Unrest in Bangladesh now appears to be rules rather than exception. Protests by many groups are now almost a daily issue, including not only students from different universities but also madrasa teachers and general public. Meanwhile, the ‘students’ of the anti-discrimination movement are criticizing the interim government, indicating that Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and their people may be rapidly isolated, as they can delay the election in every book to delay the election. Use the cause. As Younus and the party try to reverse all the policies of Sheikh Hasina, especially in relation to India, the question that is to be asked is whether the direction taken by an undeclared government may be durable or not. .
Going to Pakistan
Completely unexpectedly, Pakistan has launched this chaos to catch fish in troubled water for possible benefits. Soon after the fall of Hasina government, Pakistan High Commissioner, Syed Ahmed Marof met Younus and held meetings with officials, including fisheries advisor Farida Akhtar, Education Advisor Bidan Chandra Roy, Finance Advisor Saluhuddin Ahmed, and advisors on religious affairs Includes, and consultants on religious matters. AFM Khalid Hosin, calling for the restoration of direct flights with the messenger and to meet a team from the US-Bangla Airlines for this purpose. It started almost immediately when a Panama-Jakka vessel, MV Yuan Zian FA ZanPlaced by a Chinese shipping company, in November, it was docked into the chatogram, bringing items such as ceramic and raw materials from Pakistan to Bangladesh. This was the first direct cargo movement between the two countries. After a second batch in December, Bangladeshi officials removed a section, requiring physical inspection of any cargo coming from Pakistan.
A frightening of trips
Bonomi was also clear at the December meeting between Yuns and Sharif in a December meeting in Cairo, where East had asked for the disposal of issues since 1971. This includes more than 2 lakh stranded Urdu speaking people who were a full -fledged Pakistani citizen before liberation. , Earlier, Younus had invited Shahbaz to a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly for a function of the United Nations General Assembly for a meeting as a member of the United Nations in a ceremony in memory of Bangladesh’s 50th year. Was taken. The prominent Pakistani officer in its presence was, including Defense Minister Khwaja Muhammad Asif, Information Minister Attaula Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatimi. Further acts of ‘Dosti’ included removing the security check on the Pakistanis coming, which was done through the Ministry of Home Affairs, which was seen by the known India-Better Lieutenant General (retired). Blood on boundary policy.
The Pakistani High Commissioner has also been extremely active, inviting the Bangladesh Army to pay a visit – which they did, through a delegation led by Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hasan (Principal Staff Officer). Bangladesh did not send a high-level officer, who can take care in the region.
Rawalpindi was surprised. It sent Dhaka to a team, headed by Major General Shahid Amir Officer, Director General of the Analysis of the Director General of ISI and the defense attachment of Pakistan in Beijing. Incidentally, they are asked to speak fluently Chinese. External Affairs Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to visit Bangladesh soon, even a joint trade council has been established in this January. The next step may be a real supply of defense equipment to be introduced to Bangladesh, especially JF -17, not to mention the already declared training program for senior officers of the Bangladeshi Army. All this is moving very fast, despite political chaos within Pakistan and terrorist attacks almost daily. This Rawalpindi is fully exploiting its opportunity before the arrival of an elected government.
China takes a bow
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Tauhid Hussain was on a worried journey for Beijing, hoping that China would assist its country against a serious economic crisis that has brought inflation to about 10%. Hussain was clearly hoping that China would reduce the interest rate on the loan by 2-3%, and requested Beijing to extend the loan repayment period by 20 to 30 years. In the incident, China tied almost all the requests. It agreed to ‘principle’ to reduce interest rates, extended the duration of repayment, and especially offered hospitals in Kunming for medical treatment, and another funded in Dhaka for special treatment. It is well known that ‘Medical Tourism’ from Bangladesh is one of the main grounds of relations with Delhi, which is an accounting for 50-60% of total medical tourism in India. Luo Zohhui, president of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, positively responded to more concessional loans and requests for projects, such as upgradation and modernization of Mongla Port and modernization and digital connectivity and 4G expansion. Some of these loans have been promised to convert into grants.
Meanwhile, Chinese textile companies are transferring their base to Bangladesh, and thus the development of ports including chatograms is important for Beijing. Nothing was said about the Testa River Project – a controversial issue for India – but this does not mean that it will be abandoned.
money Matters
This journey provides good relief to Dhaka. Between 2019 and 2024, Dhaka received almost Chinese investment in the form of Pakistan – through a large country – belt and road initiative (BRI). According to the Chinese Ambassador, Bangladesh has manufactured $ 4.5 billion under the initiative, with about 5.5 million jobs in the country, with $ 22.94 billion in construction contracts.
Prior to the journey, the Jamaat-e-Islami also reached the Chinese ambassador to help on the Rohingya issue, which is a difficult problem for a small, highly overgrowth country. Beijing’s visit to Beijing in early October, although probably planned before the fall of the Hasina government, has also sent a powerful message of support.
Goodwill for China is clear that nothing has been said about the fact that Beijing has fully supported Hasina – perhaps in difficult words compared to India – and annual forms in Bangladesh’s overall debt of Bangladesh Interest has an outstanding $ 251 million, which has crossed $ 100 BN. For the first time in years. Islamabad cannot enjoy the same goodwill, but it has something else: a strong ground appearance and a good intelligence network through religious parties. It is also, as seen above, is already digging in different areas, using anti-India spirit.
Three to tango
With the JF-17s and already supplied Chinese submarines offered, an undisputed triangular link is developed. The question is whether a new government will continue with these policies, especially about Pakistan. In this example, India will have to work quickly, especially in relation to Rohingya, a ‘delivery’ that can cause heavy goodwill. Despite the underlying risks in relations with that country, it can only be a liberal aid package and a diplomatic outreach for Myanmar. Although the US has given negative reactions to the Yumns Administration – especially given its relations with former President Clinton – this is not interested in India’s separate dhaka. And, in all practicality, neither it is good for Bangladesh. Over time, this reality will need to be propagated, especially in terms of economic benefits for Dhaka when Yunus’s devastating policies are being seen what they are.
Indian media also must stop themselves in condemning students and their real ‘revolution’, and should accept very real and serious corruption that was spatial for some parts of the previous government. Before being selected by a new government, all this needs to be done more, which will decide whether Yunus’s self-serving policies are good for a country that was once known as a economic miracle.
(Tara Kartha is a former director of the National Security Council Secretariat)
Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author