[🇧🇩] The Nexus Between Awami League and India

[Saif]

Source: https://www.PKDefense.com

I am opening this thread to expose India's nefarious plan to keep Bangladesh into its sphere of influence by aiding Awami League to suppress the opposition to perpetuate its reign in Bangladesh.

 

[Saif]

BNP slams Momen for 'asking India to keep PM Hasina's govt in power'

Senior leaders of the opposition party also urged people to form a movement for halting the government from power

www.tbsnews.net

BNP slams Momen for 'asking India to keep PM Hasina's govt in power'
Senior leaders of the opposition party also urged people to form a movement for halting the government from power

Questioning whether the Awami League government has been in power at the "mercy" of India, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday demanded an explanation on the foreign minister's recent statement on seeking India's backing to keep PM Sheikh Hasina in power.

"Ministers from a rally of the Awami League in Dhaka issued various threats and used terrorist language. When you are issuing so many threats, why does your foreign minister seek India's help to sustain your government and your prime minister?" he said.

Speaking at a discussion marking its 42nd founding anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal, the BNP leader said their party wants an explanation of the foreign minister's statement, reports the UNB.


The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel.

"We want to know from the government, the foreign minister and also from the Indian government what is the meaning of what the foreign minister said? Does it mean that this government is sustaining with India's backing? People want to know the meaning of this. It's urgent."

He also said questions have been raised about whether Bangladesh will really be an independent state or not, whether Bangladesh will really be a democratic country or not and whether the people of Bangladesh will get back their rights or not.

Since it came to power, Fakhrul said, the Awami League has snatched the rights of the people of Bangladesh in a very well-planned way while the constitution has been amended annulling the provisions of the caretaker government and depriving people of their scope to vote and elect their representatives every five years.

Other senior BNP leaders also slammed the foreign minister for his statement.

The party's Senior Joint Secretary-General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the foreign minister's statement proves that people are not in favour of the government.

"The government has lost everything because they abandoned the people. So, they are approaching others to remain in power," said Rizvi while talking to reporters after placing wreaths on Ziaur Rahman's grave on the founding anniversary of the Jatiyatabadi Shecchwasebak Dal on Friday morning.

"The government cannot face the people as they buried the voting system, democracy and freedom of expression in the country. Now they want to remain in power with the help of others, endangering our freedom," he added, saying that the foreign minister sometimes naively speaks the truth.

In another programme at the National Press Club, BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said it is highly unlikely that India will be able to sustain the current government in power.

Criticising Momen, the BNP leader said keeping the Awami League in power is far-fetched. "Even if the party is auctioned, no one will want to buy it.

"If we do not partake in elections, who will keep this government? India? Quite impossible," he added.

Meanwhile, Dhaka South Convenor of BNP Abdus Salam expressed his doubt if Momen is a minister of Bangladesh or India.

Addressing a human chain in front of the National Press Club, the BNP leader said no one is safe under this government.

Salam urged everyone to form a movement for halting the government from power. "It's not the right time to stay at home. If the Awami League government remains in power, we will lose our sovereignty," he added.

Foreign Minister Momen, while addressing a Janmashtami programme in JM Sen Hall in Chattogram on Thursday evening, said he had requested the Indian government to do whatever was necessary to help Bangladesh maintain stability and harmony.

"When I went to New Delhi, I told the Indian government that Sheikh Hasina must be sustained. Bangladesh will continue to march towards development and will truly become a country free of communalism under her leadership," Momen said.​

 

[Saif]

Why India Welcomes Sheikh Hasina's Return to Power in Bangladesh

India considers Hasina a close ally in a neighborhood where it confronts rivals Pakistan and China

www.voanews.com

Why India Welcomes Sheikh Hasina's Return to Power in Bangladesh​

January 10, 2024 9:01 AM
By Anjana Pasricha​

---

Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of Bangladesh Awami League, shows a victory sign while speaking to the press in Dhaka, Bangladesh, January 7, 2024. Prime Minister's office/Handout via REUTERS

NEW DELHI —

For India, the return of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party to the helm in Bangladesh for a fourth consecutive term is a welcome development, according to analysts.
While the United States and Britain have said the recent elections that extended Hasina’s rule in the South Asian country were not credible, free or fair, New Delhi considers her a close ally in a neighborhood where its military confronts both Pakistan and China along hostile, disputed borders.
That is why a friendly government in Bangladesh, with which India shares a long land border, is crucial to India’s security, according to Harsh Pant, vice president for studies and foreign policy at the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.

In this photograph released by Bangladesh Prime Minister's office, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, left, arrives to address a press conference following her election victory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 8, 2024.

“India faced a lot of turbulence in Dhaka-Delhi ties before Hasina came to power, but since taking office in 2009, she has been a steadfast ally,” said Pant. “Given the challenging neighborhood that India lives in where it faces a lot of headwinds like China’s increasing presence, it is natural for India to want her to continue in power.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to congratulate Sheikh Hasina after she secured a fourth consecutive term.
“We are committed to further strengthen our enduring and people-centric partnership with Bangladesh,” he wrote on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. For her part, Hasina called India “a great friend” at a news conference held after her victory.

​

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina checks her watch as she waits outside a polling station for the official opening time to cast her vote in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jan. 7, 2024.

For India, the topmost priority is its strategic interests, said analysts, who point out that Hasina has adroitly balanced ties with both India and China. Beijing has significantly expanded its footprint in small South Asian countries with its Belt and Road infrastructure initiative.

Dhaka joined Beijing’s BRI in 2016. China is building infrastructure that includes bridges, power plants and rail projects in Bangladesh. China is also Bangladesh’s key supplier of military hardware.

“Some projects that are dual use in nature have raised questions in New Delhi. Beijing is building a submarine base in Bangladesh and has supplied two submarines to Dhaka,” according to Srikanth Kondapalli, dean at the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. "Any military cooperation between them will be a matter of concern.”

However, he pointed out that Bangladesh “describes its partnership with China as a developmental partnership and has been generally mindful of Indian sensitivities.”

The Bay of Bengal where the submarine base is taking shape is a key waterway in the Indian Ocean, where India, along with the United States and other countries, are working together to deter China.

Dhaka has allayed New Delhi’s concerns, saying its ties with China are friendly but primarily focused on economic linkages.

“We are very prudent in receiving any aid or funds. So people should not be afraid that Bangladesh would succumb to the Chinese," Bangladesh’s foreign minister, Abdul Momen, said in an interview to India Today television after the polls.

Analysts said that Hasina’s continuation in Bangladesh is a relief for New Delhi, which recently saw a pro-China government take office in the Maldives, straining ties with the archipelago nation.

“There has been no overt pro-China, anti-India discourse in Bangladesh as we saw in Sri Lanka in the past or in Maldives at present,” according to Sankalp Gurjar, assistant professor in geopolitics and international relations at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

Bangladesh is also crucial to the security of India’s remote northeastern states where insurgent groups used to be active. They often took sanctuary in Bangladesh, which shares borders with some of these states.

“Since Hasina has come to power, India’s northeastern problems have eased because she has not allowed Bangladesh to be used by such groups,” according to Gurjar.

Questions have been raised over the credibility of Hasina’s victory following the elections the opposition boycotted. Thousands of opposition activists were jailed in the run-up to the polls, raising concerns of democratic backsliding and authoritarianism.

FILE - Activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party participate in a rally demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Oct. 28, 2023.

In a statement, the U.S. State Department said, “The United States shares the view with other observers that these elections were not free or fair and we regret that not all parties participated.”

Despite the divergent stands taken by New Delhi and Washington, India is urging Western countries to work with Bangladesh.

“India will have to maintain a delicate balance, but New Delhi is playing the role of a facilitator between Hasina and Western countries,” according to Pant. “It is telling the U.S. that marginalizing or ignoring Bangladesh would only make China a much more central player in the country, which would not serve either India’s or Western interests.”​

 

[Saif]

Jan 7 Polls: If not for India, others would have interfered

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said no powerful country could interfere in the January 7 national election as India stood beside Bangladesh.

www.thedailystar.net

Jan 7 Polls: If not for India, others would have interfered​

Says Quader

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said no powerful country could interfere in the January 7 national election as India stood beside Bangladesh.

India did not interfere in Bangladesh's polls but many powerful countries tried to influence the election, he said while addressing the biennial conference of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad at Dhakeshwari National Temple in the after afternoon.

"We conducted our elections. India didn't interfere. They [India] said let Bangladesh decide on Bangladesh's election. Many powers in the world wanted to play an evil game here. India stood strongly by our side," said Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister.

He said the Bangladesh-India relations have reached a new height under the leaderships of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

Different problems, including border issues, were solved through discussions with India, the minister said. "Positive progress has been achieved over the Teesta water-sharing agreement, but we have to keep patience."
He said it is not possible to solve those problems by creating any bitterness.

Everyone, including Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, had contributed to Bangladesh's independence struggle.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Kumar Verma inaugurated the conference.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar, Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen, and State Minister for Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Kujendra Lal Tripura, among others, addressed the event, with Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad President JL Bhowmik in the chair.​

 

[Saif]

Ex foreign minister Abdul Momen asked allout help from India to keep Hasina in power.

 

[Saif]

https://www.kalerkantho.com/english/online/national/2023/02/15/49552

India has total support to Sheikh Hasina’s leadership: Kwatra
Published
Wednesday, 15 February, 2023 21:28

India has total support to Sheikh Hasina’s leadership: Kwatra

Visiting Indian External Affairs Secretary Vinay Kwatra today said New Delhi has total support to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership as he called on her at the premier’s official Ganobhaban residence.

“We’ve total support to you and your leadership,” a PMO spokesman quoted him as telling the premier during his courtesy call on while Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh considered India as a trusted friend and expressed hope that this friendship would deepen further.

Prime Minister’s Speech writer Md Nazrul Islam at a media briefing said Kwatra told Sheikh Hasina that the neighbouring country would remain on Bangladesh side in its development endevours including political and economic progress.

He said the Indian foreign secretary invited Sheikh Hasina to the 18th edition of the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit which would take place in New Delhi on September 9-10 this year.

The premier, he said, accepted the invitation and extended thanks to her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, who as the current chair of the G-20 grouping of larger economies, invited Bangladesh as a “guest country” in its all meetings.

According to the spokesman the top bureaucrat of Indian foreign office described Dhaka-New Delhi ties to be “very firm” and said the entire world now valued the relationships as it reached to a strategic level.

“This relationship is being strengthened further,” he added.

Sheikh Hasina said both countries could work on the socio-economic development of the two neighbors.

Kwatra said New Delhi was trying to make the terms and conditions of Indian Line of Credit (LoC) easier so Bangladesh could avail the credit and repay it easily.

He said the own currencies of both the countries could be used to run bilateral trades and businesses.

Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma were present.​

 

[Saif]

Role of India regrettable: Rizvi

Role of India in Bangladesh's Political Situation: BNP Leader Rizvi Expresses Sadness

en.prothomalo.com

12th general election​

Role of India regrettable: Rizvi​

Staff Correspondent​

Dhaka

Updated: 01 Dec 2023, 23: 13

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir RizviFile photo

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has criticised the role of neighbouring India that the country has apparently adopted over the forthcoming 12th parliamentary elections and ensuing political situation in Bangladesh.

Rizvi said India is a democratic country. A tradition of democracy is there. How that India could take a stand in favour of an “undemocratic and autocrat” directly! Though they said about staying with the people of Bangladesh, they have actually taken a stand against the 180 million people of Bangladesh, which is regrettable.

The senior BNP leader was addressing a virtual press briefing on Friday evening.

Alleging that “With the support of India, the Awami League has been looting the country for the last 15 years”, Rizvi said India itself is a democratic country, but in Bangladesh they have been supporting a government that was formed without any vote. That means the territorial independence and people of Bangladesh bear no importance to them. A certain political party is more important to them. Through this Awami League they have been controlling Bangladesh, he alleged.

Slamming the role of India, the BNP leader expressed that India considers them hostile who protest at border killings and unilateral trade and demand fair share of water.

Though the government of India considers the people of Bangladesh as its opposition, the Bangladeshis consider the people of India their friends, he remarked.

The BNP leader also talked about China and Russia’s support to the incumbent Awami League government.

He observed that traditionally they have authoritarian governments in power. As a result they could lend support to another authoritarian government. But the support of India’s democratic government is regrettable.

Highlighting that the election without the participation of BNP and other main opposition parties cannot be participatory, BNP’s senior joint secretary general said the government tried to split the BNP in different ways.

“But none but a few greedy people went to them. Those who have taken part in this staged election out of greed will accrue nothing but a bad name.”

He alleged that the law enforcement, judiciary, education department and all other bodies are under the control of the government. “They (the government) want to stay in power by any means.”

“We don’t want power. Rather, we seek a fair election. The election won’t be fair if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina does not resign. But she doesn’t want to resign. Because she wants to stage the election on her own,” he stated.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi further claimed that over 150,000 lawsuits have been lodged and over 20 million leaders and activists of BNP could not stay at their homes.​

 

[Saif]

AL believes India will stand by it during polls

The five-member Awami League delegation, headed by AL presidium member and agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque, visited India from 6 August to 9 August at the invitation of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The purpose of the visit was to discuss political stability in Bangladesh and the upcoming...

en.prothomalo.com

AL delegation’s India-visit​

AL believes India will stand by it during polls​

Special Correspondent​

Dhaka

Updated: 11 Aug 2023, 15: 45

Awami League presidium member Abdur Razzaque speaks at a press briefing on the party delegation's recent India visit at the Awami League office in the capital's Dhanmondi on 10 August, 2023Prothom Alo

The ruling Awami League (AL) delegation has returned with a notion that the party will get India’s support in the upcoming general elections. During the three-day visit to India, the AL delegation held meetings with several top leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including party president JP Nadda.

The five-member delegation, headed by AL presidium member and agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque, visited India from 6 August to 9 August at the invitation of the BJP. Awami League held a press conference about the trip at its Dhanmondi office in the capital Thursday. Agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque said at the press briefing that during the three-day visit, they learned that India wants political stability in Bangladesh.

According to the sources in the party, the leaders of the ruling party in India and senior officials of the Indian government have stressed on political stability in Bangladesh. In that context, the pressure from the US, including the new US visa policy and sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), also came up in the discussions during the three-day visit. The Indian leaders have said that they are working on these issues in their own way. The impact will be visible gradually.

Speaking to Prothom Alo on condition of anonymity, a member of the AL delegation said a top leader of India said the impact of the country’s diplomatic efforts were already visible to some extent. In addition to that, the Indian leaders have also said that they believe that prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership is stronger than any other politician in Bangladesh.

The source in the AL delegation further said, during meetings with leaders at different levels, including BJP president JP Nadda, Bangladesh’s growing relationship with China also came up. The Awami League leaders tried to convince them that Bangladesh’s relations with China are completely economic, just like the existing bilateral relationships between India and China. On the other hand, the relationship between Bangladesh and India is multifaceted.
The AL delegation further told them that it was possible to prevent the rise of Jamaat-e-Islami, different Islamic groups and communal forces as the Awami League is in power. The Pakistani influence in the subcontinent will grow again if the Awami League is not in power, which will be a threat to India’s security.

EC to hold the polls, India has no role

Asked about India’s role in Bangladesh’s general election, Abdur Razzaque said, “The Election Commission will conduct the elections and the government will cooperate with them. India has no part in this. They didn’t comment in this regard. Besides, the connectivity between the two countries is quite deep. They are well aware about what’s going on in Bangladesh.”

The agriculture minister further said, “China is always a big headache for India. This is the reason tension arises very often on the border between the two countries. We said our foreign policy is friendship towards all and malice towards none and we strictly adhere to this policy. However, our relations with India are written in blood. And, it is not comparable to any other relation.”
​

Our relation with India is written in blood. And, it is not comparable to any other relation​

Abdur Razzaque, Agriculture minister

In response to a question regarding India’s attitude towards Jamaat-e-Islami in the next parliamentary election, Abdur Razzaque said, “It’s the responsibility of the state. We didn’t discuss this issue. The intelligence of both countries has regular contacts and they share information to prevent militancy and terrorism in the two countries.

AL joint general secretary and information minister Hasan Mahmud said, “The persons, whom we met during the India visit, firmly believe that the election will be held as per the constitution of Bangladesh. They understand the demands (made by the opposition) are useless. They think a free, fair and neutral election will be held in Bangladesh in accordance with the constitution. We also have discussed militant threats. They are aware that there is a cross-border connection between the militants.”
​

We went to India at BJP’s invitation. The US envoy has expressed his wish to visit the Awami League office. But BNP goes to different places by themselves​

Hasan Mahmud, Agriculture minister

Abdur Razzaque said, “The BNP is always dependent on foreign forces. But now they realise that there is no benefit in it. The people of Bangladesh will decide who will control the politics in future.”

Information minister Hasan Mahmud said, “BNP has a love for foreign interventions. Their lobbying has not stopped. However, they have realised that there is no benefit in this.”

“We went to India at BJP’s invitation. The US envoy has expressed his wish to visit the Awami League office. But BNP goes to different places on theor own accord,” he added.
​

What transpired during the India visit​

At the beginning of the press conference, Abdur Razzaque said, “India is our ally. They helped us with money and weapons during the liberation war. The relationship between the two countries have seen many ups and downs after the liberation war. And now, the relationship between the two countries are at a new height.”
​

BJP president JP Nadda, during the meeting with the AL delegation, said his party was interested to work with the Awami League to maintain stability and to fight terrorism in the region like the past​

He further said, “Bangladesh is progressing unbelievably under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. In the past, Bangladeshi soil was used to supply 10 truckloads of weapons to the separatists in India. However, Bangladesh will not let anyone use even an inch of land of Bangladesh against neighbouring countries now. The BJP is satisfied with such initiatives from prime minister Sheikh Hasina.”

It was said in the press conference that the AL delegation reached Delhi on 6 August. They met BJP president JP Nadda at his residence the next day.

Nadda, during the meeting, said his party was interested to work with the Awami League to maintain stability and to fight terrorism in the region like the past.

The delegation met with BJP general secretary Vinod Tad at the party’s central office later that day. Later, in the afternoon, the delegation met Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar at his office in the parliament.

S Jaishankar told the delegation that, “The cordial relationship between the two countries has reached a greater height than ever before during the tenure of prime minister Narendra Modi and prime minister Sheikh Hasina.”

On 8 August, they held a meeting with Indian Rajya Sabha (upper house) leader and commerce minister Piyush Goyal. At the meeting, the Indian minister assured the delegation that they will actively consider making sure that Bangladesh is not harmed by the ban on food grain export by the Indian government. He also sought assistance from the delegation to ensure more imports from Bangladesh. He also requested for the list of exportable products of Bangladesh at the time.

The delegation also met chief coordinator for India's G20 presidency in 2023 and former Indian ambassador to Bangladesh, Harsh Vardhan Shringla. He mentioned the invitation for Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina to take part in the upcoming G20 Summit to be held in India from 9 September to 10 September.

Apart from that, the AL delegation met with the BJP’s women and youth wing and a delegation of Indian media.

Members of the AL delegation Aroma Dutt, MP; Merina Jahan, MP and AL’s organising secretary Sujit Roy Nandi were also present during the press conference.​