Bangladesh foreign policy under the administration of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and President Ziaur Rahman : a comparative study from the perspective of prophetic practices on international relations and diplomacy

Abstract

This study explained the International relations and diplomatic policies based on Islamic principles from the perspective of the practices by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This dissertation introduced the universal Islamic characteristics of international relations and diplomacy, the meaning and principles of Islamic international relations and diplomacy, its objectives, types, and strategies. The researcher conducted an analytical study by a comparative review between the authentic practices of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and practices of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and President Ziaur Rahman in the fields of foreign relation. For the past years, it has truly been seen that the Islamic world had failed in gaining success and retrieving the lost power of Muslim leaders. Due to the nature of the topic, the researcher relied on four major methods through his study, i.e.: the deductive method for moving the mind from some issues of Islamic international relations and diplomacy to other issues, which are the results; the inductive method for referring to the issues of Islamic affairs and diplomacy through collecting the situation and activities of Muslim leaders from various Muslim countries and nationalities; the analytical and comparative methods for analysing the classical texts related to the topic, discussing and comparing the policies, actions and opinions of Muslim politicians of Bangladesh President Mujib and President Zia, then giving preference in accordance with the rules of tarjih (preference). The researcher highlighted the specific foreign policy, position of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh globally during the period of President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and President Ziaur Rahman. The research elaborated the initial structure of foreign policy, relations and diplomatic acts after the liberation war of Bangladesh. The dissertation conducted a comparative study between the most important actions and diplomatic stances that were taken during the two most prestigious Presidents of Bangladesh and the prophetic practices. The study reached some academic findings. the most important of which is that Islamic affairs, relations and diplomacy, which have been founded from the perspective of prophetic practices, are the arts of Islamic international relation preserving the objectives of the Islamic State vis-a-vis other states by applying the wisdom, the intelligence and the best manners. With regard to the original attitude of the Islamic state principles towards others, it is confirmed that the central theme in the Islamic international relation is peace, harmony and cooperation, which assures fulfilment of the rights of all state’s citizens.