Mustafa Chowdhury
Volume 2 of The Birth of Bangladesh as Canada Walks a Diplomatic Tightrope comprises four chapters that examine Canada’s initiatives, its dilemmas, a chronological account of its diplomatic measures, and the recognition of Bangladesh immediately after its birth, as well as the allocation of resources to rebuild war-shattered Bangladesh. Due to her policy of non-intervention in the internal affairs of another country, Canada did not want to be directly involved. Canada was outraged to see how Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became the fall guy despite being the leader of the majority party in Pakistan. Canada was distressed to see the consequences of the ongoing military reprisals on Bengalis.Canada remained doubly cautious amid all the commotion, as it had a hands-off policy regarding India-Pakistan. Canada explored several ways to address the conflict individually, including counseling the national leaders of India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, collectively pressuring the UN, providing funds to the national and international NGOs, and lobbying for the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was to take charge of the country. Due to its neutral policy, Canada procrastinated and was unable to develop a declaratory position paper. Canada genuinely feared that any open discussion on the Bangladesh issue might incite Quebec separatists to find a nexus to the problem at home, about Quebec’s quest for independence and the Bengalis’ fight for freedom for their native land. Canada’s actions, inactions, and ’wait-and-see’ approach were based on a broader context of non-intervention in the internal affairs of another country. Following the birth of Bangladesh, when Canada had no constraints, Canada immediately allocated resources to rebuild the war-torn country. The friendship between the two continues to grow.
