Haksar remembered as a friend of Bangladesh

PN Haksar, the Indian lawyer-turned-diplomat, who played an important role during Bangladesh's Liberation War as a close aide of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was remembered yesterday at a me-morial meeting, reports BSS.

Haksar died recently in New Delhi of Cancer at 85. He had also lost his eye sight due to failing health in his last years.

The speakers at the meeting were unanimous that Haksar, who was closely associated with the policy planning matters of Indian government as regards to Bangladesh's Liberation War, was a genuine friend of the country and his contribution to the successful culmination of Bangladesh's Liberation War was simply invaluable.

Organised by the "Centre for Research on the Liberation War," the discussion was cha-ired by Dr Khan Sarwar Mur-shid and speakers included Water Resources Minister Abdur Razzak, Gono Forum chief and former foreign minister Dr Kamal Hossain, National Awa-mi Party President Professor Muzaffar Ahmed, Prof Rehman Sobhan, Ziaul Huq Tulu and Monaem Sarker.

Water Resources Minister, Abdur Razzak, said he did not know Haksar personally but had heard of him at all phases of the Liberation War in 1971. He said that Haksar was a person who meaningfully resolved many a confusion and indecision related to the mechanism of the Liberation War and added that he also had great admiration for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Dr Kamal Hossain said his first substantial meeting with Haksar was in 1973 as the then foreign minister of Bangladesh when he found the Indian diplomat extremely helpful in Dhaka's quest at that stage to evolve its own foreign policies and executed them freely. Dr Hossain, who also met the deceased only a few days before his death in New Delhi, said Haksar was a person with greater vision and foresaw pace and tranquillity in South Asia for the welfare and betterment of the vast multitudes living in the region.

Prof Muzaffar Ahmed said Haksar was a person who deserves more credit than Indira Gandhi in a way, for helping and assisting the Liberation War as he could successfully mould and influence Bang-ladesh's causes. He said Haksar was also a leftist in heart who went out of his way to help the NAP, Communist Party and Chhatra Union freedom fight-ers.