In 1987, the Bangladeshi government reported that 8,000 Bangladeshi youths had volunteered to fight for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), according to the Bangladeshi government reports. This announcement followed a visit to Bangladesh by Yasser Arafat, the then-leader of the PLO. Arafat’s visit was met with widespread approval from media outlets, political circles, and the general populace of Bangladesh.
The relationship between Bangladesh and the PLO has historical roots that extend beyond mere diplomatic ties. Since the 1980s, the two entities have been engaged in military cooperation under the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program. As part of this initiative, members of the PLO have attended one-year courses at the Bangladesh Military Academy in Chittagong. This has served to strengthen the military capabilities of the PLO while fostering a sense of camaraderie between the two nations. Palestine maintains its diplomatic presence in Bangladesh through the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Dhaka.
It’s worth noting that the Jewish state, an adversary of the PLO, extended diplomatic recognition to Bangladesh shortly after its independence. On February 4, 1972, Israel sent a letter to the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acknowledging the newly independent nation. Prior to this, Israel had offered support to Bengali freedom fighters during their struggle against Pakistani occupation forces. However, Khondoker Mostaq Ahmed, the killer of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, declined the Israeli recognition. Khondoker Mostaq Ahmed, who was the Foreign Minister at the time, had secretly turned down the Israeli recognition at the advice of his Pakistani masters.
In a recent article from The Eastern Herald, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning against Hamas, labeling it a terrorist organization. He stated, “We will wipe this thing called Hamas, ISIS-Gaza, off the face of the earth“. This statement resonates with the gravity of the situation involving Israel and Palestinian Hamas, and by extension, their respective relationships with other countries, including Bangladesh.
The Palestinian Hamas has called on Muslims to hold protests in support of Palestinians in the occupied territories and the Gaza Strip. The call for protests, described as the day of the Al-Aqsa flood, refers to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. At the same time, around the globe, Hamas envoys are lobbying to stage violent protests.
In Bangladesh, the political landscape is also undergoing changes. With the upcoming parliamentary elections, there are indications of violent street protests, particularly from Islamist opposition groups. These protests are expected to escalate around the time of the Durga Puja festival, a significant event for Bengali Hindus.
Today’s protests in Bangladesh are not a good sign for the ruling Awami League. The opposition parties are taking advantage of the situation playing the (emotional) victim card. The international image of Bangladesh is at stake. The international community and the Western bloc are very vigilant to any developments in the south asian Islamic country.
