Why is India allowing Hasina to swim in Chinese water?

[BanglaBhoot]

Minar Rashid

Imagine a cartoon of Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh attempting to swim in Chinese waters and Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India offering a life Jacket to keep her afloat. Intriguingly this appears to be the political scenario in the Indian Sub-Continent. That raises the following questions;

Why is India allowing Hasina to swim in Chinese water comfortably?

Is it geopolitical helplessness of India or a trick to mislead the opponents for a greater gain?

Is India taking a calculated risk or doing a favor to Hasina to keep China away from her arch-rival?

Will China be satisfied when its geopolitical interest will be in danger as the Indian road map backed by the US is implemented here?

All these questions demand a brief discussion of the geopolitical affairs of the area.

India is the only global protector of Sheikh Hasina who came to power on January 5, 2014, in which 154 parliamentary seats out of total 300 were uncontested. It means they attained the required majority to form the government without a single stamp on the ballot paper. For the remaining 146 seats, less than 5% of the eligible voters turned out to vote. It was a sham election.

So-called “the largest democracy” India was first to welcome this ill-conceived Hasina administration and used all her global influence to twist powerful Western nations to accept her illegitimate government. In exchange Hasina offered her full allegiance including Bangladesh’s sovereignty to her protector India. India has been protecting the Hasina government overtly and covertly with full vigor. Indian intelligence and security services have penetrated inside every institution in Bangladesh to help ensure Hasina’s grip on Bangladesh.

The western democracies could not openly legitimize her government but somehow tacitly approved India’s call for acceptance of Bangladesh’s 2014 mock election. Whatever the Hasina government does whether it be the destruction of the rule of law and the democratic institutions, India happily supports her and calls Bangladesh a democracy. Forced disappearances and state-run attack on its civilians have created a reign of terror. People are fearful for their life and liberty as anyone can be snatched anytime covertly or overtly. The people of Bangladesh have been trapped into helplessness, and everything smells like a foreign occupation that is legitimized by a proxy Hasina administration.

Every action has its equal and opposite reaction. Indian policy in Bangladesh while overtly appears like a friendly one, will end up with an opposite result. Their policy is aleady turning 170 million Bangladeshis hostile to India. Eventually India’s troubles in her Eastern and Northern regions will resume and inflame local insurgencies in that area using Bangladesh as a backup refuge just like in the past. Already weakened and politicized Bangladesh Army will not be able to turn these Indian terrorist/independence forces away from Bangladesh soil. Instead of helping her most important neighbor by recognizing a democratic system, India is involved in a counter-productive act that does not bode well for the region.

India is pressing Bangladesh for a defense pact that would allow India to control her neighbor’s military capabilities and consequently compromise her independence. India feels this is the perfect timing to oblige Bangladesh into a permanent defense agreement that will make Bangladesh complacent to India’s indirect governance.

USA-UK-INDIA axis started this game by invoking “1/11 in 2007” in which an army-backed government took over power. They created a platform for Sheikh Hasina to come to power. After Hasina’s accession to power, a mutiny occurred in the Border Guard Forces which claimed the lives of 57 brilliant army officers within two days. This helped in the destruction of the morale of a disciplined Bangladesh army. During her rule for the last eight years, all political opposition has been crushed either by forced disappearances, killings or by legal maneuverings. She has full control of the media using various methods or shutting down institutions that did not comply with her wishes. The Economist reported of bags of Indian cash and advice for such purposes.

Under the present circumstances, it is ripe for India to force Hasina to sign a defense pact. But for Hasina, perceived irritation of the Bangladeshi populace against India may persuade her not to get into such a deal. The tug of war is going on, and India is trying to devise a formula which will keep Hasina in power without hurting her image. She needs some anti-Indian flavor to exhibit her as a steadfast ruler who does not tremble to foreign domination.

Linkage to China may serve Hasina with the appearance of her independence in foreign policy. India has her schemes for allowing Hasina to carry on with Bangladesh’s multi-billion-dollar military and business assistance from China. Bangladeshi intelligentsia is acutely aware of a cunning “Chanakya” policy of India to keep her most important neighbor on a short leash. In the present climate, nobody but Hasina can assure India’s designs.

In actuality, China’s backing of Bangladesh will help bring about the cessation of Indian dominion over its most important neighbor. Additionally, it is an opportune time for China to win over Machiavelian policies of its political foe India.

https://www.facebook.com/TheIndiaDoctrine/posts/1472019882811220:0

 

[Loafer]

Bangladesh will be curbed no matter how much it tries to fly.

We will cut wings of Bangladeshi leaders or military as we always do every 5-10 years.

 

[idune]

Bangladesh will be curbed no matter how much it tries to fly.

We will cut wings of Bangladeshi leaders or military as we always do every 5-10 years.

Thanks for admitting india is a terrorist state involved in killing neighboring leaders and security officials.

 

[bluesky]

It is the military of Bangladesh who dictate terms on the weapons purchase matters. AL is just using our military against the Indian patronage by playing each other. This is why not a single bolt was purchased from India by the armed forces of BD. India's game plan for dominance of BD is being nullified actively by our military. This is why BD purchases important weapons from China and India cannot do anything about it.

 

[Radio Mirchi]

India will keep supporting Hasina government as long as it keeps hanging the jamatis and handing over our insurgents to us.

 

[Jacob Martin]

Bangladeshis should realize that there is life beyond any misgivings about India. You cannot assess your government's performance based on its relations with India/China.

What is important is that the virus of Jamaat influence be kept in check. Today, Bangladeshis do have some genuine reasons to be proud of - a secular democracy, reasonable socio-economic indicators etc. Without the present government, what is there to prevent the Jamaat from dominating the country?

All of the good work done in Bangladesh will then go down the drain. So hold on to the "beautiful lady" for dear life. Do not chop off the nose to spite the face.

 

[Kandari-Hushiyaar]

Bangladeshis should realize that there is life beyond any misgivings about India. You cannot assess your government's performance based on its relations with India/China.

What is important is that the virus of Jamaat influence be kept in check. Today, Bangladeshis do have some genuine reasons to be proud of - a secular democracy, reasonable socio-economic indicators etc. Without the present government, what is there to prevent the Jamaat from dominating the country?

All of the good work done in Bangladesh will then go down the drain. So hold on to the "beautiful lady" for dear life. Do not chop off the nose to spite the face.

Man, You are over inflating Jamat. With less then 4% Vote Bank and No Military wing They are basically nobody. Worry about Mirror Image of Jamat - RSS in your host nation.

 

[SajjLad]

Bangladesh is just not a good neighbour.

There is what we in India say sulemani keeda in you people. You always want to prove yourself superior, try to give undue importance to yourself.

This is very rich coming from the country that declared itself a superpower in 2012.

Bangladeshis should realize that there is life beyond any misgivings about India. You cannot assess your government's performance based on its relations with India/China.

What is important is that the virus of Jamaat influence be kept in check. Today, Bangladeshis do have some genuine reasons to be proud of - a secular democracy, reasonable socio-economic indicators etc. Without the present government, what is there to prevent the Jamaat from dominating the country?

All of the good work done in Bangladesh will then go down the drain. So hold on to the "beautiful lady" for dear life. Do not chop off the nose to spite the face.

And you should also realize life is more than just black and white, and that the only two options are not only Hasina and Jamaat. I'm very critical of Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League, for reasons such as being a dynastic party, corruption in the public sector, nepotism, over reliance on RMG and remittances to support the economy etc, but that doesn't mean I am Jamaati, religion and foreign policy did not come into my reasoning once there. The Awami League is not the only reason we have a secular democracy or a reasonably good economy at this moment, we should not accept a mediocre party for fear of some boogeyman.

 

[Jacob Martin]

Man, You are over inflating Jamat. With less then 4% Vote Bank and No Military wing They are basically nobody. Worry about Mirror Image of Jamat - RSS in your host nation.

I am worried about the RSS. But just as their threat is magnified due to their affiliation with BJP, so is the threat of the Jamaat due to affiliation with BNP. Bottomline - vote for Hasina

 

[Kandari-Hushiyaar]

I am worried about the RSS. But just as their threat is magnified due to their affiliation with BJP, so is the threat of the Jamaat due to affiliation with BNP. Bottomline - vote for Hasina

Nah Jamat and BNP are vote bank friends but they are different group. Jamat has no influence on BNP. and BNP won't share power with Jamat if they ever comes to power. As I said Jamat is nobody, only notorious for 1971 since then they are not so effective except their organized student wing which is limited inside Institutions .

Plus BNP is a secular party, most of its leaders are less religious than Awamileague. Mostly consisting of Hard drinker businessman. BNP-BJP is a wrong analogy. I personally found the Hasina workers more mosque going than BNP wallas , they come from the rudimentary level.

 

[Jacob Martin]

I'm very critical of Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League, for reasons such as being a dynastic party, corruption in the public sector, nepotism, over reliance on RMG and remittances to support the economy etc, but that doesn't mean I am Jamaati, religion and foreign policy did not come into my reasoning once there.

I am highly critical of the Congress party for being dynastic, incompetence of the ruling family and corruption. I am, however, neither an RSS supporter nor do I let religion colour my choice (being an atheist).

So I was reasonably enthusiastic when the current government came to power, hoping for some magic bullet solution from people with whom I have even less in common than the Congress. I don't think the experiment has worked well so far. So one has to either create new options or work with what we have. Otherwise be ready for unintended consequences.

So what is the alternative for Bangladesh?

 

[bluesky]

Bangladesh is just not a good neighbour.

There is what we in India say sulemani keeda in you people. You always want to prove yourself superior, try to give undue importance to yourself.

We feel superior because India depends upon us for peace in its NE. We feel superior because whatever and however India tried to keep us poor, we accepted that challenge by propelling ourselves forward.

 

[Bilal9]

Did you write just for the sake of writing?

There is nothing coherent in what gibberish you spouted.

Lack of protein (and historic genetic faults) cause Indians delusion and incomprehension -> perceives almost everything as gibberish...........

 

[SajjLad]

I am highly critical of the Congress party for being dynastic, incompetence of the ruling family and corruption. I am, however, neither an RSS supporter nor do I let religion colour my choice (being an atheist).

So I was reasonably enthusiastic when the current government came to power, hoping for some magic bullet solution from people with whom I have even less in common than the Congress. I don't think the experiment has worked well so far. So one has to either create new options or work with what we have. Otherwise be ready for unintended consequences.

So what is the alternative for Bangladesh?

See there is a lot of similarity between our two situations. Honestly my biggest hope was when Muhammad Yunus considered founding a party back in the 2000s, but that didn't pan out of course for many reasons. When it comes to democratic nations, solutions to take time because we rely on our ability to vote in a reliable government, which isn't always the case due to things like vote-banks, dynastic politics etc. In that sense autocratic nations have it better in the short term, better short-term stability, but that's not to say advocate so,e kind of military coup or something.

I'd just like to see a centrist party without the baggage of the BAL and BNP, that has decent leadership and can improve the economy and some of the more pressing social issues.

 

[Jacob Martin]

Nah Jamat and BNP are vote bank friends but they are different group. Jamat has no influence on BNP. and BNP won't share power with Jamat if they ever comes to power. As I said Jamat is nobody, only notorious for 1971 since then they are not so effective except their organized student wing which is limited inside Institutions .

Plus BNP is a secular party, most of its leaders are less religious than Awamileague. Mostly consisting of Hard drinker businessman. BNP-BJP is a wrong analogy. I personally found the Hasina workers more mosque going than BNP wallas , they come from the rudimentary level.

Look, trying to decide between Tweedledum and Tweedledee is always dicey. Maybe you have cogent reasons for deciding in favour of BNP, maybe not. But you should understand than unlike what some outsiders may think about the BJP, it is not a crazy zealot party. Their top leadership is no different than that of the Congress, albeit mostly Hindu.

I have lived under NDA I when AB Vajpayee was the PM, and it was quite different than now. The point is that there is always an x-factor and in our case it is Modi. Otherwise this government would in no way be different than that of Vajpayee.

The political equations in Bangladesh are not the same as during the last BNP government. Having been sidelined for so long, they will try any means to cling to power, and what you call as a fringe vote bank of Jamaat supporters could be the key. Also, never underestimate the power of organizational muscle. RSS hardly wins any votes directly for BJP, it does so by making available its vast and dedicated cadre for campaigning. Giving in to Jamaat demands is not as dubious as you may think.

So make your choices wisely.