In a recently released report, the International Crisis Group has warned that the current government in Bangladesh headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is failing in controlling inflation, skyrocket rise in the prices of essentials, law and order which has become further complicated with visible signals of Yunus’ desire of killing time in holding an election under various pretenses, which may ultimately lead the country towards a prolonged martial law. As the country’s army is becoming increasingly nervous at the incapability of Yunus in showing expected performance.
Meanwhile, with Donald Trump’s unexpected victory in the presidential election held on November 5 and assumptions of Washington’s harsher initiatives targeting Yunus, a long-time ally of Bill and Hillary Clinton as well few top-figures in the Democratic Party and George Soros, key officials in Bangladesh Army are getting nervous thinking about any harsh measure by the Trump administration, that would include sanctions targeting Yunus, members of his cabinet, several ultra-Islamic forces such as Hizbut Tahrir and Hefazat E Islam and military top-orders including General Waker uz Zaman.
To avert the risk of such sanctions, colleague officers of Gen Zaman are reportedly intensifying pressure on him to seize power from Yunus “at the earliest” and declare martial law in the country. On the other hand, Islamic bloc inside the army are openly threatening “counter measures” if any attempt is made to oust Yunus government, which they see as “granting new space for India to reestablish its influence” in Bangladesh.
While such uncertainly is hanging on the neck of the nation, Pakistan has rolled a new game plan directly with patronisation from Yunus and his advisors in waging armed conflict in case the army stages a coup.
According to media sources, a cargo vessel from the Pakistani port of Karachi docked at Chittagong on November 13, marking the first-ever direct maritime contact between Pakistan and Bangladesh since the Liberation War of 1971 but stirring up ripples of worry in the Indian security establishment.
Pakistani high commission in Bangladesh, Syed Ahmed Maroof, who was present at the time of the docking of the cargo ship that ferried over 300 20-feet containers to Chittagong, said it was a “major step in bilateral trade”.
“This new route will streamline supply chains, reduce transit time and open up new business opportunities for both countries,” Maroof said.
The new regime in Bangladesh, after the Sheikh Hasina dispensation was overthrown, welcomed the direct sea link and hoped for a spike in the volume of trade with Pakistan. The trade volume had fallen below $800 million in 2023.
Such direct maritime links between India’s eastern and western neighbours have the potential to create instability in the northeastern states because of their proximity to Bangladesh’s southeastern coast, particularly because, according to an official gazette notification dated September 29, all shipments arriving from Pakistan shall be released without customs inspection thus ignoring ‘National Selectivity Criteria’.
Earlier, on September 10, Pakistani high commissioner Syed Ahmed Maroof held a close-door meeting with finance advisor Saleh Uddin Ahmed. Similar secret meetings also took place between the Pakistani high commissioner and Muhammad Yunus as well two of advisors – Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan. Media reports claim, Islam and Bhuiyan are affiliated to Hizbut Tahrir, and were amongst top-commanders in anti-Hasina revolt.
The entire consignment of 200-containers was offloaded under heavy guard of police and student activists of Muhammad Yunus and sent to unknown locations. Country’s intelligence agencies, including DGFI and NSI were kept in the dark about details and destination of the consignments.
Media reports also claimed, months before July-August anti-Hasina revolt in Bangladesh, which initially began under the cover of “quota-reform movement” of students, Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, Dr. Asif Nazrul and few more individuals visited Qatar and Dubai for holding meeting with representatives of Donald Lu, George Soros and Pakistani ISI.
