[🇧🇩] Student revolution in Bangladesh-----how does it impact India?

[Saif]

This monumental stupid should know that Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China also have the right to simultaneously invade India for its atrocities against Muslims in Gujarat and Kashmir

undefined | The Financial Express

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Congress legislator urges Modi to consider military action in Bangladesh over Hindu minority atrocities
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Aug 14, 2024 22:38
Updated :
Aug 14, 2024 22:38

Karnataka Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad

Expressing concern over the political turmoil and reported atrocities against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, a Karnataka Congress legislator on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to hesitate to take decisive military action like former PM late Indira Gandhi did in 1971, reports economictimes.indiatimes.com.

Rizwan Arshad, who represents Shivajinagar Assembly constituency in Bengaluru, in a letter to Modi, also appealed to him to take "decisive action" to not only address concerns of minorities in Bangladesh but also in India, who have been under "constant attack both economically and socially by the right wing."

"I write to you today as a concerned citizen of India deeply distressed by the recent reports and videos circulating on social media, highlighting the ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh and the atrocities being reported against Hindu minorities in the region," Arshad said.

If these reports are true, given the historical and cultural ties between India and Bangladesh, it is imperative that India takes a "proactive stance" in addressing these issues, he said.

Noting that the safety and well-being of the Hindu minorities in Bangladesh should be of paramount concern, the MLA urged the Prime Minister to engage with the new Bangladeshi government to ensure that immediate and effective measures are taken to protect their rights and dignity.

"The right-wing social media influencers and handles in India have been circulating news which if true (many have been found fake too), I urge the Government of India to ascertain the authenticity of these reports/videos. If they are proven true, the Government of India should take firm action," he said.

The people of India have always stood for justice, peace, and the protection of human rights, Arshad said. "As our Prime Minister, you should not hesitate to take decisive military action like Smt. Indira Gandhi did in 1971. I request you to use your esteemed office to extend a hand of support to our Hindu brothers and sisters in Bangladesh during this critical time."

"I trust that under your leadership, India will take decisive action to not only address concerns of minorities in Bangladesh but also in India, who have been under constant attack both economically and socially by the right wing," he said, and requested him to work towards ensuring the safety and security of our Hindu brethren in Bangladesh and fellow citizens, in particular minorities of India.

 

[Bilal9]

This monumental stupid should know that Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China also have the right to simultaneously invade India for its atrocities against Muslims in Gujarat and Kashmir

undefined | The Financial Express

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Congress legislator urges Modi to consider military action in Bangladesh over Hindu minority atrocities
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Aug 14, 2024 22:38
Updated :
Aug 14, 2024 22:38

View attachment 7496
Karnataka Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad

Expressing concern over the political turmoil and reported atrocities against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, a Karnataka Congress legislator on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to hesitate to take decisive military action like former PM late Indira Gandhi did in 1971, reports economictimes.indiatimes.com.

Rizwan Arshad, who represents Shivajinagar Assembly constituency in Bengaluru, in a letter to Modi, also appealed to him to take "decisive action" to not only address concerns of minorities in Bangladesh but also in India, who have been under "constant attack both economically and socially by the right wing."

"I write to you today as a concerned citizen of India deeply distressed by the recent reports and videos circulating on social media, highlighting the ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh and the atrocities being reported against Hindu minorities in the region," Arshad said.

If these reports are true, given the historical and cultural ties between India and Bangladesh, it is imperative that India takes a "proactive stance" in addressing these issues, he said.

Noting that the safety and well-being of the Hindu minorities in Bangladesh should be of paramount concern, the MLA urged the Prime Minister to engage with the new Bangladeshi government to ensure that immediate and effective measures are taken to protect their rights and dignity.

"The right-wing social media influencers and handles in India have been circulating news which if true (many have been found fake too), I urge the Government of India to ascertain the authenticity of these reports/videos. If they are proven true, the Government of India should take firm action," he said.

The people of India have always stood for justice, peace, and the protection of human rights, Arshad said. "As our Prime Minister, you should not hesitate to take decisive military action like Smt. Indira Gandhi did in 1971. I request you to use your esteemed office to extend a hand of support to our Hindu brothers and sisters in Bangladesh during this critical time."

"I trust that under your leadership, India will take decisive action to not only address concerns of minorities in Bangladesh but also in India, who have been under constant attack both economically and socially by the right wing," he said, and requested him to work towards ensuring the safety and security of our Hindu brethren in Bangladesh and fellow citizens, in particular minorities of India.

This Muslim Kangressy is just trying to use an opportunity to gain cheap fame and notoriety.

We are just as worried about India's Muslims being oppressed and tortured under BJP/VHP/RSS/Shivsena free will and leadership in India. But we are smart enough not to meddle in another sovereign country's affairs, which these people "Dadagiri" emulators do not get.

I hope India's Muslims hold this elected Congress guy responsible for his inaction on Muslim rights in India.

 

[Saif]

Modi reiterates support for democratic, peaceful Bangladesh in call with Yunus

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he received a phone call from Prof Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the interim government in Bangladesh, and exchanged views on the prevailing situation in that country

www.thedailystar.net

Modi reiterates support for democratic, peaceful Bangladesh in call with Yunus

Prof Muhammad Yunus (Left) and Narendra Modi. File photo

In his first conversation with Prof Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of the interim government in Bangladesh, over phone, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today conveyed India's commitment to supporting the people of Bangladesh through various development initiatives.

During the conversation initiated by Yunus, the Indian prime minister underlined the importance of ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities in Bangladesh, according to a readout issued by the Indian PMO.

Yunus, in turn, assured Modi that the interim government would prioritise the protection, safety and security of Hindus and all minority groups in Bangladesh, said the statement.

During the call, Modi "reaffirmed India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh. He emphasised India's commitment to supporting the people of Bangladesh through various development initiatives."

The two leaders also discussed ways to take the bilateral relationship forward in line with the respective national priorities, said the readout.

Earlier, Modi, in a post on his X, formerly Twitter, said they exchanged views on the prevailing situation in that country.

This was the first contact between Modi and Yunus since the latter was sworn in as chief adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh on August 8.

Modi posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account that he reiterated "India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh."

"Received a telephone call from Professor Muhammad Yunus, @ChiefAdviserGoB. Exchanged views on the prevailing situation. Reiterated India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh. He assured protection, safety and security of Hindus and all minorities in Bangladesh," Modi tweeted.

Separately, India's Foreign Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told the weekly media briefing today that New Delhi looked forward to working with the interim government in Bangladesh to "fulfill the shared expectations" of the two countries.

"We look forward to working with the interim government to fulfill the aspirations of both the countries," MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal told the weekly media briefing in New Delhi in response to a question about the meeting between Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma and Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain in Dhaka a couple of days ago.

Jaiswal was asked to comment on reports that Hossain had conveyed to Verma that ousted PM Sheikh Hasina's continued stay in India was not conducive to bilateral relations.

In replying to another question if there has been any change in India's position on the legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after the interim government in Bangladesh cancelled the holiday on August 15 and people were prevented from going to 32, Dhanmandi on that day, the MEA spokesman said, "India has always been a steadfast supporter of the people of Bangladesh since independence and will remain so for the development, progress and prosperity of the people of Bangladesh."

The same sentiment was reflected in the Indian prime minister's Independence Day speech on August 15, Jaiswal added.​

 

[Saif]

Indian media, responsible persons join the fray of spreading communal disinformation about Bangladesh

Some mainstream media of India and responsible persons are also spreading rumors on communal attacks in Bangladesh, reveals a report of Rumor Scanner, a fact checking website based in Bangladesh

en.prothomalo.com

Indian media, responsible persons join the fray of spreading communal disinformation about Bangladesh

From 5 to 13 August, posts shared by those 50 accounts were viewed over 154 million times. Rumor Scanner revealed that 72 per cent of the accounts spreading fake and misleading information claimed to be based in India

Staff Correspondent Dhaka
Published: 18 Aug 2024, 18: 53

Some mainstream media of India and responsible persons are also spreading rumors on communal attacks in Bangladesh, reveals a report of Rumor Scanner, a fact checking website based in Bangladesh.

Rumor Scanner’s Investigation Unit has identified 50 accounts on X that have been actively spreading communal narratives by sharing images, videos, and information related to recent events in Bangladesh.

At least one post from each of these accounts has been found to promote communal misinformation and disinformation, reports Rumor Scanner in a study titled ‘Surge of Communal Misinformation on X During Bangladesh’s Political Crisis’.

From 5 to 13 August, posts shared by those 50 accounts were viewed over 154 million times. Rumor Scanner revealed that 72 per cent of the accounts spreading fake and misleading information claimed to be based in India. Among the account holders are several responsible individuals, and even mainstream media outlets in India that have propagated some of this false information.


A video was posted on 9 August from an X handle named Deepak Sharma which claims Jihadists have killed hundreds of women by exploding bombs at a camp of Hindu women and children. Checking the video, Rumor Scanner finds it to be one from the death of five people in electrocution during Jagannath Dev’s Rath Yatra on 7 July.

A video falsely claiming to show a Hindu man demanding the whereabouts of his missing son was shared by at least three mainstream Indian media outlets on their X handle, Asian News International (ANI), NDTV, and Mirror Now.

These accounts receive significant engagement from their followers when they post communal misinformation. Many are sharing this misinformation on X to boost their engagement or retweet numbers-- Indian fact-checker Ankita Deshkar

However, Rumor Scanner found that the man in question is Muslim named Babul Howlader, who has been seeking information about his missing son since 2013 and participated in a protest for this cause.

Rumor Scanner also found that several other Indian media outlets and individuals associated with them were involved in spreading similar communal misinformation. This list includes X accounts from Zee News Madhya Pradesh and News 24.

The Rumor Scanner investigation unit also found that OpIndia’s editor-in-chief Nupur J Sharma routinely spread fake news from her X handle.
After one of her posts was identified as false and flagged by a Rumor Scanner team member on 11 August, she responded by blocking that particular member on X.

Rumor Scanner asked Indian fact-checker Ankita Deshkar why there has been an increase in communal propaganda in India recently. Ankita explained, “These accounts receive significant engagement from their followers when they post communal misinformation. Many are sharing this misinformation on X to boost their engagement or retweet numbers.”

Spreading of communal misinformation is just not limited to India, responsible individuals from various other countries also joined the fray.

Former Pakistani cricketer Danish Kaneria shared a video on his X account falsely claiming that cricketer Liton Das’s house had been set on fire. In reality, the footage was from an arson attack on Mashrafe’s house, and no such incident occurred at Liton’s residence.

Salwan Momika, an Iraqi-born man who has repeatedly caused controversy by publicly burning the Quran, has been found to regularly spread communal misinformation involving Bangladesh through his X account.

Of the 50 accounts examined in this research of Rumor Scanner, 13 posts contained similar instances where unrelated events were given a communal twist. The most prevalent form of misinformation involved misrepresenting Muslim individuals as Hindus.

Other forms of misinformation included repurposing old videos from unrelated incidents, falsely attributing attacks on Muslim establishments to Hindu establishments, misrepresenting arson attacks on different sites as attacks on Hindu properties, distorting political slogans, fabricating statements, creating fake Telegram accounts in the name of the BNP, and making false claims about the number of Hindu casualties.

In 80 per cent of the cases (40 posts), video footage was used to spread misinformation. In 16 per cent of cases, images and screenshots were used, while the remaining 4 per cent consisted of text-only posts.​

 

[Saif]

Neighborhood setback: lessons for India

AUGUST 5 is yet another day added to the history of Bangladesh. On this day, Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister amidst a student-mass uprising, ending her 15 years’ iron-fist rule. She left Bangladesh and took refuge in India. Events unfolded quickly that day. The fall of the government...

www.newagebd.net

Neighborhood setback: lessons for India
Mohammad Abdur Razzak 26 August, 2024, 00:00

The Student against Discrimination held a rally at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka on August 3 to demand justice for the victims killed in attacks on student protests. | Agence France-Presse/Munir Uz Zaman

AUGUST 5 is yet another day added to the history of Bangladesh. On this day, Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister amidst a student-mass uprising, ending her 15 years’ iron-fist rule. She left Bangladesh and took refuge in India. Events unfolded quickly that day. The fall of the government appears a huge shock to both Awami League and India. India, having recovered from the shock, broke silence on August 6, raising concern about the security of minorities in Bangladesh and hoped order to be restored quickly.

On August 7, India scaled down the presence of staff in its high commission in Dhaka, mentioning safety reasons. On August 8, India shut all visa application centers across Bangladesh, citing an unstable situation. On August 9, India’s prime minister Narendra Modi sent his ‘best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus’, the head of interim government, and hoped ‘an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of the Hindus and all other minority communities.’ He also expressed India’s commitment to work with Bangladesh.

India’s diplomatic actions and reactions were followed by anti-Bangladesh narratives around ‘attacks on the Hindus and their temples’ propagated by the Indian print and electronic media. As part of a wider campaign, Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States also went on demonstration demanding safety of the Hindus in Bangladesh. Some of the Indian politicians went that far urging indian to consider intervention as it did in Sri Lanka and the Maldives in 1987 and widen the Siliguri corridor.

While the Indian media were propagating false narratives, the ground reality was diametrically opposite. Shashi Tharoor, member of parliament from the Indian Congress during a talkshow on NDTV praised the Muslims in Bangladesh who guarded and protected temples and Hindu property. Thge secretary general of the Hindu Grand Alliance in Bangladesh also praised the Muslims for safeguarding the Hindus. Unfortunately Indian media have never published such positive action by Muslims.

After the political changeover, there were attacks largely on people associated with Awami League politics irrespective of their religious identity. Religion was not at all the prime issue in such attacks. Mobs even ravaged police stations to take revenge of their crimes against people and students. The Hindu community staged demonstration in Dhaka, Chattogram and Khulna against alleged attacks and demanded security. India payed the ‘Hindu card’ and ‘Islamist card’ against Bangladesh internationally to its convenience. In this case, the wider application of the Hindu card by the Awami League and India was to add volatility to the fragile public order. Sectarian provocation and false narratives only contributed to widening and deepenening the already prevailing anti-India sentiment.

Neither the people during the time of liberation were anti-India nor the Generation Z people were born to be anti-India. Such a negative sentiment is created by India through its anti-Bangladesh activities such as the operationalisation of the Farakka Barrage in 1975, creating ‘Shanti Bahini’ insurgency in the Chattogram Hill Tracts, the mechanical fencing of common borders, killing Bangladeshis in the frontiers, imposing barriers on Bangladeshi export to India, the withdrawal of waters from common rivers, Akhand Bharat concept targeting to merge small neighbours and so forth. The withdrawal of water from the Ganges together with other common rivers has destroyed the ecology and livelihood of millions of people. The Ganges water sharing agreement was signed in 1996 after the Awami League had assumed office. India also stopped aiding Shanti Bahini insurgents to end the two decades’ insurgency in 1997.

After a brief period of bumpy politics since 1996, Bangladesh plunged into a violent political conflict in 2006, leading to the formation of military-backed two-year caretaker government on January 11, 2007. Before the general elections in 2008 under the caretaker government, India asked General Moyeen U Ahmed, a former chief of army staff, to bring the Awami League back to power. In return, India assured him security of his job and a safe exit. Elections were held. The Awami Lague came to power. The general continued with his job. He retired on June 15, 2009, safely left Bangladesh and did not came back.

During the Awami League rule between 2009 and 2024, ‘democracy’ became the first casualty in Bangladesh politics. All democratic institutions and practices faced politicisation in line with the Awami League’s ideological orientation. India connived to establish a draconian political climate in Bangladesh. The government became increasingly intolerant of any kind of opposition, whether political or non-political. Even criticising the prime minister of India or any demonstration against India was treated as an offence. Such loyalty by a Bangladeshi government was unprecedented. India became confident of pressing ahead with the dependable government of the Awami League and completely ignored the popular sentiment.

The Jatiya Party appeared as a faithful opposition. India’s influence with the elections was exposed in December 2014. India’s former external affairs secretary along with a Bangladeshi intelligence chief escorted the Jatiya Party chair Hussein Mohammad Ershad from his residence in Baridhara to Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka. Ershad was kept there till the elections were over. Ershad’s wife, Rowshan Ershad, was made the party chair to lead the party in the elections. While elections of 2014, 2018 and 2024 were internationally noted as ‘not free and fair’, India gave clean a chit.

Anti-India sentiments deepened faster because of India’s endorsement to undemocratic practices in Bangladesh politics. The negative sentiment grew strong enough for activists to launch a campaign to boycott Indian products which gained traction. Despite growing dislikes, India was confident of shieldibng both the AL government and Sheikh Hasina through its moles across the political sphere, bureaucracy, military, judiciary and police. India took the party and its government for guaranteed to advance its interests in Bangladesh and have its say in internal and foreign policy affairs. India continued to disregard the depth and strength of people’s sentiment and expectation. There, India made the blunder.

The geopolitical saying that ‘neighbours cannot be changed’ is true for both for Bangladesh and India. Although Bangladesh is a small country, it is so much important to India that India cannot even draw its map without Bangladesh. If people look at the map with insight, they will notice that Bangladesh is balancing the integrity between India’s seven sisters and the rest of the Indian territory. Bangladesh is the only country to provide economic connectivity between the seven sisters and the rest of India, connecting northeast Indian states to maritime trade route and providing strategic alternative for the vulnerable Siliguri corridor.

On the economic frontiers, Bangladesh is a very big market for India. Hundreds of thousands of people visit India every year and spend millions of dollars on treatment, tourism, etc. In 2023, more than two million people visited India. The Economic Times online said on August 19 that the July uprising in Bangladesh ‘crush-landed on Indian tourism’. According to the report, ‘Bangladeshi travellers, who usually make up 23 per cenbt of India’s inbound tourism — primarily for medical, [tourism] and shopping reasons — have seen a 90 per cent decline in outbound travel due to recent turmoil. With flights disrupted and visa services limited, travel between the two countries has nearly halted. This decline, particularly affecting popular destinations like Kolkata and Northeast India, has led to a 40 per cent drop in bookings.’ India’s high commission in Dhaka earns a couple of million dollars through consular services. A large number of Indians work in Bangladesh. They are the third largest remitters of foreign currency to India. In 2022, India exported goods worth $13 billion to Bangladesh. India will not find another such a large composite market for its businesses in South Asia. But, Bangladesh can find alternative sources of supplies for its businesses. China and other countries will happily fill in any vacuum left by India.

Anti-India sentiment that has been created particularly in 15 years will be carried over in the years to come. The Generation Z people who are now in their teens and twenties will join the state apparatus in future. They will drive internal and external affairs of the future Bangladesh. Therefore, India should make a policy decision to build relation with people and people’s government. India should become a true development partner of Bangladesh instead of a muscle-flexing big brother. India must value the people and people’s government. As neither of the countries can change neighbours, both Bangladesh and India should work to build a stable and friendly neighborhood.

Mohammad Abdur Razzak, a retired commodore of the Bangladesh navy, is a security analyst.​

 

[Saif]

India to work with interim govt

India yesterday reiterated that it would continue to work with Bangladesh’s interim government to fulfil the “shared aspirations” of the peoples of the two countries.

www.thedailystar.net

India to work with interim govt
Says its external affairs ministry

India yesterday reiterated that it would continue to work with Bangladesh's interim government to fulfil the "shared aspirations" of the peoples of the two countries.

Addressing the weekly media briefing in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also responded to a series of questions relating to Sheikh Hasina's extradition and her current status in India, saying that "this is a hypothetical question and we do not answer this type of hypothetical question."

Jaiswal reiterated that Hasina came to India on August 5 on short notice and that he had nothing more to add to that at present.

Asked to comment on Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus's remarks during a recent interview with an Indian news agency that Hasina should remain silent when in India and that New Delhi should look beyond the narrative given by her, Jaiswal said, "The Indian high commissioner, during his meeting with the chief adviser, conveyed that India is willing to work with Bangladesh to fulfil the shared aspirations of the two countries. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh with our national priority."

"This is how we approach our engagement with Bangladesh," he added.

To a question about the Adani Power's agreement with Bangladesh Power Development Board for supply of electricity from the former's plant in Godda, Jharkhand, Jaiswal said, "It is a buyer-seller agreement between the two parties and it's for them to sort out the issues."

Asked about the fate of the India-Bangladesh friendship pipeline from Numaligarh in Assam to Parbatipur for supplying diesel, Jaiswal said the project is functional, adding that India has made certain proposals about extending the pipeline and is waiting for a response from the Bangladesh side.

Replying to a question about the revival of India-Bangladesh bilateral development projects, Jaiswal reiterated that the work on them would resume as soon as the law and order in that country stabilises and the Indian workers involved in them return.​

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Indian polity and bureaucracy is fully capable of handling such small issues. India has managed US and Russia togather. India has managed Israel and Arabs together. India has managed Saudi and Iran together. Handling such a small issue.

 

[Saif]

Indian polity and bureaucracy is fully capable of handling such small issues. India has managed US and Russia togather. India has managed Israel and Arabs together. India has managed Saudi and Iran together. Handling such a small issue.

India has done nothing of the sort you have claimed in your post. Your country is just a supplier of cheap labors in the Middle East.