Tag: Sheikh Hasina

The Dhaka Seesaw

By Mahendra Ved

Providence has willed contrasting twists for the “Battling Begums of Bangladesh.” Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is exiled in India, facing a death sentence back home. Her arch-rival, Begum Khaleda Zia, the ailing two-term premier, battling for life, has the nation’s sympathy.

Bangladesh is election-bound, and Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is the front-runner. This explains why the ‘establishment’ led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus is working feverishly for her recovery, declaring her a ‘VIP’, after doctors’ advice that she is too weak to travel to London for advanced treatment.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has joined in with ‘concerns’ about her health and has offered any help Dhaka may require, ignoring bad vibes, on the day a probe panel alleged that 16 years ago, India was ‘involved’ in the mass killing of the neighbour’s border police in a mutiny. The charge is preposterous because Hasina had just assumed power, defeating both Zia and military machinations in an all-in election. Besides Hasina’s exile, this impacts the current election campaign. The perennial India factor is also Providence’s will.

London is where Zia’s elder son, Tarique, is exiled. Although he has no Bangladeshi passport, his homecoming poses no problem since the courts have cleared both mother and son of corruption charges.

Will Khaleda, 80, having multiple ailments, become the third-time premier if her party wins the elections next February? It will be tragic if she cannot, after many years of imprisonment and sufferings inflicted by the Hasina government. In that case, Tariq, 60, may lead Bangladesh. Like Yunus, targeted by Hasina, returned from the United States after student protests felled Hasina in August 2014. Providence, Providence, Providence!

The way for either Zia to come to power is paved by the ousting of the Hasina-led Awami League from the electoral arena. In Bangladesh, politics is a zero-sum game. If you win, you rule. If you lose, you boycott and protest, face court battles and imprisonment.

The Awami League ban reminds one of Hasina’s ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami. It was accused of ‘collaborating’ with the erstwhile East Pakistan regime in 1971. It is now a footnote in contemporary history as the Jamaat is back in the political mainstream and may again align with the BNP in the February elections. And so is Pakistan back in what was once its eastern province.

To return to the two women and the family legacies they inherit. Hasina’s father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was assassinated in 1975. Zia leads that of her husband, General Ziaur Rahman, also the President who was gunned down in 1981. The rival legacies have clashed for political primacy and power, of which bad personal vibes are a natural outcome.   

The only time the two Begums – Hasina never uses this prefix while Zia does – collaborated as part of a larger political alliance was in the late 1980s, to oust General H M Ershad. In the election that followed in 1991, Zia won, and Hasina lost. The tables turned in 1996, but Zia was back in power in 2001.

Rivalries sharpened all these years. One pushed the other to jail with graft charges. Dhaka’s Zia International Airport was renamed after Shah Jalal, a revered saint. Three attempts were made on Hasina’s life. She paid Zia back in the same political coin during 2009-2024.

They rarely met or shared a public platform. Among the more prominent was Hasina’s visit to the Zia home to console the death of younger son, Arafat. The prime minister waited, to be told by Zia’s staff that, under sedation, she was resting and unable to receive her.

Both women were out of power in 2006-08 when the military-backed caretaker government did not hold the elections as prescribed under the Constitution. That government failed to exile them. Hasina, in America to meet her family, was denied re-entry. She fought her way back home from London. Public opinion in Britain helped. Khaleda, too, offered freedom from jail and immunity for her sons, but refused to be exiled. The bizarre “minus-2” attempt failed, and Bangladesh was back to “Battling Begums”.

In fairness to Zia, she did not express joy at Hasina’s ouster. Her party, advocating “inclusive politics”, opposed the Awami League’s ban. Its swift switch-over has come only after it became clear that the Yunus regime is bent on a vengeful course against Hasina.

The prayers and public sympathy for Khaleda, with Yunus also joining in, are coupled with a special prayer organised at the Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s most prominent shrine of the largest minority community. It reflects, besides respect for a woman leader, which is typical of Bangladesh but rare in the Islamic world, how the political wind is blowing.

Perhaps, it is appropriate for this writer to record some memory flashbacks, having worked as a journalist in Dhaka. Both women are light-eyed and beautiful in a conventional Bengali/Asian sense.

In the years following independence, a bespectacled Hasina alternated between a housewife and a low-profile daughter of the prime minister who took an interest in students’ politics. Deeply political, she would watch her father at work. Comparisons were drawn, in whispers, though, with Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

Khaleda was a vivacious army wife, then in her late twenties, the cynosure of many eyes at diplomatic events as she walked with her soldier/freedom fighter husband. As the army’s Number 2 man, he was rising in influence. Mujib was known to have been fond of the couple.  

If Hasina returned to active politics on her return to Dhaka from her earlier exile in New Delhi (1975-81), Khaleda was compelled after her husband’s assassination in May 1981, to lead the BNP that he had founded.

Like any Bangladeshi over the years, they figure out India. The rival legacies have meant that Hasina was, and remains, friendly to India, paying a political cost, being maligned by her critics at home and in the West. That has also shaped the Awami League’s relatively secular politics. Khaleda carries no such baggage. Like her husband, she distrusts India.  

Muchkund Dubey, one-time Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh and later Foreign Secretary, records that he had wanted then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao to visit Dhaka and mend fences with the Khaleda government. That visit did not work out. Zia’s visit during the Vajpayee era was also a low-key affair as India was concerned about the rise of Islamist terrorism under her charge.

As Delhi tackles Dhaka’s pressures to return Hasina, who is viewed negatively by the Western world, it must also prepare for the near future, assuming elections are held and will mark the rise of the Zia family. These are radically changed times, when regional and global trends in and around southern Asia pose complex challenges.

Bangladesh’s Secular Credentials At Stake

By Kunal Bose

The Muslims are in an overwhelming majority in Bangladesh. Their share in the country’s population of nearly 170 million is slightly over 91 per cent, the 2022 population and housing census says. At the same time, worryingly the percentage of minority population has continued to dip since the founding of the country in 1971 because of its persecution by fundamentalists, whose ranks are growing. Incidentally, the Hindus with 7.95 share of population are the largest of minorities that also include Buddhists, Christians and Ahmadiyyas.

Many in Bangladesh and outside are deeply anguished that even while secularism along with nationalism, democracy and socialism are the fundamental principles in the preamble of the Constitution, attacks on minorities continue to rise and violence perpetrators go unpunished. The earlier the new dispensation in Dhaka realises that remaining true to the fundamentals of secularism not only will create the right condition for a democratic and socialist society but the economy will also benefit immensely if all live in peace and harmony.

Five Indian states have a combined over 4,000 km long border with Bangladesh of which 916 km are still to be fenced facilitating illegal movements. The exodus threat of minorities, particularly the Hindus, will only grow if their persecution persists. And their natural destination remains India.

In any case much to its mortification, India today is surrounded by unfriendly, if not hostile, neighbours. Leave out the Himalayan kingdom Bhutan, which is more like Switzerland equally well disposed to every other nation, the rest of India’s other immediate neighbours having undergone regime changes in recent times have no love lost for the largest south Asian country.

The birth of Bangladesh ending the subjugation of Bengalis, their language, culture et al by an ever hostile and domineering Islamabad was a revolution with support from India. That country has come full circle with the dethroning of Sheikh Hasina that ended an unbroken 15-year rule by the Awami League.

The change in August came about through swelling street protests with students in the forefront. Their prime demand that reservation of jobs for the descendants of freedom fighters after all these years was beyond challenge. What, however, totally unacceptable was mob rule that saw ascendancy of Islamist forces that in no time torpedoed whatever remained of the secular character of Bangladesh. Image of the country got sullied in the process in the eyes of democrats and liberals around the world.

ALSO READ: Hindus Persecution In Bangladesh Vindicates Need For CAA

Even while the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel peace prize winner, continues to make unconvincing efforts to play down the persecution of minority communities, particularly the Hindus and the Buddhists, the world is aghast at secular living principles getting increasingly compromised in Bangladesh. Here it will be appropriate to quote from a report of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council that in the first 15 days of regime change, the Hindus and Buddhists were targets of as many as 2,010 attacks. Moreover, there were desecrations of Mazars (mausoleums of religious leaders), arson of Hindu temples and looting of minority properties. Harijan (dalit) colonies are not spared either by the newly energized Islamists.

The question now is whether New Delhi got the right inputs well in advance from its intelligence network that the new regimes in Sri Lanka, Nepal and finally Bangladesh would seek revision of equations with India. Perhaps not. If intelligence inputs were there well in advance of arrivals of crisis points, then New Delhi would have been better prepared to deal with the new situations in neighbouring countries instead of being taken by surprise. A nagging concern now is, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh may all be pivoting away from India and seeking closer ties with China.

All the three countries are part of China’s expansive Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) where the focus is on building infrastructure, road and port in particular. Infrastructure development requiring large investments is what these countries badly need. Though its BRI ambition has been scaled down of late due to its own economic woes and Beijing putting pressure on borrowing countries to properly service debts, including timely repayments, China has strategic compulsions to be accommodative when it comes to countries in the neighbourhood.

Such an analysis finds support in President Xi Jinping telling Nepal’s communist prime minister KP Sharma Oli during his recent three-day visit to its northern giant neighbour that China would help Nepal to be transformed from a land-locked to a land-linked country, facilitating trade. Furthermore, Xi gave Oli assurances of China’s continued support to Nepal’s economic development “to the best of its ability.” A secular trend among all the three countries is to pare their dependence on India signifying a greater degree of reliance on China for trade and economic cooperation. Incidentally, India happens to be the largest trading partner of Sri Lanka and Nepal, while it has the second largest share of Bangladesh trade, next to China.

At this point when disturbing developments are noticed across the world, leave aside India, one needs to read closely Yunus interview with Japanese Nikkei Asia for an understanding of Dhaka’s engagement in overhauling its foreign policy. The main thrust of the exercise is to undo many of the policy thrusts, especially close ties with India, of the Hasina regime. At the same he made it a point to describe China as a “friend,” which keeps on supporting “us in various ways from building roads, power plants and sea ports.”

Dhaka’s tilt towards Beijing is much in evidence. When it comes to India, Yunus appeared to give lip service as he said Bangladesh should have a “strong and cooperative relationship with India.” Sadly in the same breath, the interim government chief adviser made attempts to play down the seriousness of attack on minorities, religious leaders and places of worship to the disappointment of people across Bangladesh border.

Reacting to New Delhi’s rightful concern about the safety of Hindus, Yunus instead of being apologetic said: “Much of what’s being said about this issue is propaganda and not based on facts.” As the Hindus and Buddhists continue to live in fear, the Yunus statement is dismissed straightaway. A few days after the Nikkei interview, a US state department official visiting India expressed “deep concern about news of persecution of minorities emerging from Bangladesh.” Earlier, during the US Presidential election campaign and also afterwards, Donald Trump was unequivocal in condemning the violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

MPs from across the floor in the UK parliament have condemned the happenings in Bangladesh in strongest terms and urged the government to take diplomatic steps for protection of Hindus. In fact, Tory MP Bob Blackman has gone as far as describing the communal incidents in Bangladesh as an “attempt at ethnic cleansing.” The uncertain political situation in Bangladesh where life remains at risk finds expression in the recent UK government travel advisory telling its citizens not to travel to the south Asian country unless it is “absolutely essential.” The US travel advisory is no different. Both the Western countries will not rule out the possibility of “terrorist attacks” at any time.

That considerable sections of the Bangladeshi population are perceived as irreverent of faiths other than theirs is underlined by the UK advisory saying foreign nationals will be a risk in “crowded areas and at religious places and political rallies… Some groups (Bangladeshi) have targeted people who they consider to have views and lifestyles contrary to Islam.”

Now an ISKCON centre in capital city Dhaka has been burned down and its other establishments remain vulnerable to attack by religious zealots. Even while Sheikh Hasina as prime minister went on assuring safety and security of minority communities, the fundamentalists would not miss an opportunity to do harm to the Hindus.

No wonder, the Hindu population constituting over 20 per cent at the time of Independence came down to 7.95 per cent in 2022, when the last census was done. Will the Hindus and other minorities remain condemned to live in perpetual fear in Bangladesh or the international community be able to put pressure on Dhaka so that secular principles are upheld?

In other regional relations, Yunus called China “our friend”, saying, “From building roads and power plants to seaports, they’re supporting us in various ways”.

Bangladesh Islami Front India

Bangladesh Islami Front Rejects India Out Campaign

By LokMarg

Bangladesh’s far right political party Bangladesh Islami Front has completely rejected a recent ‘India Out’ social media campaign in Bangladesh. The campaign has sharpened after Sheikh Hasina, who is seen to be close to India, won a record fourth term in the recently concluded national elections. 

S U M Abdus Samad, the Secretary General of the Bangladesh Islami Front on Tuesday hit out at the online campaign especially saying it was driven by hard-line elements who spread hate and misinformation. The Islami front is a small independent party which had put up 37 candidates in the recently concluded polls.

In an interview to ANI during his visit to New Delhi, Abdus Samad said cordial ties are crucial for both the neighbouring countries as he highlighted the increased connectivity in recent years.

“There is misinformation there since the beginning that India brought a lot of stuff from Bangladesh in 1971 and also did brutal acts. This kind of misinformation is there. So it is a must for India to show that we are not against Bangladesh, but we are friends”, said Samad.

In Bangladesh, an “India Out” campaign has sparked off on social media. Led by medical professional Pinaki Bhattacharya, who describes himself as an exiled blogger, online activist and human rights defender, the campaign called for the boycott of Indian goods following the results of the elections.

Bhattacharya’s social media followers, which number about 53000 on X and 6000 on Instagram, claim that the movement is fuelled by the Indian government’s unilateral support for Sheikh Hasina’s administration in Bangladesh. The bloggers allege that the elections in Bangladesh were neither free nor fair.

Bloggers running this campaign have been using three hashtags: #Indiaout #BoycottIndia and #BoycottIndianproducts.

A report by Digital Forensics and Research and Analytics Centre reveals that the trend of boycotts on social media does not appear natural.

“A closer examination of this trend reveals that the group that began this campaign has always been engaged in anti-India activities in Bangladesh. Several users among them, are either indirectly associated with the political parties of Bangladesh (mainly BNP), or claim to be their supporters”, said the DFRAC report.

D-FRAC is a non-partisan and independent media organisation which focuses on fact-checking and identifying hate speech.

S U M Abdus Samad reiterated that this was just misinformation being spread, and that Bangladesh has been witnessing rapid growth and development for several years under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Abdus Samad praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and said, “Since the Sheikh Hasina government came into power, there has been a growth in Bangladesh’s development. In 10-20 years, the development in Dhaka, Chittagong which we see now – if one knows about the suffering before – seeing it presently, it won’t be recognizable now”.

The Secretary General of the Bangladesh Islami Front also stressed on the continuous improvement in people to people contact and connectivity between India and Bangladesh.

“There is now train connectivity from Akhaura… Akhaura- Brahmanbaria. Trade is also happening from river fronts to Assam and Tripura. The connectivity has increased. Items are also being exported and imported to Chittagong port. There is connectivity in Ramgarh as well”, said S U M Abdus Samad.

When asked about terrorism and religious fundamentalism in South Asia and Pakistan’s role, Samad emphasized the need for an establishment in Islamabad that does not let terrorism flourish.

“Pakistan has no impact in South Asia as such. But there should be a good government there to curb terrorism. There should be a government in Pakistan, which does not let terrorism flourish in South Asia”.

He condemned terrorism and religious fundamentalism and said, “Terrorism is against Islam. Killing an innocent has no place in Islam. We are against terrorism. Someone who is a terrorist, cannot be a good Muslim”.

The message from the Islami Front leader is clear, the so called ‘India-Out’ campaign appears is confined to a small group online with support of Pro Pakistan political parties like the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist party and smaller radical parties. The campaign is unlikely to affect India-Bangladesh relations which is on solid ground. (ANI)

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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

Hasina Vows To Work With India For Economic Progress Of Her Country

By LokMarg

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who secured her fifth term in the recent general elections, outlined her plans for the country’s international relations and highlighted the strong bond between Bangladesh and India.

She expressed gratitude towards India, emphasising its pivotal role in supporting Bangladesh during critical moments in history.

In a press conference at her residence, Ganabhaban, in Dhaka, she responded to a question from ANI about her plans for Bangladesh’s international engagement over the next five years and the ties with India, saying, “India is a great friend of Bangladesh. They supported us in 1971 and 1975. We consider India our next-door neighbour. I really appreciate that we have a wonderful relationship with India.”

The Prime Minister stressed the historical significance of India’s support during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 and the subsequent challenges faced by the nation in 1975. She hailed the enduring friendship between the two countries and reiterated the importance of India as a key ally.

“In the next 5 years, our main focus will be on economic progress and fulfilling all the work that we have started. We have already declared our manifesto, and we follow our election manifesto whenever we prepare our budget and try to fulfil our promises. The development of the people and our country is our main aim,” Sheikh Hasina added.

She further expressed her commitment to serving the people of Bangladesh, emphasising the responsibility she feels towards the citizens who have repeatedly voted for her.

“I try to work for my people. With motherly affection, I look after my people. Our people gave me this opportunity. Time and again, people have voted for me, and that is why I am here…I am just a common person but I always feel responsible for my people. I feel this is the opportunity to serve my people and ensure them a better life,” she also said.

Highlighting Bangladesh’s aspirations for the future, Sheikh Hasina outlined the country’s goal to develop a smart population, smart government, smart economy, and smart society by 2041. She emphasised the importance of training the younger generation for the challenges of the future.

“By nature, our people are very smart, and as I mentioned, we want to train our younger generation for the future. It is our target to develop the country by 2041. Smart population, smart government, smart economy, and smart society are our main aims,” the Prime Minister affirmed.

Hasina also addressed concerns about individuals with ties to terrorist organisations or engaged in illegal activities refraining from contesting elections. She asserted that the victory in elections is a result of the people’s choices and is not influenced by those avoiding participation due to such affiliations.

Hasina was re-elected for a fifth term in the national election that was conducted on Sunday amidst the boycott by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by former PM Khaleda Zia, who is currently in jail. (ANI)

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Indo-Bangladesh Infra Projects

Modi, Hasina Jointly Launch Indo-Bangladesh Infra Projects

By LokMarg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated three Indian-assisted development projects via video conferencing on Wednesday.

The three projects are the Akhaura- Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link, Khulna – Mongla Port Rail Line and Unit – II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant in Rampal, Bangladesh.

The inauguration of rail and power sector projects between India and Bangladesh lay focus on strengthened ties and partnership between the two countries.

“The joint inauguration of these important projects manifests the firm friendship and collaboration between our two friendly countries. I would like to thank PM Modi for the warm hospitality during my visit in September 2023 to attend the G20 Summit,” the Bangladesh Prime Minister said

“I express my gratitude for your commitment to strengthening the bonds of friendship between our two countries, Sheikh Hasina said.

The Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link project has been executed under a Government of India grant assistance of Rs 392.52 crore extended to Bangladesh. The length of the rail link is 12.24 km with a 6.78 km Dual Gauge rail line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura.

The Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line Project has been implemented under the Government of India’s concessional Line of Credit with a total project cost of USD 388.92 million. The project entails the construction of approximately 65 km of broad gauge rail route between Mongla Port and the existing rail network in Khulna. With this, Mongla, the second largest port of Bangladesh, gets connected with the broad-gauge railway network.

The Maitree Super Thermal Power Project, under an Indian Concessional Financing Scheme loan of 1.6 billion US dollars, is a 1320 MW Super Thermal Power Plant located in Rampal in Khulna Division of Bangladesh. The project has been implemented by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited which is a 50:50 Joint Venture company between India’s NTPC Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board. These projects will strengthen connectivity and energy security in the region.

During the inauguration ceremony, Sheikh Hasina also extended greetings to Prime Minister Modi and the people of India in advance of Diwali.

“I would conclude her by conveying warm greetings in advance for the upcoming Diwali. I wish Your Excellency PM Modi and the people of India a very Happy Diwali,” the Bangladesh Prime Minister said.

Over the last decade, the Bangladesh-India Friendship Dialogue has served as a critical platform for strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations. The theme of this year’s Dialogue is ‘Fostering a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership’, BNN News reported.

Earlier this March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, a cross-border energy pipeline, built at an estimated cost of Rs 377 crore, of which the Bangladesh portion of the pipeline was built at a cost of approx. Rs 285 crore, which has been borne by the Government of India under grant assistance, read Prime Minister’s Office press release.

The Pipeline has the capacity to transport 1 Million Metric Ton Per Annum (MMTPA) of High-Speed Diesel (HSD). It will supply High-Speed Diesel initially to seven districts in northern Bangladesh.

The operation of India- Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline will put in place a sustainable, reliable, cost-effective and environment-friendly mode of transporting HSD from India to Bangladesh.

Moreover, in September, the 15th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on Trade (JWG) between India and Bangladesh was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where the two nations discussed various bilateral issues, including removal of port restrictions, the groundwork for the commencement of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

The meeting was co-chaired by the Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Vipul Bansal and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Government of Bangladesh, Noor Md. Mahbubul Haq.

The Joint Working Group on Trade (JWG) Meetings between India and Bangladesh are held annually to discuss key trade-related issues and “explore opportunities for economic and technical collaboration, promotion, facilitation, expansion and diversification of trade between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.”

Moreover, these meetings play a crucial role in quickly resolving bilateral issues by removing trade barriers, simplifying customs procedures, improvement of infrastructure, logistics, and transit facilities to facilitate smoother cross-border trade. (ANI)

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Mamata: Centre Did Not Allow Me To Meet Hasina

By LokMarg

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday lambasted the BJP-led Centre for not inviting her to meet visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Addressing her party members at Netaji Indoor Stadium here, Banerjee said, “This is the first time the Prime Minister of Bangladesh came to India and did not come to Bengal despite her desire to meet me.”
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said she wanted to know why the BJP-led Centre was worried about her meeting with Hasina. Mamata said she should not speak on bilateral ties or external affairs of the country. She further alleged that the Centre attempts to prevent her from visiting foreign countries whenever she was invited.

“I do not know why they (BJP) are so angry. They also did not let me go to many places including Chicago and China to attend events. While BJP attends invitations globally, they stop us from attending the same. We ask: How long will you continue your autocracy?” Mamata said.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is on a four-day visit to India to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries, arrived in New Delhi on Monday.

Bangladesh is an important partner under India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy.

Soon after arriving in New Delhi on Monday, Bangladesh Prime Minister met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and held bilateral talks to review and further strengthen the relationship between both countries at Hyderabad House, following which seven MoUs have been signed between the two countries.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during the joint press statement at Hyderabad House, expressed hope that the issue of Teesta water sharing with India will be resolved soon. “The two countries have resolved many outstanding issues and we hope that all outstanding issues, including Teesta water-sharing treaty, would be concluded at an early date,” she said in a joint statement with PM Narendra Modi.

The Teesta river dispute is an important point of bilateral talks between India and Bangladesh. Both countries signed an agreement in 2011 to share surface waters at the Farakka Barrage near their mutual border.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reservations over the Teesta water sharing with Bangladesh.

Hasina also met President Droupadi Murmu and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar in New Delhi. On Tuesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called on Hasina. (ANI))

Seven MoUs Signed Between India, Bangladesh

By LokMarg

India and Bangladesh signed seven Memorandum of understanding (MoUs) on Tuesday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina in Delhi.

India-Bangladesh delegation-level talks led by PM Modi and Hasina were commenced at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.
“India-Bangladesh delegation level talks led by PM @narendramodi & PM Sheikh Hasina commence. On the agenda are issues related to connectivity, energy, water resources, trade & investment, border management & security, development partnership and regional & multilateral matters,” the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Arindam Bagchi tweeted.

Earlier, Hasina laid a wreath and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. She received a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Soon after the welcome, the Bangladesh Prime Minister said she feels happy to be in India every time while noting significant ties between New Delhi and Dhaka.

“India is our friend. Whenever I come here, it is a pleasure for me, especially because we always recall the contribution India has made during our liberation war. We have a friendly relationship, we are cooperating with each other,” the Bangladesh Premier said today.

ALSO READ- India-Bangladesh Ties: Shared Interests, Mutual Progress

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Bangladesh PM Hasina as she arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Hasina shook hands with PM Modi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was also present. Rashtrapati Bhavan was decked up for Hasina’s welcome. She is set to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today.

Hasina began her four-day visit to India yesterday as Bangladesh is an essential partner under India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy.

Soon after arriving in New Delhi on Monday, the Bangladesh Prime Minister met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed issues of bilateral interest. She also visited Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah, a prominent pilgrimage tourist attraction in Delhi.

PM Hasina was welcomed by Darshana Jardosh, Minister of State for Textiles and Railways in New Delhi upon her arrival here on Monday.

Hasina’s visit is crucial and will further strengthen the multifaceted relationship between India and Bangladesh.

Soon after arriving in New Delhi on Monday, the Bangladesh Prime Minister met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed issues of bilateral interest. She also visited Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah, a prominent pilgrimage tourist attraction in Delhi.

PM Hasina was welcomed by Darshana Jardosh, Minister of State for Textiles and Railways in New Delhi upon her arrival here on Monday.

Hasina’s visit is crucial and will further strengthen the multifaceted relationship between India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Prime Minister also got clicked with the dancers who welcomed her.

This is her first visit after both nations’ bilateral relations touched their 50th year in 2021. Last year also marked the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence and the 100th birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the nation.

PM Modi visited Bangladesh in 2021. Maitri Diwas celebrations were held in 20 capitals around the world including Delhi and Dhaka. (ANI)

Hasina Meets Modi At Hyderabad House

Hasina Meets Modi At Hyderabad House

By LokMarg

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met her Indian counterpart PM Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House on Tuesday.

Earlier, Sheikh Hasina laid a wreath and paid tribute at Rajghat. She received a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Soon after the welcome, Bangladesh Prime Minister said she feels happy to be in India every time while noting significant ties between New Delhi and Dhaka.

“India is our friend. Whenever I come here, it is pleasure for me, especially because we always recall the contribution India has made during our liberation war. We have a friendly relationship, we are cooperating with each other,” the Bangladeshi Prime Minister said today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Bangladesh PM Hasina as she arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Hasina shook hands with PM Modi. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was also present.

Rashtrapati Bhavan was decked up for Hasina’s welcome. She is set to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today.

Hasina began her four-day visit to India yesterday as Bangladesh is an essential partner under India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy.

Soon after arriving in New Delhi on Monday, Bangladesh Prime Minister met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and discussed issues of bilateral interest. She also visited Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah, a prominent pilgrimage tourist attraction in Delhi.

PM Hasina was welcomed by Darshana Jardosh, Minister of State for Textiles and Railways in New Delhi upon her arrival here on Monday.

Hasina’s visit is crucial and will further strengthen the multifaceted relationship between India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Prime Minister also got clicked with the dancers who welcomed her. Issues, which are on top of the agenda are upgrading defence cooperation, expanding regional connectivity initiatives and establishing stability in South Asia.

This is her first visit after both nations’ bilateral relations touched their 50th year in 2021. Last year also marked the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh’s independence and the 100th birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of the nation.

PM Modi visited Bangladesh in 2021. Maitri Diwas celebrations were held in 20 capitals around the world including Delhi and Dhaka. Prime Ministers of both countries have met 12 times since 2015.

India and Bangladesh have sought to create a model for regional cooperation besides reviving several connectivity initiatives over the last few years. The Akhaura-Agartala rail link will reopen soon, and it is anticipated that Agartala and Chittagong will be connected by air in a few weeks.

India has been a hub of medical treatment for Bangladesh nationals. Of the 2.8 lakh visas issued in 2021, 2.3 lakh were medical visas. Bangladesh is currently India’s biggest visa operation globally. In 2019, 13.63 lakh visas were issued. (ANI)

‘Violence Against Hindus Sad But I Have Faith In Hasina Govt’

By LokMarg

Banani Mukherjee Das (35), a PR professional from Kolkata, says India can take a lesson or two from its neighbours to make the minority communities feel safe

I have been watching the events unfolding in Bangladesh ever since the controversy erupted during Durga Puja this year beginning from Comilla. Many people have lost their lives and many a Hindu homes and businesses have been attacked. Be it any religion at the receiving end, I feel sad that people continue to fight and even hurt and kill one another over religious beliefs. More so because my family has its roots in Bangladesh. We belonged to Dhaka before my grandfather shifted to India.

It seems we haven’t learnt any lessons from the pandemic? In raging Covid days, people across the world had transcended barriers of caste, creed, religion etc. to help each other in the name of empathy and humanity. All that camaraderie looks frayed now.

There are reports that Hosain Iqbal, the main perpetrator was of an unsound mind and didn’t realise the consequences his actions would carry. But couldn’t the security have been strengthened, given it is such a huge festival, in fact the biggest festival for Bengali Hindus? And even if one person placed the Quran and then spread rumours about it, why were others so quick to believe and get enraged? The undercurrents of discomfort between communities are there in most parts of the world, they come to the surface only occasionally though.

Das says minority communities can contribute a country’s growth only when they feel safe

I must add that the spirit of syncretism is alive and thriving in Kolkata and will continue to be so. According to me, Mamata Banerjee has ensured that the seeds of hatred cannot be sown in Bengal, especially Kolkata. Like Didi, I feel that the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina or in other words, most women leaders often try to douse the fire of hatred rather than fan the flames.

People across the world are unequivocally praising Bangladesh’s handling of the whole incident, and condemnation from the civil society as a singular voice. I also like how she handled the whole Rohingya crisis which could have been avoided by another woman leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.

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Recently there was this case in Pakistan also when a Hindu temple was attacked and the Pakistani government also acted swiftly. Perhaps India could learn a lesson or two about how to handle the rights of minorities and that they should not be scared of being who they are. There have been reports that Bangladesh has overtaken India in GDP per capita, and has better employment opportunities, especially for women. India is below Bangladesh in the Hunger Index as well. I believe Bangladesh has learnt its lesson that hatred doesn’t help a country and its people thrive, only a few people benefit from spreading hatred.

When minorities are respected and feel safe, they feel freer to contribute to their maximum potential and it benefits the country at large. I loved how Sheikh Hasina said that Hindus had contributed equally in Bangladesh’s freedom fight and the same goes for India’ s freedom struggle.

I hope we can sustain the lessons we have learnt from the pandemic and not give in to hatred. We should not lend weight to rumours either. If the pandemic has taught us anything it is that we all survive when we help each other survive. There is always a place for love.

Indo-Bangladesh Infra Projects

Delhi-Dhaka Ties Stand The Test Of Time

By Sharif Shahab Uddin

The government of Bangladesh has been enjoying great cooperation from India ever since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power in January 2009.

The Indian government headed by Narendra Modi has extended wholehearted support for Bangladesh for rebuilding its economy and its infrastructural development. In return, the Sheikh Hasina government has set a unique example of cooperation and reciprocation out of which the people of both countries would reap ample benefit. The transit, trans-shipment and building regional connectivity, including the waterways, would immensely facilitate and promote trade, commerce and tourism.

A number of issues, including the most critical and complex border problem, which had been hanging for about 40 years despite the inking of a treaty by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indira Gandhi, was resolved in a unprecedented bills passed in the Indian Parliament with unanimous support by all members of both the houses.

In response to that genial gesture, the Sheikh Hasina government has set an example of a new reality of cooperation. India-Bangladesh relations are based mainly on the solid historic bond of social, political, economic and cultural tradition. India played a vital role and provided substantial diplomatic, economic and military support to Bangladesh during the Liberation War in 1971.

India was the first country to recognise Bangladesh as a sovereign and independent state and established diplomatic ties with the country immediately after its independence in December 1971.

Bangladesh and India are two countries bound by the inalienable link of history, religion, culture, language and kinship. But the relationship between the two friendly nations is based on sovereignty, equality, trust, understanding and win-win partnership that goes far beyond a strategic partnership.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the architect of Bangladesh-India relations. Both Bangabandhu and his Indian counterpart Indira Gandhi were firm believers in democracy and secular ideology. Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi have further strengthened the relations Mujib and Indira forged between the next-door neighbours.

There are more than 50 bilateral institutional mechanisms between Bangladesh and India in the areas of security, trade and commerce, power and energy, transport and connectivity, science and technology, defence, riverine and maritime affairs and so on.

Bangladesh and India share 4,097 kilometres of border, which is the longest land boundary that India shares with any of its neighbours. The two countries also share 54 common rivers. Bilateral trade between them has grown steadily over the last decade.

There are lots of common and bilateral issues between these two neighbours. Both countries are promise-bound to maintain these healthy relations without interrelations. Some of the issues, including regional road connectivity, cooperation in power and energy sector, land border agreement, easy visa process, Bangladesh-India rail services, are vital and significantly beneficial to both the countries.

Regional Road Connectivity

The Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Initiative is a sub-regional entity in Eastern South Asia. It meets through an official representation of member states to formulate, implement and review quadrilateral agreements across areas such as water resources management, connectivity of power, transport, and infrastructure.

In February of this year, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal agreed on the need to finalise the passenger and cargo protocols for implementation of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement (MVA).

Moreover, according to the transport ministers of the four BBIN members, 30 transport corridors will be transformed into economic corridors. This will potentially increase intraregional trade within South Asia by almost 60 per cent and with the rest of the world by over 30 per cent.

Recently, ECNEC cleared an 846-crore Bangladeshi taka project to widen the Baraiyarhat-Heyanko-Ramgarhroad under Chattogram and Khagrachhari districts, aiming to boost export and import between Bangladesh and India. The approval came from the 5th ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year chaired by Sheikh Hasina.

According to a report of South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC), Bangladesh, India and Nepal conducted a trial bus service run on April 24-25 2018. Two buses left Dhaka for Kathmandu in Nepal, carrying delegates from the three countries and the Asian Development Bank. The bus service will strengthen sub-regional connectivity and help tourists and entrepreneurs, including those who travel to West Bengal for medical tourism.

Land Border Agreement

On June 6, 2015, the 1974 India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement came into force, following the exchange of instruments of ratification by Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi during the latter’s state visit to Bangladesh. The agreement provides for the exchange of enclaves of Indian and Bangladesh territory, which remained unresolved following the partition in 1947.

Following the agreement, India and Bangladesh exchanged control of 162 enclaves. The move was branded as akin to the fall of the Berlin Wall by politicians.

Until August 1, about 50,000 people were living in 111 Bangladeshi and 51 Indian enclaves on the India-Bangladesh border, cut off from their parent countries. Daily chores such as visiting the market were cumbersome process because they involved crossing national boundaries.

The Land Boundary Agreement played a historic role in advancing the exchange of 111 enclaves (17,160.63 acres) from India to Bangladesh and reciprocatively the latter transferred 51 enclaves (7,110.02 acres) to India. In addition, the choice of citizenship in either country was offered by states to enclave residents.

Easy Visa Process

India-Bangladesh visa rules were being gradually relaxed and five-year visas would be granted to students, senior citizens and patients. Earlier in 2018, an agreement, Revised Travel Arrangement (RTA)-2018, stated that freedom fighters and elderly Bangladeshi nationals will get five-year multiple visas from India. Easy and hassle-free visa services have been ensured for the travellers of the two countries.

Bangladesh-India Rail Services

Transport between India and Bangladesh bears much historical and political significance for both the countries. A direct Kolkata-Agartala link running via Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is being developed by both the countries. The Maitri Express (Friendship Express) was launched to revive a railway link between Kolkata and Dhaka that had been shut 43 years ago.

The first container train arrived from India via Benapole-Petrapole rail link carrying FMCG cargo and fabrics loaded in 50 containers, and those were handed over to Bangladesh on July 26 this year. With this container train service, a huge opportunity has opened up for bilateral trade via rail. Bangladesh Railway’s freight trains, noted for bringing stones and fly ash as raw materials for cement, from India, are now used to bring onion, garlic and ginger and other essentials amid the coronavirus pandemic.

In July this year, India handed over 10 broad-gauge diesel-based locomotives to Bangladesh that have a residual life of at least 28 years. These are 3,300 horse-power locomotives that can run at a speed of 120 km/hr. These 10 locomotives are expected to increase the use of the rail sector.

Cooperation in Power and Energy Sector

Cooperation in the power and energy sector has become one of the hallmarks of India-Bangladesh relations. Bangladesh is currently importing about 660 MW of power from India. In March 2016, the two Prime Ministers inaugurated the export of power from Tripura to Bangladesh as well as the export of internet bandwidth to Tripura from Bangladesh.

Five hundred megawatts of electricity was added to Bangladesh’s national grid from India in 2018 as part of India-Bangladesh cooperation in power and energy sector. Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated the power supply to Bangladesh-India Power Interconnection Grid at Bheramara of Kushtia through a videoconference. In September last year, Bangladesh signed an agreement to buy 718 megawatts of electricity from India’s Reliance Power over the next 22 years.

Earlier, the Bangladesh Prime Minister unveiled her power import plan and said, “We plan to import 9,000 MW of electricity from our neighbours by 2041 under a regional cooperation framework and I hope India will remain by our side in this endeavour.”

There are several other issues where Bangladesh and India have developed the highest level of friendship and bilateral relations. These two friendly neighbours are also great examples of greater understanding, dialogue, diplomacy and regional cooperation.

The author is the editor-in-chief of Bangladesh Post (ANI)