WION News
Bangladesh is poised on the threshold of momentous elections. The contest is believed to be a close one. Sheikh Hasina has been in power for over a decade and though she continues to be popular she will have to contend with the anti-incumbency sentiment. She has relentlessly pursued the accomplices of her father’s murderers and those who collaborated with Pakistani Soldiers in 1971. Execution of some senior leaders in Opposition has triggered an interesting debate.
Shouldn’t there be a closure to the tragic events that occurred half a century back? Should revenge give way to reconciliation?
Among the young who comprise the majority of the population in Bangladesh today, not many care about justice for the victims of 1971 and 1975.
The issues that weigh heavy on their mind and agitate them are employment, healthcare, infrastructure and the state of law and order. There is also grave concern about creeping intolerance and brutal annihilation of dissenters and persecution of minorities.
While Begum Khaleda Zia has been accused of corruption, Hasina can’t be absolved totally of incompetent management of the economy and administrative lapses. Her benign image hasn’t always coincided with actions. Minorities are 10 per cent of the country’s population. Of this 7-8 per cent are Hindus and the rest Christians, Buddhist and Animists. The Hindus feel that Hasina can protect their interests better as Khalida has fostered up her support by pandering to fundamentalist Islamic elements in the country.
But Hasina’s handling of the Chakma Problem and the Rohingya refugees hasn’t inspired confidence in her capability to balance contending interests in a plural society. This is the reason that Khaleda’s supporters have been able to create a rift among the minority vote bank of Awami League. The Armed Forces claim to be apolitical, but a section remains strongly sympathetic towards Khaleda. An Army General’s widow – she is perceived as ‘one of our own.’
Ironically, neither Hasina nor Khaleda has made the least effort to prepare a second line of leadership or trained successors to take over. For both ladies, the hands of the clock are firmly stuck in past.
Khaleda Zia today realises the folly of boycotting the last elections that gave a walk over to Sheikh Hasina. She is desperate to forge a Mahagathbandhan of her own to oust her arch-rival from power.
It is for the people of Bangladesh to choose the Party and the leader whom they wish to rule over the land. India can’t afford to be taking sides even slightly or remotely. But at the same time, it can’t remain blind to machinations by inimical forces in its backyard. ISI, as well as Wahhabis financed by Saudi patrons, have long been active in Bangladesh.
his can only result in a vitiation of climate against friendship with India. China too lurks in the shadows with promises of economic aid and technical assistance. This too is part of that belligerent neighbour’s strategy to encircle India. Whatever be the outcome these elections impinge on our strategic concerns. We must carefully weigh all options.