MD Pathik Hasan
Public diplomacy is also called people’s
diplomacy. Public
diplomacy between Pakistan and Bangladesh is very necessary to bolster the ties
between two brotherly nations. It is the ‘Public Diplomacy’ which can bring the
two countries under an umbrella. People to People contact can initiate to
strengthen the ties melting the ice between two brotherly and neighboring
states.
Where government-to-government
diplomacy fails, public diplomacy is very effective there to strengthen the
ties. People-to-people contact between the two countries can turn into a
holistic diplomatic approach between two countries. Then, formal official
diplomacy between the two governments is possible. People-to-people contact
diplomacy between Pakistan and Bangladesh may be Cricket diplomacy, cultural
exchange of people between two countries, communications amongst the authors,
writers, professors, students, businesses, businessmen etc.
Communication between authors,
professors, writers, the general public is a kind of public diplomacy. By this
diplomatic approach, authors from both countries can contact each other. Media
publications and outlets can play a strong role in this connection. For
example, Bangladeshi writers didn’t write normally in Pakistani media outlets
and vice versa. To some extent, there are some issues with that. But after a
long time, some Bangladesh writers including me (of course new generation)
starts to write in Pakistani media outlets. This time, we see a new trend of
communication amongst the people between Pakistan and Bangladesh. They are
sending their write-ups continuously to Pakistani media outlets. Basically,
they want to establish relations with Pakistani authors, people through
Pakistani media outlets. They are interested to build up a strong relationship
with the other parts. Not only do they want to establish relations, bondage but
also expressed their views on Pakistan. They are also interested to inform the
Pakistani generation about Bangladesh. Won’t it be a good sign for
strengthening the ties?
We want to know about Pakistani
society, strengthen our ties and bondage with Pakistani people. We want to
publish our write-ups in Pakistani media outlets on Bangladesh,
Bangladesh-Pakistan ties, new generation’s thinking on Pakistan. We wanted to
inform Pakistani people about modern Bangladesh. We tried to reach out to
Pakistani people through Pakistani media outlets. Basically, we wanted to
convey our messages to the Pakistani people. Isn’t it public diplomacy? One
day, this type of Public Diplomacy can turn into formal state-level diplomacy.
Social media, print
media have a great role to connect people with each other. Pakistani media outlets especially
print media can and should play role in this regard. They should cooperate with
Bangladeshi writers. They should show their interest to publish their write-ups
in Pakistani media outlets. The publishers and editors of Pakistani media
outlets should consider this with special attention.
Basically, media can play a strong
role in the case of public diplomacy. The owners, publishers, and editors of
Pakistani media outlets should understand, think and consider this because this
type of public diplomacy can normalize the bilateral ties between two states.
One day, Pakistan and Bangladesh would be regional allies for ensuring their
mutual interest. Bilateral business, trade, a cultural exchange may be
smoothened.
Pakistani media outlets such as ‘Pakistan Today’ can play a strong
role to make public opinion to influence the policymakers of Pakistan for
smoothing the strained ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The Pakistan Today is a widely circulated
English-language newspaper in Pakistan. Pakistan Today is a popular and liberal
daily in Pakistan. Pakistan
Today is a Pakistani English-language daily newspaper, published by Nawa Media Corporation from three Pakistani cities – Lahore, Punjab; Karachi, Sindh; and Islamabad, Islamabad Capital
Territory. The newspaper was
founded by its editor and publisher, senior journalist,former federal minister Arif Nizami, in 2010.
According to their media outlets, policymakers and decision-makers
read the news publication regularly. Its hard-hitting insightful editorials and
opinions are keenly followed by the government, lawmakers, diplomats, and
business people alike.
Pakistan Today can play a very important role in strengthening the
ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan through public diplomacy. It has been
publishing some pertinent news, reports, articles related to
Bangladesh-Pakistan relations. It has been publishing many write-ups regarding
the current strained ties between Pakistan-Bangladesh and its solution.
Pakistan’s ‘Pakistan Today’ can play a strong role in this regard.
Accordingly, Pakistan’s ‘Pakistan Today’ can and should play a very significant
role to smooth the strained relations by influencing the policymakers, public
through their heart-hitting write-ups in these such ways:
Pakistan Today can publish all kinds of news, reports, and
editorials articles regarding Pakistan-Bangladesh brotherly ties to make a
public opinion that pressurizes the policymakers in smoothing the bilateral
relations.
It can publish satire. It can also publish poll opinions.
It can influence Pakistan’s civil society by publishing its nice
write-ups.
Pakistan Today is a very fine and excellent newspaper in Pakistan.
The accuracy, credibility, and acceptability of publications in ‘Pakistan
Today’ are very high. So, it should create public opinion in favor of
bolstering relations between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
The government of Pakistan, its decision-makers, and people know
well about Pakistan Today. Thus, it is very easy for Pakistan Today to
influence the policymakers and people of Pakistan to some extent the
decision-makers.
Pakistan Today has started to publish the write-ups of Bangladeshi
writes from August 01, 2021. That was the great decision of the decision-makers
of the ‘Pakistan Today’. Now, many Bangladeshi writers are interested to write
in Pakistani media outlets. But Pakistan Today has started this. They are
continuing it. These types of activities will turn into people-to-people
cooperation between the two states. People of both states will be able to know
each other. Obstacles and barriers would remove. Pakistan Today has
already circulated much news, editorial, opinions on Pakistan-Bangladesh
relations how to further strengthen the bilateral ties, people-to-people
contact through public opinion such as:
1) Why Bangladesh should use CPEC? (August 01, 2021)
2) Why Bangladesh should use Gwadar port? (September 26, 2021)
3) Russia-Bangladesh
Nuclear Cooperation provides benefits for Bangladesh
4) Don’t accuse Bangladesh
5) A
golden chance for Pakistan
6) Chittagong-Ranong
connectivity could boost SAARC-ASEAN trade if connected to Gwadar and Chabahar
7) Bangladesh needs Sri Lanka in Rohingya refugee crisis
solution
8) Apology to Bangladesh could change the region’s current
geopolitics
9)Myanmar
and Bangladesh must strengthen ties
10)Strategic significance of the Bay of Bengal and
Bangladesh’s ‘Balancing Capability’
11) Why and
how Bangladesh is moving forward?
12) The international community must fulfill its
responsibility to Bangladesh
13)
Now the target should be a Security Council resolution?
14)CHT in Bangladesh towards peace and prosperity
16)Bangladesh’s Assistance to Sri Lanka increases its image
and prestige
17)The Padma Bridge Proves Bangladeshi Economic
Potential
18)
Who will bear the financial burden of the Rohingya?
20) The Message for South
Asia
21)
AUKUS- Are We Entering A New Cold War?
All
are written by Bangladeshi writers. Good job Pakistan Today. You are doing very
well to strengthen the ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh. We Bangladeshi
people really appreciate the role of Pakistan Today in this regard.
As Bangladeshi, we always appreciate the role of ‘Pakistan Today’ regarding the
‘Media Coverage on the issue. Pakistan’s other media outlets can and should
follow the footprint of the ‘Pakistan Today’. Pakistan Today has established a
strong example for other media outlets. Their motive is very positive. One day,
people of the two states can definitely benefit from the initiative taken by
‘Pakistan Today’.
We (Bangladeshi people) hope, Pakistan Today will continue it. One
day, policymakers in this country will understand this.
The strained bilateral ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh would
be resolved one day and the whole region will benefit from that.
We think that the role of Pakistan Today is very positive in this
regard. It is on the right track. So, Pakistan Today has been playing a very
significant role to create positive public opinion in this regard. They are
trying to bring the people between Pakistan and Bangladesh under an umbrella.
They took the great initiative. It is continuously publishing the write-ups,
articles written by Bangladeshi writers to increase the people-to-people
contact. One day, this people-to-people contact turn into
government-to-government contact. The bilateral ties between the two states
will be further strengthened. Bangladeshi citizens hope and appreciate the
significant role of the Pakistan Today.
