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OPINION OCTOBER 25, 2024 | The Indian Eye 12

protestors were even found celebrat-
ing the killing of Mujib.
In another event, controversial
Bangladeshi academic Dr Shahiduz-
zaman, at a seminar organized by
the Retired Armed Forces Officers
Welfare Association (RAOWA) in
Dhaka on 14 September 2024, made
some statements that are noteworthy.
In that seminar, which was attended
by retired Bangladesh Army officials,
he stated that Pakistan and Bangla-
desh should establish an alliance in
the realm of nuclear defense to deter
the hegemonic tendencies of its larg-
er neighbor in the region. He further
went ahead to state that Pakistan is
a “most trusted and reliable partner
of Bangladesh”. Such narratives are
strengthening the anti-1971 forces,
re-vitalizing voices that were sup-
pressed in the past.
Assessing the altering narrative
that is being set forth or permitted by After the Liberation War of 1971, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was universally recognized as the “Father of the Nation”. The residence of Mujib, where
the interim government, the Pakistani he and his family were assassinated in a military coup on 15 August 1975 was turned into a museum on 14 August 1994 (Agency file photo)
foreign office has revived its Bangla-
desh policy. Pakistan High Commis-
sioner Syed Ahmed Maroof during a
courtesy call at the Bangladesh for-
eign ministry has not only proposed
to revive the Joint Economic Com-
mission between the two nations but
also requested to ease the issuance of
visas and resumption of direct flights
between the two countries to enhance
people-to-people contacts. The last
direct flight between Pakistan and
Bangladesh was operated by the Pa-
kistan International Airlines in 2018.
Maroof also stated that Bangladeshis
will not have to pay visa fees anymore
for travelling to Pakistan.
One more policy by the interim
government has been to release rad-
ical Islamists from prisons and correc-
tion centers. Releasing Jashimuddin
Rahmani Hafi, the chief of the terror-
ist group al-Qaeda’s affiliate, Ansa-
rullah Bangla Team (ABT) by Yunus
raises doubts with regard to the path One of the principal identities of the people of East Bengal, later East Pakistan and now Bangladesh, has been the pride of their Bangla language.
the interim government is charting From 1948, students in East Pakistan had agitated to protest the omission of the Bengali language from official use (Agency file photo)
for the future of Bangladesh. Rahma-
ni, after being freed from prison, in a ing history and this is what is being wit-
video message, warned India that he nessed in Bangladesh now. However,
would seek assistance from China, it is highly unlikely that any radical
Pakistan and Afghanistan for carrying narrative founded on hatred and neg-
out myriad terrorist and secessionist ativity will make any positive impact
activities throughout India. No steps on the growth chart of Bangladesh for
or statements have been made by the the future but will certainly challenge
Yunus government against such state- the peace and security of the region.
ments or videos.
The events and initial steps of the Dr. Dhrubajyoti Bhattacharjee is a
Yunus’ administration narrated above Research Fellow at the Indian Council
of World Affairs, New Delhi. Views
remain a fraction of the overall devel- expressed are personal
opments and concerted efforts under- This article first appeared in the View-
way to of re-invent the Bangladeshi point section of the website (www.icwa.
identity. Regime changes have always in) of Indian Council of World Affairs,
been followed with attempts on re-writ- New Delhi, on September 26, 2024

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