PM Modi's Bangladesh visit could be linked to wooing Matua voters in Bengal

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is certainly attaching great importance to his Bangladesh visit, his maiden overseas trip since Covid19.

But more than the diplomatic importance, observers say there is also a political significance as the visit on March 26-27 could also get linked to wooing Matuas, a sizable Hindu population in West Bengal.

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, who met his counterpart on Thursday, March 4, in Dhaka, says: "We know that this is a very special year for you, when both countries mark the Mujib Barsho, 50 years of Bangladesh’s Liberation and 50 years of our bilateral relationship."

"Our relations actually transcend even our strategic partnership, and I believe that our bonding is central to the realization of a dream of a peaceful, prosperous and progressive South Asia. It is in pursuit of this vision that both sides have made remarkable progress in our relationship, especially since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assumption of office in May 2014," he said.

The first phase of polls in West Bengal is March 27, the day Prime Minister Modi may be heading for Mujib's village for an unusual shrine in Bangladesh — Orakandi .

Sources in Bangladesh say security and related aspects are being examined. Modi will reach Bangladesh on March 26, the day observed in Bangladesh as the Independence Day. 

PM Modi is likely to visit Tungipara, where the ‘Bangabandhu’ Mujib lies buried.  
Sources said Modi wants a visit to Orakandi to pay respects to Harichand Thakur, the founder of the Matua sect.
Orakandi is not far from Tungipara.

Members of the Matua community have migrated to West Bengal from Bangladesh since 1947 and over the years and are now keen for legal citizenship in India.

Essentially, the Matuas are Hindu refugees and if the CAA is implemented, they can influence results in favor of the BJP in at least 15-20 seats.

The Matuas are a socially deprived community, numbering 25-30 million. 

External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar further said, "The significance of our (Indo-Bangladesh) ties with Bangladesh lies in your centrality, Excellency, for our ‘Neighbourhood First’ Policy and your growing relevance for our ‘Act East’ Policy. We see Bangladesh as a key neighbour and a valued partner not only in South Asia but also in the broader Indo-Pacific region". 

He said, "It is no secret that we cite it to others as an example (friendship with Bangladesh) for emulation".

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