Page 13 - The Indian EYE 111221

OPINION NOVEMBER 12, 2021 | The Indian Eye 13

norities can prove to be detri-
mental if due measures are not
taken by the Awami League
government.
After the breakout of the vi-
olence, the government placed
eight units of Border Guard
Bangladesh in various parts
of the Chattogram district to
maintain law and order. The
civil society in Bangladesh also
protested violence against the
minorities.

they have demanded that
Bangladesh government

should enact a new law to

ensure religious freedom

for everyone. However,
the situation still remains

tense in the country.

After coming to power in
2009, the Sheikh Hasina gov-
ernment took strong measures
against the anti-liberation forces,
in a large measure represent-
ed by Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangla- A Border Security Force soldier holds a candle at the Indo-Bangladesh border on Diwali,
desh. Unfortunately, along with in Siliguri on Thursday. (ANI)
the Shahbag movement, Ban-
gladesh also saw the rise of He-
fazat-e-Islam, another radical as a base for their terror activi- Pakistan is one of the import- cal crisis in Bangladesh by incit-
Islamist movement in the year ties in North East India. Previous ant international players which ing communal strife. Perhaps the
2013. Hefazat-e-Islam ransacked political and military regimes in is hostile to the Sheikh Hasina forces inimical to Sheikh Hasina
Bangladesh had consciously al- government. When Sheikh Ha- government are trying to do just
Dhaka when it launched its pro- lowed these insurgent groups sina declared her intention to try that. The Awami League gov-
test against the organisers of the to operate from Bangladesh. In war criminals, it was not liked by ernment should remain vigilant
Shahbag movement. It consid- fact, when Sheikh Hasina took Pakistan. Pakistan had sent Zia to the designs of forces inimical
ered them atheists. Ironically,
subsequently Awami League action against them and handed Ispahni as its special envoy to dis- to it and not let them undo the
tied up with Hefazat-e-Islam over most of their top leaders to suade Sheikh Hasina from carry- works done by it in the last one
perhaps to gain electoral mileage. India, these forces criticised Ha- ing out the trials. However, since decade or so.
sina for losing an important pres- she remained adamant on war
Hasina has also acted against sure point against India. Sheikh crime trials, it is widely suspect- Anand Kumar is Associate
radical and terrorist organisa- Hasina’s cooperation with India ed that ISI instigated a rebellion Fellow at Manohar Parrikar
tions. Once in power, she de-
clared a policy of zero tolerance on counter-terrorism has dra- in the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), Institute for Defence Studies and
against terrorism. This kind of matically improved India–Ban- then border guarding force of Analyses.
policy was only expected from gladesh relations and has taken Bangladesh. This rebellion near- Views expressed are of the
it to a different level altogether.
ly upturned the political regime
her as she was nearly killed in a However, return of Sheikh of Sheikh Hasina., but she man- author and do not necessarily
terrorist attack in Dhaka in 2004 Hasina to power and her In- aged to save the situation though reflect the views of the Manohar
when she was addressing a rally. dia-friendly policies have not with great difficulty. Parrikar IDSA or of the Govern-
In this attack, 24 Awami League ment of India.
workers, including one of her been liked by her domestic and The army in Bangladesh has
close associates, were killed. international opponents. Do- undergone significant changes This is the abridged version of
India was pleasantly surprised mestically she has faced strong as now most of the Pakistan-era the article which appeared first
resistance from the main op- officers have retired but it still
in the Comment section of the
when Hasina took action against position party the Bangladesh remains an important factor in website (www.idsa.in) of Mano-
the Indian insurgent groups ac- Nationalist Party (BNP) and the polity of Bangladesh. The har Parrikar Institute for Defense
tive in North East India. These the Islamist political party Ja- easiest way for opposition in Studies and Analyses, New Delhi
groups were using Bangladesh
maat-e-Islami. Bangladesh is to create a politi- on November 2, 2021

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