POBNEWS24 Dhaka, July 30, 2022 : India must come to a greater understanding with Bangladesh on the China issue. If China somehow closes the chicken neck, then Bangladesh is the only route of resistance. For this, India must maintain good relations with Bangladesh.
Former Vice Chancellor of Rangpur Begum Rokeya University of Bangladesh Prof. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah said this in a special interview given to POBNEWS24 today.
India is the neighbouring country of Bangladesh. Bangladesh would not have born if Pak-India war had not happened in 1971. That is why India is a tested friend of ours. Currently, India-Bangladesh relationship is now at what stage? To this question, Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah said that there is a very good relationship existing between the two countries at the moment.
In political arena, BNP-Jamaat alliance has always been alleging that India is interfering into the elections of Bangladesh. Do you also think that the neighbouring country India will also interfere in the upcoming parliamentary elections?
To this question, Kalimullah said, the elections in Bangladesh are completely internal matter of the country. How much foreign intervention is acceptable here? And whether they are doing right? On how to solve the crisis, Kalimullah said, all political parties must come together on a platform, otherwise we must be prepared for a situation like 1996.
But as per outgoing Indian High Commissioner Vikram Dorishami’s statement, I think India expects a good and acceptable election in Bangladesh.
BNP Secretary General Fakrul Islam Alamgir often says that Bangladesh is in a deep crisis now, how do you evaluate this opinion? Kalimullah said that not only Bangladesh but also many countries of the world are in crisis due to Ukraine-Russia war.
He said, its control is not in anyone’s hand. Let’s not forget that before this war, the epidemic Corona attacked us. The war crisis came before the epidemic ends completely.
Hence, I think there is a crisis. Apart from this, you know that after the 11th National Assembly election, the 12th election is coming up. If this election is not held in proper democratic way, then we will fall into a deep crisis.
Now suppose if the polls are held like the 1996 election, then there will be a crisis. It cannot be said that similar situations will not occur. So he hopes for a quality election.
Because the international community want to see an acceptable and internationally standard election. So I think BNP leader Mr. Fakrul said this taking the perspective into consideration.I heard the speeches of BNP leaders. They won’t let the election to be held. You may know that after the 2014 elections, the kind of terrorism that BNP-Jamaat started in Bangladesh, I think they are heading towards a similar situation, he said.
“But BNP-Jamaat is not so strong in Bangladesh. If not so, how would they do it? To this question, he said, as the day is approaching, they are taking preparation to achieve their objective”.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while addressing in Parliament a few days ago, observed that the Russia-Ukraine war and America’s sanctions have had an extreme impact on Bangladesh. Do you support this statement of the Prime Minister? To this, he said, the goods which were exported from Bangladesh have been obstructed. Due to the war, the price of fuel has gone up. Hence, commodity prices have increased.
Public suffering has increased, and our reserves have been strained. There is much more added to it. One is connected to another. The Prime Minister gave her views as per her estimate. Along with this, many other things have been impacted.
China has some sort of influence on India’s Seven Sisters. What should be done to keep India tension free regarding the chicken neck issue and the claws of China?
To this issue, he said, Bangladesh is an important factor for India. India should not only maintain formal relations with Bangladesh, they should take care to maintain internal peace and ensure communal harmony in Bangladesh. Along with this, India has to move forward keeping the issues in mind so that the Bengali speakers of India do not face any kind of harassment like push-in.
What our ruling party should do is to maintain our economic ties with China and cultural ties with India as well, he observed.
Security of Siliguri must be maintained. There is a problem regarding Arunachal. This is where neither China and India want to make concessions. It has been reported in the media that China has built 2/3 villages on the border of Arunachal Pradesh. For this, India has to proceed with pre-preparedness, he said.
