The essential tussle between Restoring Normalcy and Reclaiming Democracy -- story of two Banglas !!
“We’re not trying to restore normalcy.... We are trying to reclaim democracy.” - These lines can be safe refrain to sum up the story of two Banglas --
Bangladesh, the nation, and West Bengal, the state.
Yet there are differences. In Bangladesh, the anti-Hasina protesters had a clear political agenda and they have been successful is ensuring the ouster of an elected Prime Minister. It is a different matter that the west as a block and even the western media are loving the development. The US wanted a government of its own choice and hence ground was created even prior to this year's polls for the BNP of Khaleeda Zia.
Namo in centre : Tight Rope !!
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look at the glee in Indian 'aapa's face' - the song Pishi Tui choleja can be an easy inspiration
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The story is obviously different in West Bengal. Here medicos and others are protesting against a regime that has dedicated its time and opportunities derived from power to help rapists and other wrong doers. The chief beneficiary was Dr Sandip Ghosh, who is now behind bars held by CBI for a corruption case.
In diplomatic parlance, one issue threatening to cast a further shadow over the India-Bangladesh relationship is the "ongoing presence of Hasina in India".
"Though her family say it is only temporary and there has yet to be an official extradition request from Bangladesh for her return, there are growing calls from activists and political opponents for her to be brought back," runs an article in London-based 'The Guardian'.
More than 100 cases alleging the former prime minister played a role in murder and abduction have been filed against Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh’s international crimes tribunal is investigating her on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in connection with the killings that took place during the recent protests.
Hasina’s government had previously denied any human rights abuses. The Bangladesh government has also revoked the diplomatic passport that Hasina used to travel to India.
Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) leader, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, made a direct plea to India to send Hasina back, and alleged that Hasina was using her safe haven in the country to attempt to thwart the interim government and democratic movement in Bangladesh. This part is definitely intriguing both by logic or by strategic and diplomatic sense.
“It is our call to you that you should hand her over to the government of Bangladesh in a legal way,” said Alamgir. “The people of this country have given the decision for her trial. Let her face that trial.”
For quite sometime now the western countries were not having any sound and good relation with Sheikh Hasina's government. One reason could be she has been a steadfast friend of India and also the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The article in 'The Guardian' sounds bias against Hasina.
"An interim government, led by the leading economist and Nobel prize winner Muhammad Yunus, is now in place, promising widespread reforms and accountability for the actions of Hasina’s government. Nonetheless, Yunus has emphasised it faces monumental challenges and it is likely to be months before elections are possible.
“There is now a need for India to accept that Sheikh Hasina is gone, she is history, and the relationship has to be completely reset and rebooted,” said Munir. “Relationships between countries cannot be hostage to the vicissitudes of changing governments," goes the article. India sees the developments from a different prism.
It is certainly not the US or the western prism.
The logistic assistance provided to former Bangladesh PM after she allegedly/reportedly resigned -- of course not voluntarily -- is guided by humanitarian consideration. New Delhi has no other intention.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar last Friday said that India has to find a ground of mutual interest with Bangladesh and India would deal with ‘the government of the day’.
Speaking at the release of Ambassdor Rajiv Sikri’s new book, “Strategic Conundrums: Reshaping India’s Foreign Policy”, the External Affairs minister said that the political changes in Bangladesh can be ‘disruptive’.
“Since Bangladesh’s independence, our relationship has gone up and down, and it is natural that we will deal with the government of the day. But we also have to recognise that there are political changes, and they can be disruptive.
And clearly here we have to look for mutuality of interest,” Dr Jaishankar said.
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