A decade and a half long ‘dictatorial rule’ has come to an end in Bangladesh. The Muslim-majority country in South Asia is currently under an interim government. This government is led by the Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Muhammad Yunus. After this change of power, many countries, especially the neighbors, are trying to strengthen relations with Dhaka.
Today Sunday (September 15) an article has been published by Pakistan’s influential media The Dawn. The article was written by Aijaz Ahmad Chowdhury. He is the former foreign secretary of a South Asian nuclear power nation and chairman of Sanobar Institute, Islamabad.
Here is his article for the readers:
Sheikh Hasina Wazed has resigned from the post of Prime Minister in the face of massive student protests in Bangladesh and fled to India. It is going to be about a month and a half since he ran away from Dhaka. During this period, Bangladesh slowly tried to recover from the effects of Hasina’s government’s violent repression of student-led protests.
It is said that more than a thousand people lost their lives in the repression of the students. The global intellectual community is interested in understanding why Sheikh Hasina, who built her image as the ‘Iron Lady’, lost power so quickly and also the manner of change in Bangladesh.
Hasina has ruled Bangladesh like a dictator since 2009, while ruthlessly crushing all opposition parties. He also built a religion around the personality of his father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
But Hasina’s ouster has calmed widespread concerns in Bangladesh about the erosion of multiparty democracy under her and attempts to impose one-party rule.
This is definitely the people’s moment in Bangladesh. Also terms like Monsoon Revolution have been used to describe this change. However, it is not clear whether this change will be permanent and whether political stability will return to the country soon.
Hasina’s party, Awami League, is under considerable pressure, but they will try to make a comeback, again arguing that they represent the country’s secular ethos. During Hasina’s 15-year rule, her party was able to expand into every sphere of national life.
Bangladesh also witnessed significant economic growth under Hasina, although that growth was not inclusive and inequality intensified alongside unemployment and inflation.
In terms of foreign policy, Hasina chose to capitulate to Indian hegemony and this was suffocating for the freedom-seeking Bangladeshis. For now, India is under a lot of pressure in Bangladesh, but it is clear that they will do everything to preserve their influence.
In view of the 4,000 km long border with Bangladesh and the active insurgency in India’s north-eastern states, India’s most important interest today is border security. However, the immediate challenge for India’s leaders is how to handle Hasina’s presence in their country.
India’s relations with Dhaka are unlikely to improve as long as Hasina remains in Delhi. Both countries signed an extradition treaty in 2013. And with that deal in mind, many in Bangladesh have called for Hasina and her associates to be brought back to face trial in more than 90 criminal cases filed against her.
On the other hand, the narrative that has brought change in Bangladesh, India is trying to use it for its own purposes by misinterpreting or manipulating it. Indian researchers and the country’s media are pushing a narrative that says this political pot-change will push Bangladesh towards Muslim fundamentalism and attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus. However, according to BBC News, most of these reports of attacks were rumours.
Ironically, religious persecution has grown to alarming proportions in India itself. Besides, India is desperately highlighting the possible involvement of foreign powers in this change in Bangladesh. However, in Bangladesh this change seems to be entirely indigenous. India’s main objective is to dishonor the change brought about by the sacrifice of students who stood against Sheikh Hasina’s tyranny.
Meanwhile, Professor Dr. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus is struggling to stabilize the political environment and revive the economy. Basically, the economy had slowed down a lot even before the protests against Hasina started.
In addition, Bangladesh’s garment industry has been particularly affected by the weeks-long protests. The government has set up a task force on ‘Re-Strategizing the Economy and Mobilizing Resources for Equitable and Sustainable Development’.
Politically, such a situation needs to be cured. The student leadership wants fundamental reforms in the Judiciary, Police and Election Commission before the elections. And it appears that the election may be delayed for some time.
For the regional situation, Dr. Muhammad Yunus stressed the need to revive SAARC, which was established in Dhaka in 1985. He wants Bangladesh to become a member of ASEAN and then act as a bridge between SAARC and ASEAN.
How should Pakistan react to this change in Bangladesh? Pakistanis respect the people of Bangladesh and feel that their right to determine their own political destiny as they see fit should be fully respected.
However, Pakistan can take comfort from the fact that Hasina will no longer be able to falsely blame (Pakistan) or manipulate the tragic events of 1971. Apart from this, the poisonous propaganda against Pakistan can also be stopped.
Hasina’s ouster presents a golden opportunity for Pakistan and Bangladesh to restore bilateral ties. However, Pakistan must have realistic expectations of what the new interim government can do at a time when it is trying to fix several issues internally.
Pakistan has done a good job in expressing solidarity with the people of Bangladesh in the face of severe floods that recently hit the eastern part of Bangladesh. The two countries can encourage people-to-people contacts and youth exchanges; Which Hasina stopped.
Moreover, moving towards each other at a specific pace with realistic expectations would be appropriate for both countries.
