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Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh Hindus Protest Targeted Violence, Muhammad Yunus Calls Attacks “Heinous”

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Bangladesh Hindus Protest Targeted Violence, Muhammad Yunus Calls Attacks 'Heinous'

Members of Bangladesh Hindu, Buddha, Christian Unity Council protest against violence towards minorities.

New Delhi:

The Hindu community in Bangladesh spending anxious hours in the wake of resignation of Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister and facing the spillovers of the violent protests over a quota-related issue in the South Asian nation on Sunday came out on streets in large numbers in the port city of Chittagong, demanding safety for their lives, properties and places of worship while proclaiming ‘Bangladesh is our motherland and we won’t go anywhere’.

There have been reports of widespread and targeted violence against the Hindus in Bangladesh, with the matter being taken note by the UN which called out the interim Bangladeshi government led by Mohammed Yunus to safeguard the minorities.

Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Yunus, who was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday, has also condemned the attacks on the minority communities, terming them as “heinous”.

“Are they not the people of this country? You (students) have been able to save this country; can’t you save some families? They are my brothers… we fought together, and we will stay together,” the Nobel Prize winner told students at a Bangladeshi university recently.

On Sunday, Hindus and other minorities – under the aegis of ‘Bangladesh Hindu, Buddha, Christian Unity Group – took out a massive protest rally against the alleged attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina resigned in the aftermath of violent protests on August 5 and fled the country. Hindus in Bangladesh have been traditional supporters of Hasina’s Awami League party.

“Our soil, our mother is Bangladesh. We will never leave our mother,” read one of the placards seen during the protest rally.

“Save Bangladeshi Hindu Society. Save Hindus!” another appeal read.

Sunday’s protests saw the participation of people belonging to numerous minorities led by the Hindus, a prominent minority group in the country.

The protesters also waved the Bangladeshi national flag along with a saffron-colour flag depicting Lord Ram with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ written.

He also urged the students, who are at the forefront of the protests, to protect all Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist families from any harm

The protesting Hindus, in Chittagong, also questioned why their places of worship are being attacked.

“We need answers. Why is this happening to us? We want to live in peace. Let us live,” read another placard at the site of the protest rally.

“Why are our sisters and mothers being physically harassed,” another hand-written note on cardboard flashed during the ‘demand for justice rally’ read.

Since August 5, at least 232 people have reportedly died in various attacks and conflicts across Bangladesh while there have also been at least 205 incidents of attacks in 52 districts against the minorities since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government.

According to media reports, over 100 Hindus and other minorities have been killed across the country since the fall of the previous government.

The Chittagong protests on Sunday witnessed overwhelming emotions with the minorities expressing their anger, anxiety and apprehensions, with the hope that authorities taking necessary steps to address their worries.

Ironically — considering the current unrest in the country — ‘AMAR SONAR BANGLA’ placard also featured during the protests. Translating to ‘My Golden Bengal’, it is the national anthem of Bangladesh written by the Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore who is also the composer of the Indian national anthem.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Shashi Tharoor On Sheikh Hasina In India

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Shashi Tharoor spoke to NDTV on implications of Bangladesh developments leading to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster

New Delhi:

Praising the Centre for giving refuge to Sheikh Hasina after she was forced to resign as Bangladesh Prime Minister amid violent protests, Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor told NDTV that the power shift in the neighbouring country is not a cause for worry for India.

Asked about his views on how the developments in Bangladesh would impact its ties with India, Mr Tharoor said, “Our fundamental interest lies in close and friendly relations with Bangladesh, our basic commitment is to the well-being of Bangladesh people, the State comes second and any individual leader comes third.”

“We are with the people of Bangladesh, we were with them in 1971, we have been with them through thick and thin, even when they had governments who were less than friendly to us, we have managed to keep our relationship on an even keel and certainly there should be no deterioration in that relationship in time to come,” he added.

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On the interim government headed by Nobel peace prize winner and Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus, he said it’s no cause for anxiety for New Delhi. “I know Muhammad Yunus personally, he is a highly respected figure. I suppose he is somewhat close to Washington rather than being seen as close to Jamaat e Islami or Pakistani ISI. If you look at the overall composition of the interim government, there doesn’t seem to be any particular reason for India to feel any anxiety about countries hostile to us having put their stamp on this interim government,” he said.

The big concern for India, he said, has always been whether Pakistan and China will fish in troubled waters. “In this kind of context, there is always a possibility that the Pakistani ISI could have had a hand in some outrageous incidents of violence during the agitation, that the Chinese who have a strong presence in Bangladesh might have seen this as an opportunity to expand their influence, those are things people watching relations in the subcontinent are most concerned about. But certainly there is no implication of anything in the composition of the interim government or the initial statements of Mr Yunus that would give us any cause for worry,” he said, underlining the interim leader’s call for peace and protection of minorities.

On India giving refuge to Sheikh Hasina following her ouster, Mr Tharoor had words of praise for the Narendra Modi government. “If we had not helped her, it would have been a disgrace for India. Nobody would have wanted to be our friend if we had treated our friend badly. Sheikh Hasina is a friend of India and India is a friend of her. And when a friend is in trouble, you don’t look twice before you help them, keep them safe. That’s exactly what India has done. I applaud the government for doing it. I would have wanted nothing less. As an Indian, we have certain standards we stand for in the world. The government has done right thing to bring her here and ensure her safety,” he said.

“How long she wishes to remain is not for us. You don’t call someone to your house and ask them when are you leaving. My view is we wait and see, how long she feels she can stay before she moves on. There are practical considerations before moving to any other country, there ae visa considerations, other issues. For now, She is with us and we should be proud of the fact that we have stood by a friend when her personal safety was in danger,” Mr Tharoor said.

In his response to a question on whether the Indian government should raise concerns regarding attacks on minorities more forcefully, he conflicting reports are coming out of Bangladesh. “There certainly have been some attacks, no one can deny it, no one should deny it. It’s a fact. At the same time, there is no doubt that there are also stories coming out that Bangladeshi Muslims are guarding Hindu homes and temples, So there is a bit of good news also during all the bad news,” he said.

The Congress leader saw hope in Muhammad Yunus’s address after taking charge of the interim government. “Prof Yunus’s statement that the government stands by the minorities and urges people to be calm and stop acts of violence, that’s a very good sign. Any continuing violence will be definitely instigated by those elements in Bangladesh’s society who have traditionally been anti-Indian, anti-Hindu and will do whatever it takes to create the conditions of disorder that may give them the opportunity to fish in troubled waters. But for now, I don’t believe there is any one authority who wants to see that situation continue,” he said.

Sheikh Hasina, who had to step down after protests against reservation in Bangladesh snowballed into a movement demanding her ouster, has been in India for nearly a week now. Following her arrival, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar chaired an all-party meeting and briefed leaders from Opposition parties on the situation and the government’s plan. The Opposition has assured full support to the Centre on tackling this crisis.

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India arrests Bangladeshis escaping political turmoil after Hasina’s ouster

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India has detained nearly a dozen Bangladeshi nationals attempting to cross the border as they fled escalating violence and political unrest following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 

Border officials reported on Monday that hundreds more are gathered along the frontier, pleading for entry into India.

Sheikh Hasina, who resigned abruptly on August 5 after 15 years in power, fled to India amidst rising violence targeting minority communities in Bangladesh.

Hindus, who represent the largest minority group and are a key support base for Hasina’s Awami League, have been particularly affected, with reports of widespread attacks on their homes, temples, and businesses.

India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has arrested 11 Bangladeshis since Sunday as they attempted to cross into West Bengal. 

BSF deputy inspector general Amit Kumar Tyagi stated that several hundred more remain stranded in no-man’s land along the border, seeking refuge.

Bangladesh shares a 4,000-kilometre (2,485-mile) border with India, much of which is unfenced. 

The situation has also seen four Bangladeshis being “repelled” from Assam, according to the state’s chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The fall of Hasina has put India on high alert, given her administration’s balancing act of fostering strong ties with both India and China. India’s home minister, Amit Shah, announced that a committee has been formed to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of Indian nationals, Hindus, and other minorities in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has expressed concern over the attacks on minorities and pledged to address the situation urgently.

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Hindus, Facing Violence, Hold Massive Rally In Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus Responds

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Hindus, Facing Violence, Hold Massive Rally In Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus Responds

Minority communities in Bangladesh have faced more than 205 incidents of attacks since August 5.

New Delhi:

Lakhs of Hindus took to the streets in Bangladesh on Saturday to protest against the ongoing attacks on the community after Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India.

Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka and Chittagong, the second-largest city in the country, witnessed lakhs of people attending the massive rallies.

Bangladesh Hindu community members participate in a protest and block the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka

Bangladesh Hindu community members participate in a protest and block the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka
Photo Credit: PTI

Members of minority communities in violence-hit Bangladesh have faced more than 205 incidents of attacks across 52 districts since the fall of the Ms Hasina-led government on August 5.

Hundreds of Hindus are believed to have been injured in attacks on their homes and businesses.

Several Hindu temples have also been vandalised and at least two Hindu leaders affiliated with Ms Hasina’s Awami League party have so far been killed in the violence.

Thousands of Bangladeshi Hindus have also been trying to flee to neighbouring India to escape the violence.

Popular Indian restaurant Santoor was vandalised and set on fire in Dhaka on Saturday

Popular Indian restaurant ‘Santoor’ was vandalised and set on fire in Dhaka on Saturday
Photo Credit: AFP

Demanding special tribunals to expedite trials of those who persecute the minorities, allocation of 10 per cent parliamentary seats for the minorities, and enactment of a minority protection law among others, the Hindu demonstrators’ rally blocked traffic for over three hours at Shahbagh in the central part of Dhaka.

Thousands of Muslim protestors, including students, also joined them expressing solidarity for the cause of minorities.

In Chittagong, a huge gathering was held at the historic Cheragi Pahar Square.

Hindus hold a massive protest rally in Chittagong

Hindus hold a massive protest rally in Chittagong
Photo Credit: IANS

According to some reports, over seven lakh people attended the rally.

Similar demonstrations were held in the US and the UK.

Bangladesh’s Interim Leader On Attacks On Minorities 

Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Saturday condemned attacks on the minority communities in the violence-hit nation, terming them as “heinous”.

Mr Yunus, a Nobel laureate, also urged the students, who are at the forefront of the protests, to protect all Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist families from harm.

“Are they not the people of this country? You have been able to save the country; can’t you save some families?… You must say – no one can harm them. They are my brothers; we fought together, and we will stay together,” the 84-year-old asserted, underscoring the need for national unity.

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Sheikh Hasina, Awami League, Bangladesh Protests: Could Have Stayed In Power If…: Sheikh Hasina’s Undelivered Speech

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Sheikh Hasina's Undelivered Speech Had Big Charge Against US

Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign as Bangladesh PM and flee Dhaka amid protests

New Delhi:

Before she resigned as Bangladesh Prime Minister and fled her Dhaka residence, Sheikh Hasina wanted to address the nation, especially the protesters whose agitation forced her to quit the top job. That speech was never delivered as the protesters reached her doorstep and the country’s top security officers advised to leave at the earliest.

Big Charge Against US

Now in India, the 76-year-old has spoken to her close associates about the undelivered speech, accessed by NDTV. In the letter, Sheikh Hasina has accused the US for plotting a regime change in the country and would have said this in her speech if she got a chance.

“I resigned so that I did not have to see the procession of dead bodies. They wanted to come to power over the dead bodies of students, but I did not allow it. I resigned from premiership. I could have remained in power if I had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed America to hold sway over the Bay of Bengal. I beseech to the people of my land, please do not be manipulated by radicals,” her undelivered speech says.

The Saint Martin island has an area of just 3 square kilometres and is located in the northeastern part of Bay of Bengal. It is the southernmost part of Bangladesh.

The Awami League leader had to resign and flee the country amid violent protests by students that started as an agitation against reservation and snowballed into a stand-off with the Sheikh Hasina government. Over 400 protesters were killed as the veteran leader tried to crush the protests.

Hasina Clarifies Razakar Remark

“If I had remained in the country, more lives would have been lost more resources would have been destroyed. I made the extremely difficult decision to exit. I became your leader because you chose me, you were my strength,” the undelivered speech says.

It adds that she is pained by the targeting of Awami League leaders and that she “will return soon”. “Awami League has stood up again and again. I shall forever pray for the future of Bangladesh.”

She also clarified that she never called the protesting students Razakars.

In one of the statements during the protests, Sheikh Hasina had said, “If not the grandchildren of the freedom fighters, then who will get quota benefits? The grandchildren of the ‘Razakars’?” The word, used to refer to a paramilitary force recruited by the Pakistani army during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, sparked a massive backlash and the protests intensified. In her undelivered address to the nation, the Awami League leader has said, “I have never called you Razakars. Rather my words were distorted to incite you. I request you to watch the full video.”

Hasina’s Rocky Ties With US

Relations between the US and Bangladesh had nosedived during Sheikh Hasina’s term so much so that Washington DC had said the January elections in which Awami League returned to power were not free or fair.

Months before her exit, Sheikh Hasina had claimed that “conspiracies” were being hatched to topple her government and alleged a “white man’s” plot to carve a new “Christian country” out of Bangladesh and Myanmar. “If I allowed a certain country to build an airbase in Bangladesh, then I would have had no problem,” she had said in May.

Following her resignation and escape, the US said, “The United States has long called for respecting democratic rights in Bangladesh, and we urge that the interim government formation be democratic and inclusive.” Washington DC also said that the US greatly values its relationship with the people of Bangladesh.

Earlier, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller had condemned the violence against protesters. “We condemn any violence against peaceful protesters. We’ve been watching this matter very closely, both from our embassy and officials here in Washington. (We) have been monitoring the protests, have seen the reports of people dying, being killed in the protests. And we again, call on the government to uphold individual’s rights to protest peacefully,” he had said.

What’s Happening In Bangladesh

With Sheikh Hasina gone, an interim government under Nobel peace prize winner and Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus has taken charge. Amid reports of attacks on minorities, he has asked students leading the protests to ensure that they their efforts are sabotaged.

“There are many standing by to make your efforts futile. Don’t fail this time,” he said, urging them to protect Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist families from harm. “Are they not the people of this country? You have been able to save the country; can’t you save some families?…You must say – no one can harm them. They are my brothers; we fought together, and we will stay together,” he has said.

In a major development, Bangladesh’s Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and five other top judges on Saturday were forced to resign amid massive student protests demanding a revamp of the judiciary.

Several other top officials, including Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Maksud Kamal, have also quit after protests.

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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar On Congress Leader’s “Bangladesh Can Happen Here” Remark

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'Keep Watch': Veep On Congress Leader's 'Bangladesh Can Happen Here' Remark

Guard against the narrative advanced by some that what happened in Bangladesh can happen in India, advised Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, taking a swipe at Congress leaders and expressing shock and surprise at the equivalence drawn between the two south Asian neighbours.

Sheikh Hasina, 76, quit as prime minister in the face of a student-led uprising on Monday and fled by helicopter to longtime ally New Delhi.

“Be on watch out. Efforts by some to infuse a narrative that what happened in our neighbourhood is bound to happen in our Bharat, is deeply concerning. How can a citizen of this country having been a Member of Parliament, and the other who has seen enough of Foreign Service takes no time in saying that what happened in the neighbourhood will happen in India,” said the Vice President at the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur today.

On Tuesday, Congress leader Salman Khurshid, at a book release function, said that though “everything may look normal on the surface”, what is happening in Bangladesh could happen in India.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who was also present at the event, said on Wednesday that he could not explain what Mr Khurshid meant but the larger message that Bangladesh has given is about the importance of democracy and free and fair elections.

BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy castigated Mr Khurshid and termed his remarks “anarchist”.

Ms Hasina’s last 15 years in power were marked by arrests of opposition leaders, crackdowns on free speech and suppression of dissent.

Protests began in June after student groups’ demands for the scrapping of a controversial quota system in government jobs escalated into a movement seeking the end of her rule.

India too witnessed massive protests over the controversial citizenship law and the new farm laws in the recent years.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus and his newly named interim government set out Friday to restore “law and order” after a student-led uprising and deadly mass protests forced Ms Hasina, the five-time prime minister, to flee the country.

Officials of Hasina’s former ruling party, the Awami League, have gone into hiding after revenge attacks saw some of their offices torched, while former opposition groups such as the key Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are rebuilding after years of crushing repression.

In the immediate aftermath of Hasina’s fall, some businesses and homes owned by Hindus were attacked, a group seen by some in Muslim-majority Bangladesh as having been her supporters.

Bangladeshi Hindus account for around eight percent of the country’s population.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged “safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities”.

More than 450 people were killed in the unrest leading up to Hasina’s departure, including dozens of police officers killed during clampdowns on demonstrations.

The caretaker administration Mr Yunus, 84, helms has said that restoration of law and order is its “first priority”.



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Why Bangladesh Chief Justice, Sheikh Hasina Loyalist, Was Forced To Quit

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Why Bangladesh Chief Justice, Sheikh Hasina Loyalist, Was Forced To Quit

Bangladesh violence has resulted in the death of over 400 in the last month.

Dhaka:

The Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Obaidul Hassan, resigned today following massive protests by students who surrounded the Supreme Court. Mr Hassan agreed to resign “in principle” after an ultimatum to do so from protesters. He was appointed to helm the Supreme Court last year and is seen as a loyalist to ousted premier Sheikh Hasina.

Hundreds of protesters, largely comprising students, surrounded the Bangladesh Supreme Court, demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Justice. The situation escalated rapidly, with reports suggesting the Chief Justice fled the premises before announcing his resignation.

The Bangladesh protests were sparked by a full-court meeting called by the Chief Justice without consulting the newly formed interim government. Student protestors alleged that the judges of the court are part of a conspiracy, prompting outrage and demands for accountability.

As tensions mounted, the scheduled full-court meeting was abruptly called off. Protestors, undeterred, continued to besiege the Supreme Court, giving the Chief Justice a one-hour ultimatum to step down.

The fresh protests come days after a student-led uprising against government hiring rules resulted in Nobel peace prize winner Muhammad Yunus taking charge of a caretaker government.

At least 450 people were killed in more than a month of deadly protests that ended the autocratic rule of 76-year-old prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina faces allegations of murder, forced disappearance, money laundering and corruption, and must face the law, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party said.

Hasina, one of Asia’s longest-serving leaders, resigned and fled Bangladesh on August 5 under pressure from millions of protesters who had taken to the streets for weeks to demand she step down.

An interim government was appointed in Bangladesh Thursday, led by Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus. Under the constitution, an election needs to be called within 90 days, although Yunus, the military – which backs the interim government – and the president haven’t commented on when elections will be held.

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Sheikh Hasina’s Son To NDTV

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'Have Become Face Of Awami League By Default': Sheikh Hasina's Son To NDTV

Mr Wazed is an IT entrepreneur based in Washington, DC.

New Delhi:

Days after his mother’s ouster, former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s son and former adviser Sajeeb Wazed has told NDTV that he would consider returning to the country and leading the Awami League if the party’s workers wanted him to.

In an exclusive interview on Friday, Mr Wazed said that his mother does not want to live in exile and would like to go back to Bangladesh. He also insisted that Ms Hasina wanted to retire for the last two terms as prime minister, but did not rule out her return to active politics.  

“I spoke with her (Ms Hasina) last night. She has no plans as of yet. She’s staying put. All the rumours about her applying for visas or asylum… none of those are true. What she really wants is to eventually go back to Bangladesh. Whether that’s to be in politics or to retire, it doesn’t matter. It’s her home. She has grown up there. This was going to be her last term anyway, she’s 76 years old. She wants to retire in her village home in Tungipara (in south Bangladesh). That has been her dream. She does not want to live in exile outside Bangladesh,” Mr Wazed said. 

When he was asked whether this would mean that Ms Hasina could return to active politics, Mr Wazed, who is an IT entrepreneur and lives in the US, said she would be the best person to answer but she was never in public life for herself. 

“She was in politics for her country, not because she wanted to be in power. She has been wanting to retire for the last two terms. In fact, she has been pushing me before every election to come and join politics. No one in our family has ever had ambition for power or politics,” he claimed.

So if he didn’t take her up on the offer at the time, would he do so now, considering that workers in his mother’s party, the Awami League, would be looking for leadership at this critical juncture? When this question was posed to Mr Wazed, he said that he has become the face of the party by default for now. 

“I guess by default I am, you know, I have become the face right now. I never wanted this. I have no political ambition, but as soon as I learned that our party leaders were being attacked, their homes burned down, I said I cannot just abandon them. So I am in touch with many of our party leaders. Almost all our ministers’ homes have been burned down, our ancestral home has been burned down… So in this situation, I will do whatever it takes. The Awami League still has tens of millions of followers, it is not going to disappear overnight,” he asserted. 

‘Workers Will Decide’

Stating that the Awami League could win the elections, as and when they are held, because of Ms Hasina’s record of development, the entrepreneur said that the party is a democratic one and the workers and leaders will decide who will be at the helm. 

“If the Awami League activists…they all demand that I come, I will think about it. It depends on the members of the party… If the party demands that she (Ms Hasina) be the leader, then she will be the leader. As I said, we are a democratic party. It is totally up to the members of the party to decide who their leader is going to be,” he said.

‘Government Without Mandate’

On the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, Mr Wazed said it has no mandate and the constitution provides for elections to be held within 90 days.

“The interim government has made no attempt to communicate with us. Today’s statement from  one of the advisers… it is unfortunate they they have taken the exact same playbook that has failed before. They have been placed in power by a tiny minority and perhaps with foreign support. They don’t have the mandate of the people of Bangladesh at all, and they think they will reform the country without a popular mandate… This is an unconstitutional, hand-picked government and it is in their interest to hold elections as soon as possible,” he alleged.

Asked whether his mother would be willing to return to Bangladesh to face charges, he said she had nothing to be afraid of. 

“During the last military takeover, they arrested my mother. They put her on trial and she was acquitted on all charges. My mother is not afraid of that. They want to play that game. We can play it again. What will happen if they try to put Sheikh Hasina on trial? Well, they can find out. My mother has done nothing illegal. She has done nothing wrong. If there are people in our government that have acted outside the law, those are the people that need to be tried. You cannot blame my mother,” he stressed. 

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Bangladesh’s New Reality May Not Bode Well For India’s Security

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An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has taken charge of a fractured Bangladesh after a meeting between President Mohammed Shahabuddin, military leaders and student activists. Promising to “uphold, support and protect the constitution”, Yunus has called for the restoration of law and order as his government faces the reality of the withering away of state apparatus. Sheikh Hasina is gone, but the real challenge begins now. A new reality confronts the people of Bangladesh. There is a new sense of optimism, but it is embedded in a deeply divided society and polity.

From Certainty To Doubts

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already extended his best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on his new role and has expressed hope for a swift return to normalcy, emphasising the importance of ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all minority communities. For India, challenges abound as Hasina, its long-standing partner, had to depart in ignominy. The certainty of the last 15 years has given way to a sense of the unknown. New Delhi had invested in its partnership with Dhaka confident that the Hasina dispensation would not let it down. As a result, a bilateral partnership that followed could not only resolve some of the most testing challenges but it also emerged as an anchor in the wider Bay of Bengal.

However, Hasina’s tendency to centralise decision-making and marginalise the opposition managed to limit Bangladesh’s evolution into a mature democracy. As Hasina drifted towards authoritarianism, New Delhi’s options got further curtailed. Now, India has to ensure that it manages to build ties with the new leadership in Dhaka.

Building New Relationships

After signalling clearly that India will stand by its allies by getting Hasina out of Bangladesh, the next step is to engage the emerging political stakeholders in Bangladesh. This is needed not only for the long-term stability of Delhi-Dhaka ties but also for managing the immediate challenges of protecting minorities within Bangladesh and stabilising the highly volatile border area.

India shares a largely porous 4,096 km of land border with Bangladesh. This border runs along the states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, areas once frequented by insurgent groups. However, under Hasina’s leadership, the border remained relatively calm, as these groups have been prevented from finding refuge in Bangladesh. There are already reports of turbulence and New Delhi has asked its border security forces to be on high alert. With India facing serious challenges along its borders with Pakistan and China, the new reality with Bangladesh bodes ill for national security.

Extremism Remains A Concern

The rise of Islamist extremism in Bangladesh is another challenge that New Delhi will be closely watching. Before Hasina, various extremist groups were flourishing under the patronage of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government. Many of these groups, such as the Ansarullah Bangla Team, the Hizb ut-Tahrir, and the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), have had links to various terrorist outfits based in Pakistan as well as to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The present situation in Bangladesh opens up new possibilities for reviving these links. Jamaat-e-Islami is widely viewed as a key instigator of the recent riots that toppled Hasina. The Hasina government had banned it in 2013, but today it has re-emerged as a major political force.

The systematic targeting of Hindus also poses a challenge to India-Bangladesh ties as it will harden the mood in New Delhi against any engagement with Dhaka. Domestic politics in both nations will have to maturely handle rapidly deteriorating perceptions about each other.

Balancing Other Neighbours

In recent years, the two South Asian neighbours have been focused on enhancing trade and connectivity so as to turn the Bay of Bengal into a hub of regional economic framework. Political trust is a crucial variable in shaping today’s economic partnerships. Unless the new government in Dhaka is able to generate trust in Delhi, it won’t be possible to revive the old paradigm of bilateral economic engagement. This would be a loss for India as its ability to make its northeastern region economically dynamic is premised on strong India-Bangladesh economic ties. But it would also be a loss for Bangladesh, which has effectively leveraged its two regional economic partners – India and China – to reinvigorate its economic potential.

New Delhi would also be wary of Pakistan and China trying to fish in the troubled waters of the Bay of Bengal. The logic of geography dictates that both Delhi and Dhaka will have to engage each other to nurture their aspiration. It is easy to forget how much despair there was about India-Bangladesh ties before Hasina had come to power. But at a time when India sees itself as a leading global power, it cannot afford to ignore the challenges emanating from its most important partner in South Asia.

(Harsh V Pant is Vice-President for Studies at ORF)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author

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