Opinion | What Are India's Options As Bangladesh Erupts - Again?
After much back and forth, the election in Bangladesh was finally announced for February 12. Tarique Rahman, the son of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, promised that the election would take place on that date following Muhammad Yunus's meeting with him in London. However, doubts persisted over whether the election would actually be held.
At present, the situation in Bangladesh is on the brink of eruption. The political chaos has coincided with attacks on the minority Hindu community. The residence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was attacked after the Awami League headquarters was vandalised. Although the election has been scheduled for February 12, such incidents are making the situation increasingly unmanageable. The Indian government is closely monitoring developments to assess how it unfolds.
The primary concern is India's position in the context of its long-standing relationship with Bangladesh. Another key question is who is responsible for the unrest. Islamic fundamentalist forces appear to be playing a role, and suspicion has fallen on Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest fundamentalist group in the country.
The son of BNP leader Khaleda Zia has now declared that he will return to Bangladesh before Christmas, and the BNP has been communicating with India about its desire to maintain cordial bilateral relations. It remains unclear whether the BNP, Jamaat, student organisations, or NCP-linked militants are responsible for the unrest. Regardless of party affiliation, India seeks a stable relationship with Bangladesh. At the same time, concerns have grown over Pakistan's role, particularly after the visit of the ISI chief to Dhaka, raising questions about whether Pakistan has contributed to the sudden escalation.
On December 17, Bangladesh's High Commissioner in Delhi, Riaz Hamidullah, was summoned by India, and a formal diplomatic protest was lodged over the deteriorating security situation in Dhaka. Notably, this occurred on the same day that the main India visa application centre at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka closed at 2 pm due to security concerns. Prior to New Delhi's move, the Bangladeshi government had summoned the Indian High Commissioner. Before India's decision, Bangladesh's High Commissioner in Delhi had also been called in for........





















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