Nation in turmoil

While it is evident that the present situation in Bangladesh is a complex interplay of domestic and international factors, the million dollar question is how to stop the atrocities on minority Hindus in Bangladesh, and bring back a stable, democratic, secular government there?

- JAYITA MUKHOPADHYAY

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have already received international approbation for their finesse in navigating critical political crises in many places, and Mr Modi is already counted as among the noted statesmen in the world. But since July this year, a fire has been raging in our backyard and day by day turning into a huge conflagration and India's response, to say the least, is inadequate.

A students' unrest against the quota system in Bangladesh, which should have died a natural death as the Supreme Court of Bangladesh rejected it, soon turned into a movement to oust the democratically elected Sheikh Hasina government. However, there was no gainsaying the fact that the last election of Bangladesh was far from being a fair process, as the opposition totally boycotted it, there was very low voter turnout, and there were allegations of rampant rigging.

The students' unrest soon turned bloody, violent and nasty, with clear indication that it was being overwhelmed by Bangladesh's largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), banned by the Hasina government. Islamic fundamentalists took quick control and the statue of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was dismantled.

It was a sorry spectacle as Mujib, through an intense struggle led by the Mukti Bahini and with support from India, created Bangladesh, fighting against the terrible oppression of West Pakistan. He and almost his entire family were later executed by reactionary elements.

This time also, Sheikh Hasina feared a similar fate and India gave refuge to her, further incurring the wrath of Islamic fundamentalists of Bangladesh. Violent attacks on Hindus, particularly Bengali-speaking Hindus, destruction of Hindu temples and arrests of Hindu monks have become the order of the day, triggering a flow of refugees to India.