Manoj Sharma
India-Bangladesh must go ahead and ratify the Land Boundary Agreement provided Bangladesh is willing to take back its illegal Muslim refugees from India. After all, these refugees are a drain on our resources and their presence in Assam has turned Hindu- Assamese against the Indian union. In the recent past, Bangladeshi Muslims were in fight with the local inhabitants—Bodos. According to rough estimates, there are over two crore illegal Muslim Bangladeshis residing in India. They are not just numbers. These illegal Bangladeshis hold ration cards and have even enrolled themselves in the voters list. And they can influence the outcome of the elections in many constituencies. If Bangladesh is willing to take back its citizens, India must consider ratifying the Land boundary agreement for better demarcation of the boundary between India and Bangladesh.
There are 106 Indian enclaves and 92 Bangladeshi enclaves. Inside the main part of India, 71 of these are Bangladeshi first- order enclaves, while inside the main part of Bangladesh, 102 of these are first- order Indian enclaves. Further inside, these enclaves are an additional 24 second order- or counter enclaves (21 Bangladeshi, 3 Indian). These enclaves have a combined population between 50,000 to 1,00,000.
Indian lawmakers just can’t be expected to pass the bill in its present context, just to let Sheik Hasina score political brownies in the polls against her opponents. Whereas, India’s problem of illegal influx from across the Bangladesh border remains unanswered. India is aware of the fact that it played an important role in the birth of Bangladesh and would not take any step which could undermine the historical role it played but at the same time Indian lawmakers also can’t let its interest be jeopardise without getting an assurance —the return of illegal Bangladeshi refugees.
If Bangladesh is accommodative to India’s concerns, India must reciprocate on the land boundary agreement provided Bangladesh government acknowledges the presence of its citizens illegally residing in different parts of India. India on its part can offer financial aid to the refugees who are willing to go back and settle in Bangladesh. Financial aid alone to the refugees can’t solve the problem. India must also offer aid to the Bangladesh Government for accepting its citizens and also for creating employment opportunities. India can also knock down its tariff to boost imports from Bangladesh especially of its garments. Indian Government must encourage Indian IT giants like TCS, Infosys and Wipro to set up their offices in Bangladesh. India can buy gas from Bangladesh at favourable market rate to help its economy.
In the summer of 1993, a symposium was held at Vithalbhai Patel Bhawan, which was addressed by Shri AB Vajpayeeji, Madan Lal Khurana and noted journalist Arun Shourie to highlight the apathy on the part of Government of India towards the problem of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants whose large scale presence has, vitiated the atmosphere of peace and turned the bordering areas into simmering cauldron of discontent. In the symposium data was given India is fending 1.5 crore illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. We lose at the rate of 7.5 crore a day, 225 crore a month and 3000 crore a year—on the upkeep of illegal Bangladeshis. This statistics is more than two decades old. Today, if we take into account the inflation India must not be spending less than 20000 crore every year on the illegal Bangladeshis.
If Bangladesh is willing to accept its citizens who have settled illegally in India over the decades, BJP and AGP must consider supporting in parliament the constitutional amendment bill to ratify the land boundary agreement with Bangladesh. This will ensure peace and stability in Assam and can help Hindu Assamese in joining the main stream politics, which will be a positive development in the N-E from RSS point of view. The swapping of enclaves between two sovereign nations is always better than transfer of approximately 2000Sq miles of Indian Territory by Pakistan to China and India could do nothing.
Subrata Bhowmik
During last few years it has been observed that a liberal and democratic environment in Bangladesh. Women are raising their voices against talaq, Shariyat. Supreme Court also derecognised Shariyatee Talaq on several occasions. In public places women are freely mixing with men, they are not wearing Hizab or Veil. Bangladesh is par taking the path of Turky gradually through this transition period and getting out of the Quranic and Shariyatee extremism.
Since 1996 the same political party has failed to come back in power in two successive, elections in Bangladesh. Following the ‘Shahabag movement’ we began to believe that the neo-liberal new generation as well as majority public support is with Awami League, since Awami League is considered to be more liberal and democratic as compared to BNP-Jamaat. So with this huge public support, Awami League will easily win in the forthcoming election in Bangladesh will be held on January 5. As Bangladesh got freedom at the cost of lives and blood of Bharatiya Soldiers, Bharat gave shelter to Hasina and other top Awami League leaders and save their lives after Muzib’s assassination, they seem to be grateful to Bharat and want to maintain peaceful relation with our country and that is why during their rule normally major incidents of atrocities are not committed against Hindus at least by Government. provocation. So Awami League’s sure win in two successive elections will ensure the safety and security of Hindus there. But sorry to say that a thorough introspection of the happenings during post-Shahabag period reveals that the ground reality is completely different and astonishing in the true sense.
Near about 40 per cent people considered to be fundamentalist, religion centric, theocratic and strict followers of Quran Sariyaat. They actually want to build Bangladesh as Dar – ul – Islam. That’s why Saddam, Laden, Talibans and all the Ulemas, Mollah – Maullvis, Imams have an important and dignified place in their hearts. A larger section of these people also support Islamic terrorist outfit such as Jamaat. Near about 22 per cent Bangladeshi Muslims considered to be neutral. They are mostly self-centred, carreerist and are only interested in their livelihood. They play the most important role in the political turn around in Bangladesh. This section of people usually changes their support from Awami to BNP or vice-versa in every two successive elections. Only because of that, since 1996 neither Awami League nor BNP has been able to come into power for the second time successively.
On the contrary BNP-Jamaat contests election on the basis of pro and anti- Bharat sentiment. Its main allegation against Awami League that Awami league is a tout of Bharat. So considering this Awami League is on the back foot. BNP is providing its political support to the Islamic militant outfit Jamaat just to use it as an action squad to terrorise Awami League supporters and Hindus. Although Bangladesh High Court banned Jamaat’s participation in politics, it is clear that the court has given it’s rulling against majority people’s sentiment.
Situations in Bangladesh Election – keeping Awami League Government in power under the supervision of election commission, election under a caretaker/neutral Government —— again Awami League’s defeat and BNP’s win is 100per cent sure. In both the cases BNP–Jamaat atrocities and terror will be increased and mostly affected victims will be the Hindus. We should follow an aggressive, proactive but realistic approach and express clearly to the international community that it is our soul right on moral, ethical and political ground to interfere into the internal matter of Bangladesh.
The majority Bangladeshi people want a free and fair election under a care taker Government Awami league is not agreed with it and it is going to capture power through an eye-washing one sided election which is completely against the majority public opinion and is an anti-democratic step. We should talk directly but separately to BNP and try to convince BNP clearly and firmly without any political ambiguity and hypocrisy. Bangladeshi people are currently showing their tendencies to bring Awami league and BNP in power alternatively in every two successive elections. If majority Bangladeshi people this time want to see BNP in power — Bharat has no objection to it. Our only objection or reservation is for BNP-Jamat alliance. We consider Jamat as a terrorist organisation. Moreover a large section of Bangladeshi new generation voters won’t cast their votes on muktiyudha sentiment (Awami leagues main election appeal) or anti-Bharat sentiment (BNP’s main election appeal) rather on the basis of current issues related to their well being and livelihoods. Since Bharat is a large economic and political power – they largely depends on us in various respects, such as education, professional and business opportunities, medical treatments etc.
Bharat would not try to create obstacles in the way of BNP’s coming into power. Rather we would try to convince and pressurise Awami League to go for an election under a care taker Government for the sake of democracy, for removing the political stalemate, for a prosperous Bangladesh and to admit peoples mandate whatever it may be. Besides that if Awami League and BNP both agree, Bharat would like to act as a sole observer of free and fair election in Bangladesh.
As per the current election schedule, there is no scope for the main opposition BNP to join the 10th Parliamentary Election. And the situation is getting very critical day by day when at least 10 people got injured in a triangular clash among workers of ruling Awami League and main opposition BNP and police in northern Bogra district recently. The BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance is boycotting the polls and political violence during nationwide strikes and blockades enforced by the opposition since November have left over 120 people dead and crippled the economy.
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