The secret of the high respect that he inspired among those who knew him and worked with him can be very simply stated. He was an exceptionally decent and fair minded person during whose time discipline was at a high level. There was an air of predictability. All officers felt motivated to work hard and produce their best. Everyone knew that merit and commitment were the sole determinants of success and no one would be unfairly treated.

Prof. Huq, though apparently handicapped by a lack of any background in foreign affairs, when he joined foreign office, had a raft of other formidable advantages. He was a distinguished academic of the country and had a good image, untainted by any controversy. His repertoire of experience was something not many could match. Beginning his career in education service, he rose steadily. His background included a tenure as Director of Public Instruction (DPI) in East Pakistan, Vice Chancellorship of Rajshahi University and Dhaka University, and a stint as Central Education Minister from 1969-71. President Ziaur Rahman offered him the position of Foreign Minister in March 1975. After carefully weighing various implications, Prof. Huq accepted the offer. He adorned the position with distinction and went on to render significant service to the country.

His contributions as our Foreign Minister should be reckoned to be especially noteworthy because that was a challenging period of our diplomacy. The time following the terrible coup of 15 August 1975 was marked by huge uncertainties for Bangladesh. Our relations with India, our most important neighbour went into a limbo. The welter of internal turmoil that continually roiled Bangladesh at that juncture meant that our credibility to the world was on a severe test. A very carefully calibrated reconfiguration of our foreign policy was an urgent imperative of the time. Prof. Huq played an admirable role as Foreign Minister at that testing time. He showed a great instinct of our foreign relations priorities. His insightful mind, stellar common sense, and his ability to establish good rapport with leaders of other countries proved invaluable in the conception and execution of what was essentially a very pragmatic approach for the promotion of our foreign policy interests.

If one reads his book "Bangladesh in International Politics" one can see how clear headedly Prof. Haq understood Bangladesh's geopolitical concerns. The book contains comprehensive analysis of our foreign policy challenges. In my humble view, his book can be called a valued manual on how best Bangladesh can conduct its foreign policy. The global scene has vastly changed since Prof. Haq wrote his book but his observations have not lost their relevance and validity even today.

Of all his accomplishments as Foreign Minster, his conduct of our diplomacy in regard India was perhaps most remarkable. In the wake 15th August trauma and the subsequent jail killings that virtually decimated the Awami League leadership, an ominous chill descended on Indo-Bangladesh relations. The advent of a new government in Bangladesh led by an army general created deep resentment in India. In Indian scheme of things, this development in Bangladesh represented a colossal setback. I was serving in our High Commission in New Delhi at that time. I remember vividly how radically the friendly tone of relationship gave way to a bleak atmosphere. The Congress Government of Mrs. Ghandhi began to treat the new government in Bangladesh with deep suspicion, if not hostility. After taking charge of the foreign relations, Prof. Haq set about the task of mending the damaged relationship. Success did not come immediately, until a change of government in India, an opportunity Prof. Huq seized adroitly. In this complex and difficult enterprise, he had the support of President Zia. His first visit to New Delhi was very fruitful.

He quickly established good raport with Indian PM Mr. Desai as well as with the Foreign Minister Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee. A process was set in motion that created a positive momentum in the relationship. Prof Haq was instrumental in creating a congenial environment, with active support of President Ziaur Rahman, that led to the signing of a five-year Ganges water sharing agreement between the two countries. In his book Prof Haq has mentioned that at a sensitive stage of Ministeral level water talks at Dhaka in April, 1977, stalemate threatened. Prof Huq intervened to save the talks from collaose, by arranging a last minute meeting between president Zia and Mr. Jagjivan Ram. A water sharing agreement was finally signed in November 1977 over which both sides felt satisfied.

I served in India on two diplomatic assignments at very different times (1973-75) and (1990-93.] My experiences gave me some understanding of how Indo-Bangladesh relations work, the things that deter and the things that drive the relationship. I will quote a few observations from Prof Haq's book which I feel the practitioners of our India diplomacy should heed.

"Where the issue is complex, legal and technical ramifications, formal official talks involving experts invariably lead to prolonged and endless debates with little or nothing accomplished because the parties are reluctant or unable to deviate form their respective brief. On such issues, tangible and speedy results can be obtained only through quiet personal diplomacy at the appropriate political level. It struck a responsive chord in my mind and stood me in good stead on many critical occasions. This strategy in essence underlined the critical role of human factor in external relations, overriding all other factors as in all human and social relations. I repeated this advice to my young friends in Bangladesh Foreign service. I found personal and patient diplomacy yielding excellent results in the management of a number of crises in Bangladesh relations with important countries including India , U. S. A and USSR."

Professor Haq's book shows how serious he was in taking lessons from his experiences.

A good man, a man of enlightenment, when he goes, makes a difference to those who have known him. Now when I think of Professor Shamsul Haq, a sad realisation ails me that his ilk is fast getting extinct. May Almighty grant him salvation.

Ziaus Shams Chowdhury is a former Ambassador.