India strongly criticizes US interference in Bangladesh elections
Bangladesh's former foreign secretary Shahidul Haque and director of ORF Kolkata Anusuya Basu Roy Chowdhury joined the discussion with former top diplomat of India and former Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravorty and former Indian diplomat and former High Commissioner to Dhaka Veena Sikri. The important topic of the discussion program between India-Bangladesh diplomats was the criticism of India's stance and US interference in Bangladesh's 12th Jatiya Sangsad elections. They also talked about various unresolved issues of the two countries.
On Thursday (March 28) afternoon at Delhi's Think Tank 'Observer Research Foundation', Pinak Rranjan Chakravorty's book - 'Transformation: Emergence of Bangladesh and Evolution of India-Bangladesh Ties', besides Pinak Ranjan ChakraVorty, spoke and answered questions, Veena Sikri, Shahidul Haque and Anusuya Basu Roy Chowdhury. ORF Delhi Senior Fellow and Strategic Analyst Sushant Sarin moderated the event.
These top diplomats said that India had a strong position in favor of the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh on January 7. This election cannot be called questionable in any way. India has made it clear to the Joe Biden administration that India does not like the over-activity of the US in the Bangladesh election issue. They commented that after India's tough stance, the US ambassador in Dhaka, Peter Haas, was practically no longer active.
Pinak Ranjan Chakravorty said, 'I can say for sure, after the clear announcement of Delhi reached the Biden administration, Peter Haas, the US ambassador assigned to Dhaka, had to go into hiding. As a result of this strong message from India, the US Ambassador in Dhaka did not show up during the voting. But a few days ago, he was inviting a certain BNP leader to his house or appearing at the house of another BNP leader. Then he! He knows where he covered his body!
Pinak Ranjan Chakravorty said in response to the question whether the Jatiya Sangsad elections of Bangladesh can be called questionable, if a party does not participate in the election by its own decision, then it is not appropriate to blame the winning party for that. In India too, parties that know they will lose the polls have no shortage of excuses. They started saying that EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) are being rigged long ago.
Veena Sikri, one of the speakers at the event, said that her assessment is that America actually considers Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh as a 'moderate' (moderate) Islamist party and they have no idea how extremist the Jamaat's thinking and activities are. He believes that the Jamaat and their political partner BNP have been receiving patronage from the United States based on this 'wrong idea'.
However, Pinak Ranjan Chakravorty disagreed in this context and said that even after knowing the true nature of the Jamaat, the reason for supporting BNP in the chorus is different. The hostile attitude of the United States towards the Awami League since the liberation war of 1971 is still reflected today. That is why even after half a century, the country is doing this to anger the political opponents against the Awami League.
Pinak Ranjan Chakravorty's book in a chapter titled 'Vexed Issues' looks at the unresolved issues of the two countries. Veena Sikri, raising the topic of the Teesta agreement, which is of particular importance there, said, "In my opinion, only the formula for solving this crisis can be found if the two countries do a joint hydrological survey starting from the source of the Teesta." Because it is very important to know the amount of water in Teesta before making any deal. However, we do not have that information in the case of Teesta.
Bangladesh's former foreign secretary Shahidul Haque participated in the discussion online from Belgrade, Europe. He quoted from a part of Pinak Ranjan Chakravorty's book and said that he also believes in the saying that India and Bangladesh's destiny is bound by one formula.
Describing the relationship between the two countries as a 'relationship of eternal friendship', he said, 'The relationship between India and Bangladesh is beyond strategic relations, which was made clear in the joint statement of Dhaka and Delhi in 2015. Its reflection is seen in reality now. Our two countries need to understand each other with proper feelings and dignity. Bengalis are already a very emotional nation, policy makers should keep that in mind.
Referring to the so-called 'India Out' campaign in Bangladesh, Anusuya Basu Roy Chowdhury said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has publicly clarified that this movement has no basis and there is nothing to worry about, which is a very strong step. He also pointed out that this so-called campaign is the manipulation of some non-public agitators on social media.
Anusuya Basu Roy Chowdhury also welcomed the move of 'onion diplomacy' which India has exempted only Bangladesh from during the month of fasting, even though India has imposed a ban on the export of the 'highly sensitive agricultural product' onion before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in India.