Pakistan has seized the opportunity in Bangladesh following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister. With the developments moving at a very fast pace, Islamabad has reached out several times to Dhaka in a bid to strengthen ties.
A cargo vessel from Karachi has docked at Chittagong and this marked the first ever direct maritime contact between Pakistan and Bangladesh since the Liberation War of 1971. This is clearly an attempt at bringing two Islamic nations together, but for Bharat, there is a lot to worry about on the security front.
While it is hardly surprising that Pakistan is attempting to reset ties with Bangladesh, New Delhi would have to keep a close watch on the developments. This is primarily because the ties between Islamabad and Dhaka would have a direct bearing on Bharat’s Northeastern states due to their proximity to Bangladesh.
Syed Ahmed Maroof, the Pakistani high commissioner in Bangladesh, said that this was a major step in bilateral trade. The new regime under Muhammad Yunus, too, welcomed the direct seal link and said that there would be a spike in trade with Pakistan.
A security concern
The Chittagong and Mongla ports have been out of bounds for Pakistan for the last 50 years. Bangladesh and Pakistan would trade through the transhipment at Singapore or Colombo.
What security watchers worry is that Pakistan, known for its notorious tactics, will use this route to smuggle contraband into Bangladesh. This contraband coming in from Pakistan would finally end up with insurgent groups in the Northeast, the experts warn.
In 2004, one of the biggest seizures took place in Chittagong. The ISI sent in 1,500 Chinese munitions worth around $7 million to Chittagong. At that time, the consignment was sent in trawlers through the sea route. The munitions were meant for the ULFA in Assam, but the entire consignment was seized, making it the largest confiscation of illegal weapons in South Asia.
The experts also state that it is important that ties between Bangladesh and Bharat be reset as soon as possible. However, they say that for that to happen, an election has to take place first, and ties need to be built with the new government. It would be easier to build a relationship with a government under the Awami League. However, the BNP may not be out of bounds either. Currently it looks almost impossible for a reset in ties as Yunus would be a hard nut to crack.
India has been weary of the sea routes in Bangladesh, which connect Chittagong and Mongla ports. However, New Delhi has managed to keep the Pakistanis out by leveraging its relationship with Sheikh Hasina. This also helped Bharat keep the Chinese out.
In 2023, New Delhi scored a win over China by securing the operating rights to the terminal at Mongla Port. Now, with Pakistan gaining access to the Chittagong port, the Mongla port has automatically become accessible. What is also concerning is the developments that are taking place in Myanmar. Insurgents are being sent into the Northeast to create trouble in the region. The latest developments will also have an impact on this since Myanmar is very close to Chittagong.
Yunus playing a dangerous game
Take a look at the recent developments in Bangladesh since Yunus was made caretaker. He seems to have sold his soul to the radical Islamists who run outfits such as the Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam in Bangladesh. Both these outfits banned in India have been carried out by systematic violence against the Hindus in the country with a clear intention of wiping them out and making the country an all-Islamic nation.
The recent attacks on ISKCON have also been carried out by these rabid elements. It is not just ISKCON, but several other Hindu Temples have been attacked under the watch of Yunus. Despite raising concerns, the caretaker seems to be in no mood to act and has let the Islamists have a field day.
Now, by allowing the Pakistanis to use the Chittagong port, he is opening the doors to a major smuggling route. If Pakistan had managed to smuggle items in the past, there is no doubt that it would not do so now. Moreover, this time, it has the blessings of the administration in Dhaka. Further, Yunus has also okayed a naval exercise to be conducted by the navies of Bangladesh and Pakistan. The Bangladesh Navy has already confirmed its participation in the Aman 2025 international naval exercise to be held in Pakistan.
This latest attempt by Yunus is clearly a sign that he is cosying up to Pakistan. His policy of deliberately distancing himself from Bharat and leaning towards Pakistan in itself is a dangerous game. Bharat is economically stronger when compared to a state in debt, which is called Pakistan. The trade opportunities are much better with New Delhi when compared to Islamabad. In a nutshell, it would be impossible for Bangladesh to replace Bharat as its top source of exports. The decision by Yunus to allow Pakistan to use its seaport will not go down well with Bharat, and in the long run, there would be a trade deficit, which ultimately would hurt Dhaka more.
Comments