[🇧🇩] Indo-Bangla Relation: India's Regional Ambition, Geopolitical Reality, and Strategic Options For Bangladesh

[Saif]

Indian foreign secy likely to visit Bangladesh Saturday

Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra is likely to visit Bangladesh on Saturday as part of preparations for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi

www.thedailystar.net

Indian foreign secy likely to visit Bangladesh Saturday

File photo

Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra is likely to visit Bangladesh on Saturday as part of preparations for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi.

"The prime minister will visit India after the Indian elections that will end by the first week of June. So, our PM's visit will take place either in June or the first week of July," a diplomatic source told The Daily Star today.

During his visit, he will be meeting Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen.

There are a lot of preparations that will be required ahead of the high-level state visit, and Vinay Mohan Kwatra will be discussing all the aspects of the bilateral relationship and the possible MoUs and agreements, the source said.

Bangladesh and India are close allies, having robust economic, political, and cultural ties. India considers Bangladesh a key neighbour to connect the northeast Indian states.

Over the last decade, a number of connectivity projects -- road, water, and railways -- through Bangladesh have been implemented to promote trade, transport, and connectivity.

Sheikh Hasina's visit to India is considered very important to further all aspects of the relationship.​

 

[Saif]

Evolution of Bangladesh-India ties

PINAK Ranjan Chakravarty is a visiting fellow of the Observer Research Foundation’s Regional Studies Initiative. The Research Foundation presents itself as...

www.newagebd.net

Evolution of Bangladesh-India ties
Ghulam Suhrawardi 20 April, 2024, 00:00

Transformation: Emergence of Bangladesh and Evolution of India-Bangladesh Ties Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, 1st edn KW Publishers, 2024

PINAK Ranjan Chakravarty is a visiting fellow of the Observer Research Foundation's Regional Studies Initiative. The Research Foundation presents itself as an independent global think tank based in Delhi, India. It has branches in Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata. In this regard, it is also important to mention that Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Group, a key ally of Modi and his sectarian BJP political party, is one of the key backers of the foundation.

Among his many important credentials, one of Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty's key milestones was serving as Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh from 2007 to 2009. After Bangladesh, Chakravarty served as India's ambassador to Thailand (2010–2011). Towards the end of his diplomatic career, Chakravarty served as special secretary (public diplomacy) in Delhi before being appointed secretary (economic relations) in the MEA. He retired from service in September 2013.

Chakravarty is a regular contributor to newspapers, journals, and books.

Pinak Chakravarty served in Bangladesh at a crucial time when several dramatic events took place. It was an election year when the country witnessed a de facto military coup and takeover in the guise of a caretaker government. Many argue, and not without justification, that Chakravarty and the country that he represented did not have a cosy relationship with the departing BNP and might have played on behalf of his government in the takeover and the inner workings of the transitional military government.

The then foreign minister and later India's president, Pranab Mukherjee, stated in his book The Coalition Years that he had a close relationship with the then opposition leader, Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League, and that, if Hasina returned to power, he assured the then coup leader, General Moyeen U Ahmed, the Bangladesh army chief and leader of the coup who initially took both Begum Khaleda Zia, the departing prime minister, and Shiekh Hasina on corruption charges, that he would ensure no harm is done to the chief.

The 2008 election, which several observers had claimed was 'free but not fair,' brought Sheikh Hasina to power in 2009 and has remained in power ever since. Three more elections have followed since 2009, all of which were rigged, and many suspect with Indian help.

This is the backdrop of Pinak Chakravarty's presence and the role he might have played then, as the high commissioner of India in Bangladesh, at a time when Pranab Mukherjee was India's foreign minister who, by his own admission, played a key role in the internal affairs of Bangladesh at the time. This makes Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty's book, Transformation: Emergence of Bangladesh and Evolution of India-Bangladesh Ties, an interesting, if not curious, read.

In his book, Chakravarty summarised the domestic development in Bangladesh and its impact on bilateral ties. He traces the history of Bengal, the partition, and the birth of Bangladesh as a new nation in the subcontinent. He also discussed the political turmoil that ensued with the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of the independent nation. Mujib inspired the liberation struggle and is popularly called Bangabandhu (Friend of Bengal), who is also the father of the nation.

The book covers the period he served as the high commissioner of India in Bangladesh, 2007–2009, when Bangladesh was embroiled in a number of crises, including political intervention by the military, the conflict between secularism and Islamist nationalism (this coincided with west-initiated Islamophobia), the ethnic separatist Chakma revolt in the south-east of Bangladesh, and communal tensions, risking Bangladesh's democratic journey and sustaining the amazing economic recovery that Bangladesh had by then achieved and was transforming itself from an 'international basket case' to a miracle economy.

The book duly acknowledges these political and economic dynamics and discusses the complex India-Bangladesh relations at great length. In particular, the book pays glowing tribute to prime minister Sheikh Hasina's remarkable contributions to transforming and strengthening Bangladesh-India relations, arguing that with yet another five-year term (thanks to rigged elections and India's blessings she has already served three terms since 2009), she will guide and cement further Bangladesh's future policies and ties with India. The book's twelve chapters mainly delve into India's interests and perspectives on India-Bangladesh ties.

The book was launched on March 28, 2024, at the meeting room of the Observer Research Foundation, which included an interactive session in which several speakers, including the former foreign secretary of Bangladesh, Shahidul Haque, participated.

While recounting his own experiences in Bangladesh and the vital role India played in shaping the politics of Bangladesh, Chakravarty explains how these Indian interventions that occurred during 2007–2009 and secured and entrenched the Hasina government that served India's interests are paying dividends even now. For example, Chakravarty elaborated on how India's intervention in Bangladesh's most recent elections, held on January 7, 2024, staved off America's insistence on and demand for free and fair elections. Indeed, thanks to India's forceful intervention, the overactive US ambassador Peter Hass, who enthusiastically canvassed for a free and fair election and supported, albeit indirectly, the opposition's demand for a non-party caretaker government to hold elections, was eventually subdued and silenced, and his and the opposition's demand for a caretaker government was never met.

The January 7, 2024, elections were held under the supervision of the government, and the opposition boycotted the election with the result that the ruling party has 'won' yet another election as they have since 2009, turning Bangladesh into a virtual one-party authoritarian system with all the paraphernalia of democracy and, as could be expected, an India-compliant state.

In the context of the above, when someone asked Chakravarty during the book launch whether the absence of the opposition in the election had not challenged its legitimacy, he answered, 'If the opposition does not participate in the election, it does not negate the winner, the Awami League... and it is not fair to blame the winning party', while carefully avoiding the context that dissuaded the opposition from participating.

Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty's behind-the-scenes role during the critical military transition government of Bangladesh's pre-2009 election is a point of contention with opposition leaders. The group also questions Indian president (then foreign minister) Pranab Mukherjee's role in influencing the takeover by their favourite in Bangladesh, the compliant Awami League, whose leader Shiekh Hasina once publicly claimed, 'India can never pay back the favours I have given.'

The opposition parties in Bangladesh feel, and quite rightly, that thanks to the role India played via the then-Indian high commissioner in Bangladesh, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, Bangladesh has since transformed itself from a sovereign state to a virtual vassal state of India, which, among other things, has put India's interests above those of Bangladesh and shoved democracy in Bangladesh into oblivion.

People in Bangladesh are angry at India, which in recent times has given rise to a 'Boycott India' movement where people are being encouraged to stop buying Indian products, and it is working.

As a matter of fact, if Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty's book has done one favour to the people of Bangladesh, it is that their suspicion that India's not-so-invisible hands have been active since 2007 and counting in manipulating and catapulting a government of their choice, which in the process has entrenched India in Bangladesh economically and politically, has been revealed adequately and eloquently.

Ghulam Suhrawardi is the publisher of the South Asia Journal.

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INDIA's BANGLADESH POLICY WON'T WORK IN FUTURE - BANGALDESH ARMY HAS SOME CARDS

 

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India is sending top official to Dhaka to stop China Bangladesh military drills and Teesta Project.

 

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https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/kwatras-visit-is-expected-to-further-strengthen-bilateral-ties-indian-govt

Kwatra's visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties: Indian Govt
UNB
Published :
May 09, 2024 20:45
Updated :
May 09, 2024 20:45

India has said its Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra's just concluded visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and impart momentum to the cooperation in diverse areas.

"Bangladesh is India's leading development partner and its largest trade partner in the region," said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday.

The Foreign Secretary paid an official visit to Bangladesh from May 8-9.

This was the first official visit to Bangladesh after the formation of the new government in January 2024.

During the visit, Foreign Secretary called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud.

He also met his counterpart Masud Bin Momen.

The visit to Bangladesh is keeping in line with the highest priority accorded to India's 'Neighbourhood First' Policy.

During the visit, the Foreign Secretary reviewed the wide-ranging bilateral relationship including political and security, water, trade and investment, power and energy, defence, connectivity and sub-regional cooperation.​

 

[Bilal9]

New Delhi's foreign policy has evolved from the Cold War to the present day. India is aiming to maintain its position as a regional leader in South Asia despite challenges from external influences and its own errors. But increasing Chinese influence and tensions caused by mishandled political developments have strained New Delhi's ties with its neighbours. The need for New Delhi is to respect its neighbours, combat hyper-nationalism and focus on leading, rather than policing, the region.

India’s regional challenges | East Asia Forum

New Delhi must improve its ties with South Asian neighbours to maintain its role as a key player in the region.

eastasiaforum.org

 

[Bilal9]

India is sending top official to Dhaka to stop China Bangladesh military drills and Teesta Project.

I guess some feathers finally started getting ruffled ?

Or is it their typical MoFA over-reaction in New Delhi?

 

[Saif]

I guess some feathers finally started getting ruffled ?

Or is it their typical MoFA over-reaction in New Delhi?

It is clearly an over reaction in New Delhi. Bangladesh and China are going to conduct an anti terrorism drill which is not detrimental to India's national security.

 

[Saif]

One Indian youtuber has talked about 'how Bangladesh could be a threat to India' and 'how India should tackle such threat' in the future.

 

[Saif]

India making efforts to keep Bangladesh under control: Fakhrul

India's continuous efforts to control Bangladesh instead of resolving water-sharing issues with its neighbours have been criticized by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who accused the current regime of failing to stand up for the people's interests.

en.prothomalo.com

India making efforts to keep Bangladesh under control: Fakhrul
UNB
Published: 16 May 2024, 21: 14

Mirza Fakhrul Islam AlamgirFile photo

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that neighbouring India has been continuously making efforts to keep Bangladesh under its control instead of resolving the pressing issue of water-sharing of common trans-border rivers.

Speaking at a discussion meeting on Farakka Long March Day, he also criticised the Awami League government for its failure to take action in resolving the water problem with India, stating that the current regime has been in power solely to secure the interests of its foreign master.

"We see that our neighbour (India) has always been carrying out all their activities to keep Bangladesh under control, since its birth. Not only the Farakka dam, not the Ganga water, but they have always been negligent in the water distribution of 154 common rivers. They're not resolving the problem," Fakhrul said.

He mentioned that the current Awami League government has long been buying time, promising the country's people to ink the Teesta water-sharing deal without success.

"The root cause of this failure lies in the fact that this is completely a subservient regime. It has consistently failed to take a stand in favour of the people's interests as they are extremely feeble in dealing with India."

Bhasani Anusari Parishad arranged the programme at the National Press Club, marking the historic 'Farakka Long-March Day', commemorating populist leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani's long march towards the Farakka Dam 48 years ago.

On 16 May, 1976, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani led a massive long march from Rajshahi towards India's Farakka barrage, demanding the demolition of the barrage constructed by the Indian government to divert the flow of Ganges water inside its territory.

Fakhrul said the current government's only job is to protect their own interests and those of their masters by repressing the country's people since it usurped power through a unilateral election.

'How will they (AL govt) resolve the problems of the Teesta and Farakka? How will they resolve the water-sharing problem of other common rivers? Because they captured power with special assignments (by others)," he observed.

In such a situation, the BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh must stand on their own feet to restore their lost democratic rights.

He said the BNP and many other opposition parties have been carrying out struggles for the restoration of the democratic rights of people. "For this, many of us have sacrificed our lives and many of us have to endure oppression and persecution."

Fakhrul also said there is now no alternative path to waging a united movement by all opposition parties rising above division and misunderstanding among them for ousting the current monstrous regime.

"We must move forward in unison in our own interests to reach our desired goal. No one will do it for us; we have to do it ourselves."

He said the government jailed BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia by implicating her in false cases and filed cases against 60 lakh leaders and activists of the party to hang onto power. "Oppression and arrests are still ongoing...our leaders and activists are being convicted and sent to jail."

The BNP leader said the Awami League has retained power by manipulating elections through various tactics as it knows it will face a massive debacle in a free, fair and credible election.​