Bangladesh’s Future Lies in the Path of Peace

Editorial

Bangladesh was born out of a vision—a dream where justice, dignity, and peace would guide the destiny of a free people. From the beginning, our foreign policy was anchored in a simple but profound principle: “Friendship to all, malice to none.” This guiding light, enshrined in Article 25 of our Constitution, was not just a diplomatic slogan. It was a moral commitment to peaceful coexistence with our neighbours and to building a future rooted in cooperation, not conflict.

But history tells us that this principle has not always been upheld. After the brutal assassination of the Father of the Nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, our country strayed from the path of peace. Instead of friendship, certain dark chapters in our history saw our soil being misused to shelter and support separatist and militant groups operating against neighbouring states. During this time, even foreign intelligence agencies, like Pakistan’s ISI, reportedly used our land to stir instability in South Asia. The consequence of this deviation was severe. We witnessed the painful eruption of separatist conflict in our own backyard—in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. A land of peace and heritage became a battleground.

It was only when the Awami League returned to power that the nation once again embraced its founding principles. In 1997, through the signing of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, Bangladesh sent a clear message to the world: we choose peace. We chose dialogue over conflict, trust over suspicion. That moment set us on a path to prosperity. The years that followed were filled with hope. We invested in regional ties, opened doors for trade, and built bridges of understanding with our neighbours.

Unfortunately, the return of the BNP to power in 2001 saw another sharp turn away from that peaceful path. Several separatist groups once again found shelter on Bangladeshi soil. The notorious 10-Truck Arms Haul in 2004 revealed the magnitude of how dangerously entangled we had become in regional unrest. These weapons were not just bullets and bombs—they were symbols of how far we had strayed from our moral compass.

The return of the Awami League in 2008 brought back a strong and clear commitment: zero tolerance for the use of Bangladesh’s land to destabilize others. It was a powerful promise, and one that delivered real change. Bangladesh became known for promoting regional peace and playing the role of a responsible and peaceful neighbour. As a result, we saw an era of unprecedented development. Economic growth accelerated, infrastructure blossomed, and international partnerships flourished. It was, without doubt, one of the most prosperous and stable periods in our nation’s history.

Yet today, we see troubling signs once again. There are disturbing whispers of Bangladesh turning its back on the very values that brought it so much goodwill and progress. Under the growing influence of Mohammed Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who should be a champion of harmony, we hear talks of military posturing and infrastructure development by competing regional powers in Bangladeshi soil. Instead of building peace, there are reports suggesting a possible shift towards militarization. This is not what Bangladesh needs. This is not what our people want.

At a time when wars are already devastating parts of our neighbourhood, any action that contributes to regional mistrust or tension is not only irresponsible but dangerous. Our founding principle does not leave room for ambiguity—Bangladesh must not be used by any international or regional player to create divisions or fuel unrest. Our land must never be a launching pad for proxy games.

Mohammed Yunus, who once stood as a global symbol of peace and progress, is now being accused of playing a game of power and destabilization. This is a heavy charge, and if there is even a grain of truth in these concerns, it is deeply worrying. Peace is not a trophy that one earns once and then forgets. It is a constant choice, a responsibility that must be upheld every day.

Warmongering and the destabilization of an entire region is not a game. If conflict erupts, it will not be the powerful who pay the price. It will be the ordinary citizens—the farmers, the workers, the students—who suffer. It will be our youth who will be sent to the frontlines, while those who made the decisions will sit in fortified bunkers far from the noise of war.

Bangladesh must remember who we are. We are a nation born of struggle but committed to peace. We must not let others define our role in this region. Let us not abandon the wisdom of “Friendship to all, malice to none.” Let us not trade peace for pride.