The high-level bilateral talks between India and Bangladesh apparently failed to melt the ice. Though Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka on Monday and held talks with his Bangladesh counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin and Interim Government’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, the bottleneck that developed after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina continues to throw a spanner in Indo-Bangladesh relations.
Dhaka made its belligerent intentions clear in the most unambiguous terms when it rejected the allegations of failing to protect the minorities, including Hindus.
Dhaka Rejects India’s Concerns For Hindus
Talking to the media after the talks, Misri said, “We also had the opportunity to discuss certain recent developments and issues, and I conveyed our concerns, including those related to the safety and welfare of minorities.”
However, Jashim Uddin rejected it and said openly and brazenly that it is Bangladesh’s internal issue and that no country has the right to interfere in its internal affairs.
He told journalists, “We have also conveyed that this is our internal matter, and other countries should not comment on our internal matter. We also reminded that Bangladesh does not comment on internal issues of other countries, and others should also reciprocate that.”
Misri Fails To Impress Bangladesh
Misri talked about the people-to-people contact, the development projects carried out in the country and the mutually beneficial ties. He assured that New Delhi is ready to further foster the ties with Bangladesh under the new dispensation led by the Nobel laureate.
However, what he said fell on deaf ears. It is evident by the fact that Yunus told Misri that India might not like the revolution taking place in Bangladesh.
Dhaka told New Delhi in clear terms that the relations between the two countries remain frosty and it did not like the Indian statement regarding the treatment of minorities in the country.
It is believed that the Bangladesh Foreign Secretary also pointed out that the attack on Hindus was due to their political affiliation, and not because of religious identity.
Earlier in 2004, when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party won the General Elections, Hindus were attacked and many of them were killed. Most of the Hindus are supposed to be the supporters of Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party.
Vikram Misri Meets Muhammad Yunus
In his meeting with Misri, Muhammad Yunus raised the issue of the deposed Prime Minister who has slammed the interim government and personally accused the chief advisor to the government in statements issued from India.
Yunus’s office said, “Our people are concerned because she is making many statements from there. It creates tensions.”
Sheikh Hasina Emerges As Main Irritant
Yunus also said that the students, workers and people joined hands in nation-wide protests against Sheikh Hasina in July-August. He told Misri, “Our job is to keep their dreams alive. It is a new Bangladesh.”
The chief advisor to the interim government also described the India-Bangladesh relationship as “very solid” and “close”.
While talking to Vikram Misri, he emphasised that India should help clear the “clouds” that have cast a shadow over the relationship between the two neighbours in recent times.
The attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus and the statements made by Sheikh Hasina are the two main irritants in the bilateral ties.
Bangladesh has not only explained it, it has also made it clear that it would not make any compromise on these issues and New Delhi must mend its ways if it wants to improve the ties.
Sheikh Hasina Fires Salvo At Muhammad Yunus
A day before Misri visited Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina described the interim government in Bangladesh as “fascist” in her online address to her supporters in London.
A week before that, she addressed her supporters in New York online and accused Muhammad Yunus of committing “genocide”. She also reiterated that the Nobel laureate was involved in financial corruption and money laundering while operating the microfinance company Grameen Bank.
Will India Jettison Sheikh Hasina?
Political analysts believe India has been caught in a bizarre situation. It cannot jettison Sheikh Hasina, who has helped it in fighting against separatist elements in the north-east. She has a personal bond with the country as well. She stayed for years in New Delhi after her father and many members of the family were assassinated on August 15, 1975.
Considering the domestic politics and the policies of the ruling party BJP, India cannot stop raking up the issue of attacks on Hindus.
Will the policy-makers and diplomatic honchos in New Delhi huddle to decide on these issues and change their policies to save its ties with the nighbouring country?
