Asia Needs Common Security

By His Excellency Mr.Hussain Muhammad Ershad,Member of the Parliament,former President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and currently Special Envoy to Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh

Mr.Chairman,

Distinguished Guests,Excellencies,Friends,Ladies and gentlemen,

International day of peace is commemorated every year,but this year it bears special implications and significance for the continent of Asia,especially in the context of the historic remarks His Excellency Xi Jinping the honorable President of the People’s Republic of China made at the Shanghai Expo Center on the 21st May 2014,during the Fourth Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia(CICA).China currently holds the chair of CICA.I draw your attention to the second half of the famous speech of His Excellency the President of China on 21st May 2014 where he explained the importance of CICA and publicly offered all support to strengthen CICA.I fully endorse the proposal of His Excellency the President of China,to make CICA a security dialogue and co-operation platform for all of Aisa.In my capacity as the Chairman of Bangladesh’s Opposition Party in the Parliament of Bangladesh,the Jatiyo Party,and in my capacity as the‘Special Envoy to the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh’,I would like to express hopeful satisfaction that CICA will fulfill the high expectations of His Excellency the Honorable President of China.As a former President of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and a current Member of Parliament of Bangladesh,I believe that only China has the wherewithal to initiate and push forward these ideas regarding interaction between nations and countries.China needs to lead this launching and promoting of confidence building measures among countries and nations of Asia.China had made great strides and established itself as a major player in the international arena in the context of economic,technological,and military might and making multinational friendships.I commend China’s efforts,and I pray for their success.The people of my party and the people of Bangladesh in general are great well wishers of China and your leaders.

Our Asian cultures are sewn together on a rich and cohesive social fabric.In a family brothers and sisters cling around their parents,and in the absence of parents,around the eldest siblings;the nations or countries of Asia are also members of a larger family—the Asian family.It is natural to have elders in a family.China can and should play the role of one of the elders in the Asian family.China’s current status in terms of economic progress,military strength,contribution to the security environment of the whole world,and finally the goodwill enjoyed by China from other countries of Asia,Africa and Latin America,makes China an easy leader and initiator.

Let me now switch over to another aspect of concern of this August conference.It is about security.At the very outset let me borrow a few words from the remarks of HE Xi Jinping.Asia needs common security.Security must be universal.Security must be equal.Security must be inclusive.Security must be comprehensive and multi dimensional.Security must be co-operative.Security must be sustainable.Having served in the Pakistan Army between 1952 and 1971,having served in the Bangladesh Army between 1973 to 1986 when in the last 8 years as the professional head of the Army,having been in politics and President of my country Bangladesh for 9 years,I believe that,one could not have possibly chosen better words than what has been done by HE the President of China to explain and rationalize the concept of security for Asia.Let me now add a few more.

To achieve peace and maintain peace,one must understand the parameters of peace.One must appreciate the threats to peace.One must be able to arrest these threats.The arrest can be done or executed by certain means.One of the means is economic development concurrently among neighboring countries.Another means is,consultation among nations and countries,and exchange of views among leaders of countries or representatives of the people of various countries.That is exactly what we are doing now.From this platform today,we may offer our difficulties,our apprehensions as well as our demands for mutual consideration.I do so personally,as well as on behalf of the peace loving people of Bangladesh.Bangladesh is making all-out efforts to create an environment of security within its own boundaries and beyond the boundaries embracing our friendly neighbors.Bangladesh and China do not share common border on land,but the South-Eastern grounds of China are only a hopping-distance away from the Eastern frontiers of Bangladesh.China is neighbor to two of Bangladesh’s neighbors on the East,namely India and Myanmar.India,Bangladesh and Myanmar,all have long shore-lines with the Bay of Bengal,and Bay of Bengal is but a wide open gateway to the Indian ocean.Therefore,quite logically China can aspire to bathe in the open blue waters of the Bay of Bengal.This process will add towards enhancing friendship and confidence among the nations around the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

From this Rostrum,in this August gathering,I appeal for international peace.I appeal for mutual respect among the nations and countries of Asia.I appeal for consideration of the difficulties of each other.I urge upon the distinguished gathering here in this room to collectively join in our aspiration for peace.I am the citizen of a country which is geographically small,but significant in terms of population.Bangladesh can not make intended progress towards becoming a middle-income country shortly if the people of Bangladesh do not feel secure in their minds and the country does not feel secure among its neighbors.There are some irritants to disturb the environment of security,but none of them are beyond control.It only needs appreciation by our neighbors.What I say about Bangladesh is true for many more countries including Bangladesh’s neighbors.So let us go back from this August conference,with a distinct vow to make my neighbors feel secure.If my neighbors feel happy and secure,then I am sure to be happy and secure,because security is collaborative,cooperative,reciprocal and mutual.I pray for prosperity for Asia.

I end with profound thanks to the Chair and the distinguished audience.