Pervez Hoodbhoy, according to media description teaches physics in Lahore and Islamabad. A scholar in his own right, in a 2019 article for 'Dawn', he had said rather acidly - "Shouting ‘Pakistan zindabad’ from the rooftops while obsequiously taking dictation from the Americans, Chinese, and Saudis has taken us nowhere".
Drawing a comparison between his country and Bangladesh, Mr Pervez further wrote, there were lessons for Pakistan to ponder over. Importantly, he pointed out that in Bangladesh, democracy was more genuine as people "invested in people instead of weapons or a massive military establishment".
Keeping a track of these facts and opinions gain their own importance in the context of recent visit made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh. It was an eventful visit. Even Bangladesh experts and diplomatic players say the trip mirrored the "special nature" of bilateral relationship
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| Modi with Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana with Gandhi Peace Prize |
What is the significance of the visit of Modi and the 10-day long events in Bangladesh to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh ?
As many as five South Asian heads of states and governments including Modi were in Dhaka. The series of video messages from US President Joe Biden, Canada's Justin Trudeau, Pope Francis, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Britain's Boris Johnson and China's Xi Jinping, Congress Leader Sonia Gandhi and even Pakistan's Imran Khan showed Bangladesh has come of age. So has Sheikh Hasina as a regional player. In the words of a former foreign secretary of Bangladesh, Shamsher M Chowdhury, BB, Hasina has attained for herself the image of "a strong advocate for meaningful regional cooperation in South Asia".
This is no small achievement for a country like Bangladesh which emerged in the scene only in 1971 - as many as 24 years later than India and Pakistan.
The earlier caricature of a country (that is Bangladesh) on life support disappeared years ago. Today, some economists say it shall be the next Asian tiger, so said our Pakistani expert Pervez Hoodbhoy in 1971.
Bangladesh has made a difference despite coming late in the scene and despite hiccups of military coup and 'pressures' of Islamic fundamentalism. One credit ought to be given for successful campaigning on family planning.
East Pakistan’s population in the 1951 census was 42 million, while West Pakistan’s was 33.7m. But today Bangladesh has far fewer people than Pakistan — 165m versus 200m. A sustained population planning campaign helped reduce fertility in Bangladesh. "No such campaign — or even its beginnings — is visible today in Pakistan". (Dawn)
Of course, we could complain about Bangladeshi infiltration into Assam and other eastern states with tacit patronage of unscrupulous elements or some political parties. That debate can be kept for another day. But Bangladesh has also shown improvement in textile industry and in the words of Pakistani expert yet again - "West Pakistan’s poor cousin manage to upstage its richer relative by so much so fast".
To the surprise of many, Bangladesh attained 7.28 pc growth in FY-2017, the rates even surpassed India’s. Importantly, it had done better than Pakistan in 2008 and many thought that could be an aberration. But it is pertinent to note that the economic performance of Bangladesh has been steady for the last 20-22 years.
Importantly, the entire blame could not be heaped on the Modi regime because the story is about two decades - much before than 2014. Bangladesh has in two decades improved on key political yardsticks and social metrics like health, sanitation, financial inclusion, and women’s political representation.
India has its problems and challenges. A decisive Prime Minister is under constant attack for pushing electoral autocracy. Yet, New Delhi should keep assisting its key eastern neighbour. I cannot agree more to what Foreign Minister Dr S Jaishankar has said. The External Affairs Minister said to make India's Act East policy successful, India will need to keep Bangladesh in good conditions.
Would it be too much to ask of India's policymakers ?
(Report from Daily Star, Dhaka)
The mayhem by Qawmi madrasa-based organisation Hefajat-e-Islam continued nationwide for the third consecutive day yesterday with Brahmanbaria turning into a battlefield.
Police stations, public offices, offices of the ruling party, and buses have been torched and vandalised. Even a train and a temple where Dol Purnima puja was being held did not escape their wrath.
During violence, at least three more people were killed, taking the toll of the violence that began with protests against the Indian prime minister's visit to 13.
Scores of people, including Hefajat supporters, bystanders and law enforcers were wounded and vehicles damaged in different districts.
They hurl brick chunks, left, at law enforcers on Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Narayanganj Photo: Mashuk Hridoy/ Rashed Shumon. In Brahmanbaria, public offices set on fire by Hefajat activists kept burning and firefighters did not dare go to the scene before the activists went home after 9:30pm.
Hefajat announced a day of prayers and mourning for today and called for nationwide rallies on April 2.
Clashes also took place in Kishoreganj, Narayanganj, Dhaka, Habiganj, Sylhet, Narsingdi and Mymensingh. Public offices were set on fire while vehicles were vandalised in several districts.
In Brahmanbaria, Hefajat supporters attacked Khatihata Highway Police Station and as they set the facility on fire, police used firearms, reports our correspondent in the district.
Twenty-three-year-old Kalon Miah and 20-year-old Al Amin, both residents of Brahmanbaria Sadar, died of gunshot wounds after they were taken to Brahmanbaria General Hospital, Medical Officer Syed Ariful Islam said, adding that a third man died at the hospital soon after he was brought there from Pirbari area with gunshot wounds around 2:30pm, but his identity was not known as of last night.
Hefajat activists also attacked the police lines in Pirbari and ransacked Brahmanbaria's biggest temple Sree Sree Anandamayee Kali Mandir. They trashed and broke the idols of Krishna and the Goddess Kali.
The donation box for the temple was looted, while the artifacts used for ceremonies were ransacked and strewn about.
"We were performing prayers for Dol Purnima, when 200-300 armed men broke the temple gate and barged into our ceremony. We tried to protect the idol of Goddess Kali, but they shoved us aside and vandalised the idol," said Ashis Paul, president of Anandamoyee Kalibari Temple Festival Celebration Committee. The Sadar Land Office in Brahmanbaria was set on fire and completely destroyed. Columns of smoke billowed from the facility throughout the day as the documents kept burning. Firefighters did not dare go near the scene until 9:30pm, when the mob went home.
Ustad Alauddin Khan Music Academy was shrouded in flames while clouds of black smoke covered the municipality office building and the office of district Awami League General Secretary Al Mamun Sarkar. The Shaheed Dhirendra Nath Bhasha Chattar lay completely vandalised and burnt.
The Hefajat activists also attacked Sonar Bangla Express train at Dakshin Poirotola in Brahmanbaria around 10:00am yesterday and injured at least 10 passengers.
They damaged the locomotive, broke 117 windows, and vandalised 15 coaches of the train, said Station Master Shoeb Ahmed.
The hartal supporters put barriers on the tracks and forced Sonar Bangla Express to stop and then attacked it, he said.
Hefajat supporters set fire to the police lines, the Sadar police station, the office of a local MP, the public library, press club, the homes of the district AL leaders Chowdhury Afzal Hossain Nesar, Rabiul Hossain Rubel, Shahadat Hossain Shobhon, and Sheikh Anar Jamal Khan, the offices of AL leaders Md Zahirul Islam Bhuiyan, Muktijoddha Sangsad Bhaban, Ubaidul Muktadir Chowdhury Women's College, and many other establishments.
In Habiganj, around 20 people, including seven cops were injured, in clashes between law enforcers and Hefajat in Jhingri area of Ajmeriganj on Ajmeriganj-Baniachang road. Hefajat activists set fire to two police motorcycles there.
Hefajat and AL activists engaged in clashes on Station Road, Shaheedi Mosjid area, Ekrampur and Atharabari Kachari areas that continued for hours, injuring almost 50 people, said police. Police used teargas shells and fired blank shots to disperse the crowds.
In Sylhet, three Shibir activists were detained during repeated clashes between activists of Hefajat, Shibir, and AL. It happened when the AL men were marching against the hartal in Sylhet Zilla Parishad complex and the procession got attacked by the Hefajat and Shibir activists, witnesses said.
Several crude bombs were exploded during the clash, they said. Police also detained two store workers during the clash.
In the capital Dhaka, Hefajat Secretary-General Nurul Islam told a press conference at Khilafat Majlish office in Purana Paltan that 17 activists got killed, 500 others were injured and 200 arrested.
Will Teesta watershare pact possible after fall of Mamata regime ?
Modi draws roadmap for Indo-Bangla ties with 'Nayi Urja, Nayi Gati'
However, there is yet another story of doom and negativeness from across the border in Bangladesh.
Opinion makers in Dhaka say possibilities of a breakthrough on Teesta water share is bleak. The Modi government, they say, has to contend with the Mamata factor, and Mamata Banerjee as West Bengal Chief Minister has so far not showed any signs of relenting. In her address at an election meeting in Siliguri, the Bangladeshi observers point out, Mamata said that the people of West Bengal should have enough water of the Teesta for themselves first, before sharing it with the neighbouring country. So the obvious fear is if Trinamool returns to power after May 2 counting and eight-phases of ongoing polls than Teesta is not happening.
But my question remains - should it become easier for 'Double Engine' BJP regimes (both in Delhi and Kolkata) to deliver Teesta waters to Bangladesh. Yes and No - both.
All eyes would be soon on water share issues related to six other rivers - Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.
Bangladesh is also unhappy over the fact that there have been reports of killings of as many as 45 Bangladeshis killed by BSF between January and December 2020. That number has been the 'highest' in the last few years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled a new roadmap for a shared future with its key eastern neighbour Bangladesh.
Modi's parting remarks to his hostess and Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, was that his visit had given “nayi urja, nayi gati (new energy, new pace)' to the relationship. The Teesta water sharing issue also figured prominently.
Notably, both the Prime Ministers directed their respective Ministries of Water Resources to work towards an early conclusion of the Framework of Interim Agreement on sharing of waters of six common rivers, namely, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.
The Joint Statement said: "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated Bangladesh’s long-pending request for concluding the interim agreement on the sharing of the waters of the Teesta river. She underscored that to alleviate the sufferings and save the livelihoods of millions of people dependent on the Teesta river basin, it is necessary that Bangladesh receives its fair share of the Teesta waters, the draft agreement of which has already been agreed upon by both Governments in January 2011".
Some sectors like Textiles and garment industry had been doing exceotioanally well and some of the manufacturing practices and units are truely world class and can prove to be benchmark in the industry.
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