Will India force the Bangladesh government’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to hold general elections soon and allow Awami League to participate in it? Will New Delhi reach out to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party that has slammed the Nobel laureate? Can India regain its lost ground in the neighbouring country amid the increasing influence of Pakistan?

Amid widespread criticism of the Narendra Modi government for its foreign policy failure, the Ministry of External Affairs mandarins are busy trying to regain the lost ground in Bangladesh, which is hurtling towards Pakistan.

Will India Put Pressure On Bangladesh To Hold Polls?

If media reports are to be believed, India wants Muhammad Yunus to hold general elections as soon as possible and much before its declared timeline.

Dhaka wants to hold the general elections after two years and carry out many electoral and political reforms in the meantime so that the Islamic forces make deep inroads into the political and electoral system and consolidate their position.

Reports of the local media also suggest that Muhammad Yunus nourishes personal political ambitions.

Will Muhammad Yunus Float Party?

He wants to float his political party and join hands with Islamic forces like Jamaat-E-Islami Bangladesh so that he can be the next Prime Minister.

Political analysts believe, the Nobel laureate reached an agreement with the BNP and sent its leader Beghum Khalida Jia to London so that the main opposition party lost its appeal, charisma and people’s confidence.

Khalida Jia languished in jail for years, all cases against her were withdrawn, and she was released from jail and sent to his son’s residence in London to get treatment.

With Sheikh Hasina living in India and most of her supporters and workers either living in jails or underground and the BNP leader going abroad, there is a huge political space eyed by the chief advisor and his cohorts.

He too has his reputation in the rural areas of the country that he earned as the chief of Grameen Bank. Muhammad Yunus and his microfinance firm are hailed as those who helped thousands of people come out of poverty.

He was also slammed as a moneylender exploiting the poor by charging exorbitant interest rates. After receiving both bouquets and brickbats, the Chief Advisor to the interim Bangladesh government is gearing up to take a plunge into politics, something he denies vehemently.

Does Sheikh Hasina Control Awami League From India?

If media reports are to be believed, Sheikh Hasina, is politically active while living in India, much to the chagrin of Bangladesh.

She holds direct talks to other Awami League leaders underground, reaches out to workers through WhatsApp video calls and gives them direction almost everyday. Loveing called “Apu”( elder sister), she is still hailed by her grassroot party workers as their saviour.

Muhammad Yunus is aware and afraid of Sheikh Hasina’s political relevance and strategy to keep herself abreast with the situation.

Muhammad Yunus’ Intimidating Tactics For Hasina

It is believed that Dhaka raised the issue of her extradition only to intimidate her and stop her from these activities, as well as put pressure on India, which should use its influence to stop her.

The middle-level Awami League leaders, living in India, are ready to go back to Bangladesh to face legal consequences if the judiciary is made free and fair and they get a fair trial.

Admitting the mistakes committed by the Sheikh Hasina government, these leaders also want to face the people in the country, unite the workers, consolidate their positions, and go to the polls.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Yunus is losing his charisma, charm and popularity. He is coming under scathing attacks from different quarters including the BNP and Jammat-e-Islami Bangladesh.

Bangladesh On Path Of Islamisation?

While Jamaat wants a free hand and eyes rapid expansion to capture all institutions, including judiciary, education, administration and legislative, the BNP wants to bring Khalida Jia’s son Tarique Rehman back from London so that he could take the party’s rein and revive the moribund organisation.

Yunus has succumbed to Jamaat’s pressure as he formed a committee to revisit the Bangladesh Constitution and suggest amendments.

The committee has already suggested removing the words, “secular”, “socialist” and “Bengali nationalism” from the Constitution.

It has also asked to expunge all references to country’s founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, Hasina’s father.

BNP, Jamaat Reach Out To India?

While Awami League has pinned its hopes on India for its revival, general elections in the country and its paticipation in it, the BNP too has tried to reach out to New Delhi.

It wants the neighbouring country to support the party and the country.

Jamaat too has reached out to India, assuring it that the soil of Bangladesh will never be allowed to be used against it.

Seeking harmonious and stable relations with New Delhi, its Ameer Shafiqur Rahman asserted that India should reconsider its foreign policy in the neighbourhood.

Political analysts believethe India is waiting for the opportune moment to take the necessary steps and put pressure on Muhammad Yunus as it enjoys improved relationship with the BNP and Jamaat. It is to be seen how and when New Delhi takes next step.