Serving the Nation Reflections of Bangladesh Diplomats ISBN: 978-984-90881-0-3 © Bangladesh Enterprise Institute Published by: Academic Press and Publishers Library Year of Publication: January 2015 Book Size: 8.5X 5.5” Cover Design: Golam Kabir & Mohiuddin Ahamed Binding: Hardcover Price: Tk. 600.00 US$ 25.00 _____________________________________________________________ This volume containing 43 essays provides an insight into the trajectory of Bangladesh diplomacy through the eyes of former ambassadors. It started from the tentative steps of Bangladesh’s first flag raising in Kolkata that marked our entry into the world of foreign relations and diplomacy to the current period when Bangladesh is playing its role as a responsible and contributing member of the international community in strengthening the regional and peace and stability as well as working to achieve economic and social justice and progress for all nations. The write ups capture some of their moments of pleasure and pain, glory and agony, laughter and tears. YOU MAY COLLECT YOUR COPY FROM 1. Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), House 2, Road no 54, Gulshan-2. 2. Academic Press and Publishers Library (APPL), House 70/1, Apt. No. D-2, Road 6/A, Dhanmondi, Dhaka. 3. Dhaka Book Fair, Bangla Academy, APPL Stall No. 85 & 86 (From 1 to 28 February 2015). 23. Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. Events Observed in Years Served -Tabarak Husain First Hoisting of the Bangladesh Flag in a Foreign Country -A F Bashirul Alam My OIC Years -Arshad-uz Zaman SAARC at the Cross Roads -S.A.M.S. Kibria From Akyab to Washington -A. H. S. Ataul Karim A Tale of the Unexpected -Faruq A Choudhury Serving in Early Years of Bangladesh – Some Reminiscences -Mohammed Mohsin The Day Bangladesh Flag Flew in the West -M. M. Rezaul Karim Consolidation of Independence (External) 1973-75 -Abul Ahsan What is an Ambassador’s job? -Harun ur Rashid Question of the Ownership of the South Talpatty Island -Reaz Rahman Milestones and Memories -Farooq Sobhan The Third Chapter -Mufleh R. Osmany Struggle to Return Home -A.K.Md. Fazlur Rahman Zia's Death, Benazir's Rise: Impact on Bangladesh Pakistan Relations -C. M. Shafi Sami Opening the Embassy in Hanoi -Mostafa Faruque Mohammed Qatar in the Seventies -Q. A. M. A. Rahim 17 November 1999 - An Unforgettable Day -Syed Muazzem Ali Reflecting Retrospectively… Some Vignettes from My Diplomatic Career - Tariq Karim My Time as a Diplomat: Lessons and Reminiscences -Zia-us-Shams Chowdhury No Reward for Ethnic and Religious Cleansing: Kosovo Experience and Recognition: A Test Case for Bangladesh’s Commitment to Democracy, Multireligious and Multi-cultural Bangladesh -S.M. Rashed Ahmed Bangladesh and the Arab-Israeli War of 1973 -Muhammad Zamir 1 24. 14 25. 17 24 31 46 69 88 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 93 31. 103 32. 110 127 136 33. 34. 149 35. 158 36. 175 37. 183 196 38. 39. 203 211 40. 41. 219 232 42. 43. Memories of China -Syed Noor Hossain Giving the Best - M. Afsarul Qader Bangladesh-Poland: Similar Struggle and Sacrifice for Human-Rights and Freedoms. -Humayun A. Kamal Repatriation of 65,000 Bangladeshis and Tragedy in the Desert - M. Shafiullah “It was the Best of Times; It was the Worst of Times” -Masum A. Chowdhury Nuggets or Nothings -Ashfaqur Rahman A Bangladeshi in the Amazons -Abdullah Al-Hasan The Human Face and Lighter Aspects of Diplomacy: Some Reminiscences and Vignettes -Jamil Majid Memoirs of an Accidental Diplomat, April 1977-April 2011 -Ashraf ud Dowla Reminiscences and Some Memorable Highlights of my Diplomatic Career -Mohsin Ali Khan Bangladesh: Pundit Ravi Shankar and George Harrison -ATM Nazrul Islam My Years as Director in the Office of the Foreign Secretary (1986-1990) -M. Serajul Islam Distorted Aspirations -Mirza Shamsuzzaman President William J. Clinton’s Historic Visit to Bangladesh -Mohammad Ziauddin An Unforgettable Meeting with a "Living Saint" and Mother of the Poor -Dr. M. A. Samad My First Day in the Foreign Office -Mahmuda Haque Choudhury The Most Memorable Event in My Diplomatic Life: Visit to Kabul as a Special Envoy -A.B.M. Abdus Salam. The Morning Coat -Mahmood Hasan Living with the Ghost of Hitler -A.B.Manjoor Rahim China in the Memory Lane -Munshi Faiz Ahmad Innovations in Bangladesh Diplomacy: Some Glimpses from Washington, DC -M. Humayun Kabir Index 242 249 265 275 282 289 299 303 316 327 334 338 351 363 391 398 405 411 420 424 436 447