the rationale of its creation by the British Empire builders. Please keep in mind, no insult intended for your faulty perceptions – as will be explained subsequently by the references in my reply – that One learns all one’s life. So take it in that spirit, like a man.
You had written an article on the dismemberment of my state, however, your reply to my critique is based on side issues focused on ‘’Afghanistan’ and the Naxalities , as well as your displeasure why I roped in Nazi Germany with the Hindutva State of Brahmans called India. Kindly remember that it was on account of the common Swastika symbol and the desire to purge all those races which do not follow their religion or dictates.
You are further requested to reply back to my pointed critique and not to divert from the subject. Let me enlighten you on the subject of Afghanistan. To clear your mental fog, historically, the region now called as Afghanistan is known in history, as well as in historical geography, as ‘’Khurassan’’. The boundaries of the said region have varied during the Empires which held it. To answer your Qandahar friends, Ahmed khan who had been the Captain of the Guards of Nadir shah Afsar, and who on Nadir Shah’s assassination in 1747 had proclaimed himself King using the hoarded wealth of the said King – had proclaimed himself as “Badashah of Qandahar”. The Afghan entity did not exist then.
You are further requested to read the volumes complied by A.U. AITCHISON, under the head of ‘’A collection of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads, relating to India & Neighboring Countries’’ published from Calcutta. If you study those volumes that cover the early period of the 19th century, only then will you comprehend the dates, as stated in my rebuttal.
Next you are advised to read, “The Indian Borderland” a book by Sir Thomas Holdich, published in 1901, in which the author states on page-366, “We have contributed much to give a national entity to that nebulous community which ‘’WE’ call Afghanistan (but which afghans never call it, by that name) by drawing a boundary all around it and elevating it into the position of a buffer state between ourselves and Russia, all this has been done at great expense and with infinite pains…………..the Amir of Afghanistan since 1893 was on a RS.600,000/- subsidy from the British” (page-367). Holdich, to further explain the rationale for the creation of this new entity, states,(page-368) “The new boundary between British empire, Afghanistan and the Czarist Russia was ‘a visible expression of our present determination to set a limit to a ‘forward’ policy; and as such it may be accepted with satisfaction by large number of politicians’’ ………
Michael, keep in mind these figures, too, that are as per “The Imperial Gazetteer of India”(Afghanistan & Nepal ) edition of 1885 (pages-15-16-17) the total population of Afghanistan in that YEAR was, Ghalzi(1,500,000), Tajak(900,000), Hazara (500,000), Char Aimak (180,000), Osbegs (300,000), Kizilbashi(50,000), Hindu traders(35,000), Safis, Kashmiri, Laghmani, Arab, syed, Paracha & Kafirs(60,000). The Afghan/Pushtun numbered (1,245,000). In total the figure came to 4,770,000. In the third decade or so of the 19th century the population was much less.
After the Fall of the house of main line Timurids, the Khorassan was divided into administrative provinces or ‘Subas’, with Sarkars and Bolaks. Now you will have to study ,’’An Atlas of The Mughal Empire’ by Irfan Habib, edition of 1982. In the year 1601,the political boundaries of ‘’Khurassan’ were as, ‘Subas of Balkh, Badakhshan, Kabul & Qandahar. By 1648 the Mughals had lost Qandahar Suba to Iranian Safavids. Earlier the regions across Helmand i.e Farah, Qila Fatah and Seistan were already with Iran inclusive of Herat. And by 1738/39 the only Suba under control of Mughal was Kabul.
Kindly now read a few other books, though I can refer many more from my personal library, however, the following will suffice for now; Tabakat e Nasiri translation by Raverty- 1881 edition, authored by Mulanna Minhaj Usman (1260AD), Tariekh e Tabri by al Tabri (900 AD) 43 volumes in English or the limited 9 volume English translation of Shah Nama e Firduasi. The answer in all these will show that the area in dispute has always been, ’’KHURASSAN’’.
I bought some news paper and drinks from a shop in South London(Lewisham).
There was an afghani , shop keeper ,whom i asked why are the americans , not leaving your country and what is the exact cuase of turmoil there.
The first thing he said was , whatever is happening in Aghanistan ISI is responsible for it and the Pak army was too much meddling with there affairs .
He also said the Pakistanis want to take credit about the fact that they drove Soviets out form Afghanistan.
The pakistanis want to control all there political affairs(this was his version).
Although having heard that i beleive 1 person does not make the country.
@ Amrit
Millions of Afghans were born in Pakistan—Afghanistan and Pakistan are conjoined twin brothers. The ISI is not an organization–it consists of the Paksitani Army deputations to the ISI for three years. If the ISI is so powerful then the world should be afraid of the Pakistan Army, and Pakistan.
In their haste to cut congress and emerge as one country muslim leage asked for a strange state of pakistan with two wings. Neither Rahmt Ali not the Muslim league resolution asked for ONE state..Rahmat Ali even had different names for these states.
And the writings about the central sian integrity and claims of ancien trade route and civilization of pakistan on this forum clearly shows that no one is losing much sleep on the erstwhile eastern wing.
Allowing Bengalis their own land from the beginning would have helped pakistan no end….they could have entered into all sorts of civil, economic, militaey treaties and could have kept india on tenterhooks….the greed to win everything scuttled the game.
one should watch out about kashmir too…possibly by supporting the valley autonomous azadi pakistan could have gained much more..but trust her to miss chances.
@ Dirt
Your are only partially right. The Lahore/Pakistan Resolution called for different states. However it was the Bengalis in the Muslim League that insiste don forming one state.
Central Asia integrity and ancient trade routes cannot be refuted. History cannot be changed. The IVC existed, as did the Silk Road along the Wakhan panhandle.
Hegemony and Occupation was the rule that Delhi followed–it has been paid back in spades–with access cut off to China, and Europe–now Delhi is ruppounded by two Muslim states that hate it. Of course Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Sikkm, Bhutan and China have no love lost for Bharat either.
It was Indira Gandhi’s mistake to assist Bangladeshis they are traitors like there ancestors(Nawab Siraj Ud daulah, Mir Jaffer, Mir Qasim), these people are accusing Bramhins and hindus for establishing British rule in India ?
It was the muslim rulers (hippocrits & traitors ) sitting in Delhi (mughal) and bENGAL( Siraj ud daulah) signed secret traties with British and gave the land and power.
Hindus were not in power in India for 1000 years.
Thank god and thanks to Mr.Jinnah for creating Pakistan, we could not have lived peacefully with these muslims.
@ Amrit Rao
Siraj Ud Dhaulah fought bravely in the Battle of Plassy–he was betrayed by Mir Jaffer.