I say this without hesitation: fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh are openly spreading hatred against India. The security situation around the Indian High Commission has deteriorated to such an extent that visa application centres had to be shut down for a day. India summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner in New Delhi, Riaz Hamidullah, and conveyed its concerns in unequivocal terms. However, instead of calming the situation, Bangladesh’s leader, Muhammad Yunus, appears determined to escalate tensions.
Although Yunus has announced elections for February, the period leading up to them has been marked by violence and instability. Sharif Usman Hadi, a key figure in the movement opposing Sheikh Hasina, was shot dead by masked assailants. Reports now claim that the perpetrators have fled to India, a narrative that has further inflamed passions among fundamentalist groups.
This atmosphere of incitement has led to horrifying consequences. A Hindu युवक, Deepu Chandra Das, was brutally beaten to death; his body was then hung from a tree and set on fire. Yet, Muhammad Yunus has taken no visible action. Adding to the concern, the offices of two prominent newspapers—Prothom Alo and The Daily Star—both known for speaking out against fundamentalism, were set ablaze. The silence of the authorities on these attacks is deeply troubling. These newspapers have been branded “pro-India,” making it clear that the objective of fundamentalist forces is to create such chaos that India’s voice is completely drowned out.
At the same time, Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League has been barred from contesting the upcoming elections. India, meanwhile, has merely reiterated its principled position that elections in its neighborhood should be free, fair, and inclusive.
Mohammad Yunus is furious about the word “inclusive” because he believes it means the Awami League should also be in the election fray. Just think, Bangladesh, which was liberated from Pakistan’s clutches and given birth as a new nation by India, is now openly expressing dreams of breaking up India. Retired Brigadier General Abdullahil Aman Azmi, tainted by corruption and numerous other allegations, repeatedly states that peace will only come to Bangladesh when India is fragmented. Hasnat Abdullah, the Chief Organizer (South) of the National Citizen Party, says that Bangladesh will separate India’s Seven Sister states (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura) from India. After the Pulwama attack, retired Major General Fazlur Rahman said that if India attacks Pakistan, Bangladesh, along with China and Pakistan, should seize the Seven Sister states. And Yunus remains silent?
No, he is not silent. He is himself involved in fanning the flames, because he is the real puppet of Pakistan. You may recall that he himself went to China and said that Bangladesh is the guardian of India’s seven states because these states are landlocked, and China should expand its trade in Bangladesh. What can you say about such foolish statements? Who will remind him that 94 percent of Bangladesh’s border is with India, and he is trying to threaten that very country? This is a calculated move by Mohammad Yunus to spread so much venom against India that fundamentalist forces are elected in Bangladesh, and then power falls into the hands of Pakistani handlers. When I use the word “handlers,” it includes the Pakistani Army, the intelligence agency ISI, and the terrorist organizations spread throughout Pakistan.
The current situation being created against India there is due to the fear among fundamentalists that people sympathetic to Sheikh Hasina might get elected. Sheikh Hasina had kept a tight leash on Islamic fundamentalists during her tenure and didn’t allow Pakistan to even come close. Now, those who harbor terrorists have orchestrated a plot against her, but Sheikh Hasina is beyond their reach. She is in Delhi. Bangladesh is demanding that Sheikh Hasina be handed over to them, but the question is, why? Betraying a friend is not in India’s nature. We stand with Sheikh Hasina and will continue to do so. The fundamentalists want to intimidate India, which is why the protesters marched towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Their intention was to destroy the High Commission, just like the American embassy was set ablaze in Pakistan in 1979.
The ISI is plotting the same in Dhaka, but those currently in power in Bangladesh should understand that India has the power to strike deep inside their territory. We know how to deal with terrorists. Whether you hide under America’s wing, sit in China’s lap, or collaborate with the Pakistanis, no one will come to your rescue. It is in your best interest to stay within your limits. On a different note… I have just returned from Delhi and am quite worried about the air quality there. In many areas of Delhi, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has crossed 600. An AQI above 100 is considered unhealthy. Just imagine the state of Delhi. The question keeps recurring in my mind: if India has become so scientifically advanced, can’t we find a solution to this smog? Are people simply being left to die?
