Bangladesh-India relations are historical and multi-dimensional. Again, the relationship between these two close neighbors is very sensitive. As a result, it is very important for the peace, security and stability of South Asia that the relations between the two countries move in a positive direction based on balance, fairness and equality.

In particular, in the context of the Rohingya crisis in Northeast India and neighboring Chattogram Hill Tracts and Southeast Bangladesh and the ongoing armed civil war in Myanmar, both countries would do well to proceed with utmost caution in the development of mutual relations. But despite the good intentions of both countries, there are multifaceted conspiracies to destroy this relationship. For this reason, it is necessary for both the countries to be vigilant and move the Bangladesh-India relationship forward to a positive destination.

On the occasion of the one month anniversary of the formation of the interim government on Wednesday (September 11) at 7:30 pm the Chief Adviser to the nation the issue of Bangladesh-India relations gained importance in the speech of Dr. Muhammad Yunus. In the speech, Dr. Yunus said that he wants good relations with neighboring countries including India. He said, however, that relationship should be based on fairness and equality. We have already started high-level bilateral cooperation talks with India on flood control. I have taken the initiative to revive the SAARC group of states with a view to enhancing regional cooperation in South Asia. He said that Bangladesh should be known with respect to the world as a democratic country. The planning of the country should be centered on the people of the country, not on any leader or party.

Pranoy Verma, the Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka, has said that he will work to advance Indo- Bangladesh relation to a positive direction. The new foreign secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the courtesy meeting with Jasimuddin, he further told the reporters, 'I have said earlier that we are working closely with the government of Bangladesh to achieve the aspirations of peace, security and development applicable to both countries. We will continue to work to advance the relationship in various areas.

The Prime Minister of India and the Chief Minister of West Bengal congratulated the new government soon after the change of power in Bangladesh. Both the countries hoped that the historical and close relations between Bangladesh and India will continue intact. But these hopes will be successful only when various conspiracies to destroy the relationship between the two countries can be suppressed and it will be possible to avoid hot-headedness from the highest level.

It is important to mention that in the complex geopolitics of South Asia, there is a tendency for relations to deteriorate as well as for improving relations. There are multifaceted conspiracies that work openly and covertly to disturb the relations of different countries. Governments need to be very careful and vigilant about this.

For example, the behavior of the Indian media can be mentioned. When the student movement took place in Bangladesh, there were many doubts about their campaign. In particular, when student mobs, and even madrasa students, guarding Hindu homes and temples were showing success in confronting miscreants, inflammatory campaigns were noticed in the Indian media. Inciting unrest without standing for peace made the Indian media questionable and untrustworthy at the time.

Disappointingly, the old and professional press has also been seen to tune in with the third-rate propaganda-based low-level media. After that complex situation, such news is still being published in various media in India, which is not only offensive but harmful to the relationship. For example, the video reports of newspapers like India Today are saying that the new government is a threat to India, Bangladesh has become Pakistan 2.0 under the new government. Even, the interview of some alleged 'Bangladeshi militants' is spreading tension. It is hard to believe that the Government of India does not see this. If such anti-Bangladesh propaganda increases on Indian soil and in Indian media, India's goodwill towards developing relations with Bangladesh will be highly disputed and eventually the relations will suffer, which is neither desirable nor beneficial for any country.

From India's point of view, the reality must be kept in mind that there is an anti-India political current in Bangladesh since long ago. Moreover, the previous Hasina government is generally perceived as pro-India. And now Hasina is under the shelter of India. As a result, if anti-Bangladesh incitement is made on Indian soil or in the media, the reaction in the public mind of Bangladesh will be severe, which will further increase the level of anti-India.

Hot comments from higher ups also often damage relationships and cause adverse reactions. As has happened recently. Adviser to BNP Chairperson and former Opposition Chief Whip Zainul Abdin Farooq said that India's Defense Minister Rajnath Singh should apologize, but you are a minister but I am also a citizen of independent Bangladesh. You should apologize for the statement you made. People of Bangladesh have a big heart. They know how to forgive. So no one will accept that do not make a statement about Bangladesh.

He said this at a protest rally organized by the 12-party alliance in front of the National Press Club in the capital in the first week of September against India's aggressive statements threatening the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh. Moreover, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi commented that India is not working for Bangladesh's democracy but to return Sheikh Hasina's 'zamidari'.

Needless to say, unnecessary controversies and provocative political statements or false propaganda by anyone or the media will destabilize the situation. Those will be boomerang and India will face opposition. Opponents of India will get tools for criticism and opposition. Attempting to destroy relationships instead of improving them, or handing over weapons of opposition, is not a sign of any prudence. Rather, these are conspiracies to destroy Bangladesh-India relations. Therefore, aware people, objective media and government of both countries need to be alert about anti-Bangladesh incitement and lies in the Indian soil or in the media and strive to advance Bangladesh-India relations on the basis of balance, fairness and equality by countering various conspiracies.

Dr. Mahfuz Parvez: Associate Editor, Barta24.com; Professor and Chairman, Department of Political Science, Chattogram University and Executive Director, Chattogram Center for Regional Studies, Bangladesh (CCRSBD).

Discussions have been going on for a long time regarding the treatment of ill BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia abroad. During the former Awami League government, she was not allowed to go abroad on the pretext of legal complications. At that time, she was convicted by the court, and the former government sought to repeatedly raise legal restrictions on the convicted. The discussion at that time was more political than legal. Awami League has stood in the way of Begum Khaleda Zia's medical treatment for the sake of law - it was politics as well as Awami League's politics of not allowing her to go abroad by bringing the law before her.

Now Begum Khaleda Zia is free. President Md. Sahabuddin commuted her sentence under constitutional authority. Two cases filed during the military-backed 1/11 government. In continuation of 1/11 Awami League when succeeded, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was sentenced to five years in prison in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. In October of that year, the sentence was increased to 10 years after the appeal hearing in the High Court. After that, the BNP Chairperson was sentenced to another seven years in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case. Although sentenced by the court, she did not have to stay in prison for the last few years. Following the request of the family, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the opportunity to serve the sentence at her home and that too through legal process. The day after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, President Md. Sahabuddin commuted former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's sentence under Article 49 of the Constitution. He exerciseed this constitutional power when all the parties request the President in a meeting with the President.

During the period of Awami League, BNP was politically cornered and burdened with mass cases and mass arrests. Any anti-government program was not tolerated. All talks about Khaleda Zia's advanced medical treatment abroad were rejected, and the law was invoked each time. Khaleda Zia's request for medical treatment abroad at that time and the government's rejection both helped BNP's politics.

Now free Khaleda Zia is free to do politics and go abroad for medical treatment. She can go to any country. However, during the anti-government movement during the period of Awami League government, BNP was active in her treatment abroad, now that activity has declined a lot. A month has passed since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, but there is still no clear message that Khaleda Zia is going abroad. Although there are some discussions about it, it does not seem that she is going abroad. Specialists in charge of her treatment now say that she is not yet fit to board a plane. But when the discussion was going on earlier, her physical condition was worse than now.

Although she is not fit, the news of her going abroad has been reported in several media including Barta24.com, The Samakal. Apart from this, there is more news that Sarah Catherine Cook, the UK High Commissioner assigned to Dhaka, went to Gulshan's residence and met Khaleda Zia. Sharmili Rahman Sinthi, wife of Khaleda Zia's late son Arafat Rahman Koko, arrived in Dhaka from London last Thursday. Many people think that this is an indication of Khaleda Zia going to the UK. BNP chairperson's personal physician and medical board coordinator professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain said, 'We are continuing discussions with some hospitals in the United States and the United Kingdom. There are other processes including hospital selection. Madam's condition is still not suitable for long air travel. It takes eight to 13 hours to take to the UK or 18 to 21 hours flying time to take to the USA. So physical fitness is very important for this journey. So it will take some time. Madam will have to stay abroad for a long time to undergo some complex treatment. Al-Mamun said, “She is not yet physically fit to travel by plane. It will take some more time. If you want to go to the United States or the United Kingdom, you will naturally have to spend a long time on the plane. We are thinking about these various issues. An air ambulance will be brought for her from outside the country. That is, Khaleda Zia has not decided to go abroad, but the process is ongoing.

Khaleda Zia has health risks. If necessary, she can go abroad, there is no objection here. But it can be assumed that she is not in the same physical condition as before. At least where earlier she had to do morning-afternoon home-hospital now she doesn't need it. In such a situation, there is a political risk in her emigration.

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government and her departure, the way the Interim government continues to suppress the Awami League, the way it tolerates mass prosecutions and mass arrests, and the way the party is being campaigned in the media, it is difficult for the Awami League to return to the political arena immediately. In such a situation, naturally one of the main parties of the country, BNP, is supposed to fill this void in politics, but there is a hint of a third party here. The controversial Jamaat-e-Islami appears to be getting the status of the king's party due to its role in the media and various parts of the government. Along with this, there is the presence of various religious groups. Awami League-BNP has run the country apart from one party, now there is an attempt to raise a voice that a new person is needed.

BNP is naturally happy that Awami League was ousted from power. Even if BNP is not directly involved in the multifaceted efforts to end the Awami League, it has tacit support. BNP in the field of politics without Awami League. Of course, the obvious, but there may be more to it, is reminiscent of recent political trends. The coverage of Jamaat is now more than BNP in the media, pictures of meetings of Jamaat leaders with the embassies of different countries are also coming forward, Jamaat is also going home with financial assistance to the victims of the movement. Discussion and criticism about them is more than BNP in most cases.

Begum Khaleda Zia is the main figure of BNP. Tariq Rahman served as acting chairman of the party in the absence of Khaleda Zia, but he was convicted in the August 21 grenade attack case. The cases filed against Tariq Rahman in different courts of the country were withdrawn regardless of Friday-Saturday, but the sentence was not waived. He has to come back to the country to get the sentence waived or to be released through legal process, but his passport was not renewed during the Awami League government. Even in a month of the Interim government, there is no news about Tariq Rahman's passport. As a result, his return to the country is still uncertain.

Although one case after another was withdrawn from the lower court, the original case and sentence of Tariq Rahman was not waived. While the President can waive his sentence under constitutional powers, it depends on the Interim government. But the way the government is going now, as easy as it is to think about, implementation doesn't seem that easy. As a result, if Begum Khaleda Zia goes abroad for treatment and Tariq Rahman is unable to return to the country, the BNP may face a lot of difficulties in a favorable political situation.

With the fall of the Awami League government and Sheikh Hasina leaving the country, politics has become 'minus-one'; If Khaleda Zia goes abroad for treatment, is that 'minus-two'? The government of one-eleven tried a lot and could not do 'minus-two' especially because Khaleda Zia did not leave the country; Sheikh Hasina also left the country at that time. As before, the 'minus-one' has already happened in politics; this time, Khaleda Zia will become "minus-two" when she goes abroad! Although Awami League ruled the country for a long time, it could not form an alternative leadership or showed interest; Although there is an alternative leadership in BNP through Tariq Rahman, he is out of the country due to legal obstacles. As a result, it would not be wise for Khaleda Zia to take the political risk of going abroad.

Here, however, health risks and political risks have come face to face. Apart from sending Begum Khaleda Zia abroad to resolve the health risk, BNP should also keep an eye on the political risk so that it does not take a dangerous form.

Beginning with the demand for quota reform, the July-August student uprising succeeded in bringing down the Awami League government. The news of Sheikh Hasina's resignation on August 5 and her departure from the country brought an end to Awami League's decade-and-a-half long rule. After three days of government less country, the reign of the interim government started from August 8. Dr. Muhammad Yunus is leading a large-size interim government. I say large because earlier the scope of unelected government was not so wide. All the unelected governments that have come to power in the country since the 1990s have had a maximum of eleven members. This is the first time the country has seen an interim government of twenty one members.

After the new government came to power, the most talked about word is 'reforms'. With the power of this word, the country's administration and judiciary have changed. Much of the Awami League era is now gone. Some were jailed, some were transferred, some were fired and many went into hiding to avoid arrest. Leaders of Awami League and the 14-party coalition allied to the party are absent from the political field, they are fugitives at home and abroad. Awami League regime was a hotbed of fascism, this campaign gained quite popularity. To eliminate the fascism of the Awami League, various types of cleansing operations are going on everywhere. Some of these raids are governed by administrative rules, and most are forced.

They are strangers to the organization that called for the overthrow of the Awami League government. They were thought to be non-political organizations, only for students. After the fall of the government, it appears that all other political parties have come here to rob credit. In the movement, there were discussions or debates about how many people had gathered and how many people had been gathered by BNP-Jamaat and Qaumi Madrasah-centric political parties. The section of students who gathered under the banner of the anti-discrimination student movement, which was initially at the center of the discussion, is gradually losing its influence. The initial empowerment of students seems to be slowly waning with the inclusion of two of their representatives in the interim government, a Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser and a Coordinator.

It is not even a month and a day since this government took charge, but in the meantime, the strong campaign to amend-repeal-rewrite the constitution has started. It has also started to be said that the 1972 constitution did not reflect the hopes and aspirations of the nation. I am also hearing strange claims that people's mandate was not taken in drafting the constitution. The constitution of ‘72 or the constitution of the party, those who are saying such things, are desperate to present a movement of five weeks of government change as the main one, ignoring the glory of the great war of liberation. For this purpose, most of them are very young, but there are many learned people who are supporting them.

Politicians are few and far between today giving speeches about rewriting the constitution. Ali Riaz, distinguished Professor of Politics and Government at Illinois State University, USA, is making a desperate attempt to rewrite it. We knew Ali Riaz as a regular columnist for a national newspaper in Bangladesh. After assuming power of the Interim government, he has been voicing the same opinion at various events in the country, and many others are joining him. In a recent event in the capital, he commented that rewriting the constitution is necessary even if the constituent assembly is held to fix the democratic institutions of the state. He did not stop here, after saying the same thing in several places, trying to gather more people in his favor. But it is well known that the power of an unelected interim government during a constitutional crisis after a prime minister's vacancy is very limited, and no matter how much this government chants reforms, its tenure and powers are not the same as those of an elected government. This government is a government that the next elected parliament will have to give legitimacy to. The legitimacy of the government is in the hands of the next elected government, how can they amend-repeal-rewrite the constitution? Naturally this is not supposed to happen.

Some are also demanding to change the national flag and national anthem of the country after the collapse of the Awami League government. Brigadier General (retired) Abdullahil Aman Azmi, a former army officer, has been named in this team. He has another identity. He is the son of Professor Ghulam Azam, who died after serving life imprisonment for crimes against humanity in 1971. In a press conference at the auditorium of the National Press Club yesterday, he called for the repeal of the 1972 constitution and the creation of a new constitution as well as a new national anthem. Terming the constitution of 72 as 'illegal', he claimed, 'Awami League has not taken any mandate from the people to draft a new constitution. So this constitution is not valid. A new committee should be made and a new constitution should be made, it should be annulled. That is not the end, he repeated in a confusing explanation about the number of 30 lakh martyrs in 1971, "Sheikh Mujib said 3 million when he said 3 million and it has become 3 million. They (Awami League) have cheated people by exploiting people's emotions by saying 30 lakh martyrs without any survey. He also advised the Interim government to determine the number of martyrs in the liberation war by conducting a new survey. The people of the country know that the controversy about the number of martyrs in the liberation war, the misleading talk about the national anthem and the misleading talk about the great liberation war. His family acquaintance is surely not to be lost in the depths of oblivion.

The fall of Awami League and Sheikh Hasina did leave the country. Various discussions will continue in the days to come. This question is difficult to answer in a country where the politics of division persists. Those who call this movement and the fall of the government 'second freedom' are really passionate. Those who are passionately calling the Interim government a 'revolutionary government' to enjoy a second freedom are questioning the utility and existence of the constitution in a post-revolutionary country. It's their fault. The Interim government that is currently functioning is not called a 'revolutionary government'. The idea of a revolutionary government was absent from the oath taken by Dr. Muhammad Yunus as the Chief Adviser of this government. He took an oath to 'protect and uphold the Constitution and provide security'.

Relevantly referring to the oath taken by the Chief Adviser In the oath, the Chief Adviser said—“I, Muhammad Yunus, solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge the duties of Chief Adviser to the Interim Government as per law. I will have genuine faith and loyalty to Bangladesh. I will protect and support and provide security for the Constitution and I will treat all according to law without fear or favor, affection or displeasure.” In an oath of secrecy he pronounced—“I, Muhammad Yunus, do solemnly swear that all matters brought to my consideration as Chief Adviser to the Interim Government, or such matters as come to my knowledge, are necessary for the proper discharge of my duties as Chief Adviser. Except shall not directly or indirectly inform any person, or disclose to any person.” He has sworn to protect the Constitution, uphold the Constitution and provide security for the Constitution. Here, therefore, his government does not have the opportunity to amend-repeal-rewrite the constitution. By doing so, by directly or indirectly advocating it, he would himself be flouting and defying the Constitution, which would be a punishable offence and also for an offense punishable by the maximum penalty under existing law.

The Interim Government has no opportunity to put its hands on the Constitution including the National Anthem, National Flag and the basic principles of the Constitution. The events of July-August were not a revolution, but at one point it became a movement to overthrow the government. The agitators were successful. In their success, they removed the powerful and empowered themselves. They can try to bring back the democratic atmosphere in the country by changing the ideological and political program; But in any way they do not have the power to touch the national flag, national anthem and constitution. This power or mandate was not given to them by the people.

The interim government is not a revolutionary government; it is a government that has taken power under the oath of the security provisions of the constitution.

The vice-chancellors of public universities began to resign following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 in a student uprising. During the quota reform movement, these vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors and other officials of the university administration took a stand against the students. Attacking and suing the students, directly supporting the then ruling student organizations, these teachers have lost the moral qualification to run the university.

According to the latest information, at least 40 universities in the country are without vice-chancellors after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. Academic and administrative activities have practically come to a standstill. First year classes have not even started in some universities. Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud, Education adviser of the interim government, has already said that in transition from this situation, the universities will be quickly appointed to start administrative activities. Universities which are without guardians should be started as soon as possible. The higher echelons of the government said that truly educated, qualified and administratively competent people will be appointed.

The four oldest and largest universities of the country are being run according to the Presidential Ordinance of 1973. According to the Ordinance, there is a provision to elect the Vice-Chancellor Panel in the universities through the Senate. According to the provisions, a three-member panel is elected to the post of Vice-Chancellor by vote of Senate members. Later the President and Chancellor of University appoint any one from among the selected. In the remaining universities there is a practice of appointing the Vice-Chancellor by direct choice of the Government.

For a long time, vice-chancellors have been appointed on political considerations in public universities of the country. The political position and implementation of the party agenda of the vice-chancellors was considered as the main and only qualification here compared to the skills and qualifications. With the help of various quarters of the government, these vice-chancellors got involved in various irregularities and corruption. They have been accused of hiring party workers and relatives throughout the year. In the last few years, the teachers and students have been protesting for a long time in the campuses demanding the resignation of the vice-chancellors.

After the resignation of the vice-chancellors, various administrative officers including the registrar also resigned. This is creating complications in academic work as well as other administrative work. Collecting of certificates and transcripts, publication of results have not been addressed. It will not be possible to do these things because there is no vice chancellor. Even the temporary and outsourcing employees of the university did not get their salaries due to the absence of the Vice-Chancellor. The routine official functions of the university are also being disrupted. There is chaos in the halls of residence as important posts in the proctorial body and hall administration are vacant. Besides, there is a new fear of session jamming with class-examination. Important meetings like the Senate-Syndicate-Academic Council were also not held.

After the resignation of the vice-chancellors of the universities in the post-uprising period, the university officials are seeing a ray of hope. They see it as an opportunity to get out of the long-standing culture of corruption and nepotism. However, appointing the vice-chancellors of so many universities at once is a big challenge for the Ministry of Education. Breaking the previous trend, the education administration is looking for non-political academic and administratively competent and qualified senior professors for this post.

Academicians say the appointment of vice-chancellors should take into account academic merit as well as administrative skills, experience and record of integrity. Universities outside the 73 Act need to have clear rules for appointment of Vice-Chancellors. Appointment of Vice-Chancellor may be arranged by constituting an impartial search committee.

The Vice-Chancellor is a post whose entire policy revolves around the overall functions of the University. A Vice-Chancellor who is efficient and competent in managing administrative activities can radically change the face of the university. After the movement, all the teachers and students are coming forward to build a new Bangladesh. If the vice-chancellor can be appointed quickly, the universities will be able to overcome the deadlock and return to normal activities.

It seems that the interim government is taking time to find reliable and trustworthy teachers. Because teachers recruited in the past mostly played a role for a particular group. Various parties have already proposed the name of the preferred candidate as the vice-chancellor. Many are trying to create political pressure in different circles. Above all, the sooner the vice chancellor can be appointed, the better because it involves the aspirations of universities and a large part of the nation.

Author: Noman Bin Haroon, General Secretary, Jahangirnagar University Press Club