Bangladesh Assistant High Commission office in Agartala was attacked on December 2 by Hindutva hordes… Frenzied up by misinformation, ”thousands of people took out a massive rally to the mission” even as police looked on… Over 50 protesters entered the premises, reported Indian media DNA. (Photo:DNA).
Political changes in Bangladesh, brought about by students’ revolt, are being distorted, demonized, to show that another “Islamic devil”, another Pakistan or Taliban, is in the making in India’s neighborhood. And this has also narrow domestic politics in mind. Bengal elections are due 16 months later, and Hindutva lobbies are bent on grabbing it by hook or crook. Instead of countering it, non-BJP parties are playing second fiddle, in a suicidal manner. TMC chief Mamata said she would follow Modi and Delhi on Bangladesh (ie, foreign) affairs. People have not forgotten how she had obstructed a Teesta agreement Delhi negotiated.
CPI(M) Tripura state secretary Jitendra Chaudhury said his party also condemns the “blatant atrocities” against Hindus in Bangladesh, but any protests should be “democratic”.
Based on brazen misinformation, India-Bangladesh relations are being poisoned and an attempt is made to internationalize the events, which are only weeks-old, and not grave. It is all the more detestable, and harmful.
“What India is doing is refusing to acknowledge that we have the right to change our government democratically“, wrote a senior editor of Bangladesh. It is gross interference, and nothing short of regional hegemonism. It has an ominous backing of America, Trump in particular. Sheik Hasina, who fled Bangladesh on August 5 last, amid accusations of murders etc, who declared her retirement from politics, is now being revived by not so hidden hands. She, the chief accused before an International Crimes Tribunal, has the temerity to accuse Dr.Yunus of ”orchestrating genocide” against minorities; and this she does while addressing her ‘first- a virtual – meeting’ (Dec 5) of her Awami League, staged in New York, USA, the centre of Zionist genocide. All this is bound to aggravate social and political turmoil in South Asia, and that will be a happy hunting ground for imperialism.
This part-2 of the article, being published on the eve of Dhaka visit by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Dec 9, goes to lay bare the machinations of Hindutva, now being turned global, with the backing of Trump.
Read part-1:
India Vs The Interim Govenment In Bangladesh,02/12/2024
Bangladesh says, ‘ We are probing if there is any conspiracy both at home and abroad to destabilize the interim government’, even as India indulges in brazen intervention in the internal affairs of Bangladesh.
https://countercurrents.org/2024/12/india-and-the-interim-govenment-in-bangladesh/
This Part-2 throws light on conspiracies. In fact, this is part of a series of objective reports on Bangladesh, by this author published on Aug15, Sep.15, Nov1, Nov 3, Dec 2.
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A Degenerate Big media, selling spurious news
IMAGE: A man walks past a graffiti that reads ‘our new secular Bangladesh’ near the University of Dhaka. Photo: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters. A media offensive is launched from Delhi to damn the students’ revolt and present Bangladesh as Islamist demons, contrary to realities. See ..
Bangladesh: Student leaders on Role of Religion in politics,15/09/2024.
https://countercurrents.org/2024/09/bangladesh-student-leaders-on-role-of-religion-in-politics/
“.. participants at a student-led round-table..emphasised that religion-based politics often leads to extremism and exclusivity, challenging the principles of secularism. .The students called for an inclusive approach to politics, one that transcends religious or ideological divides, advocating for equal rights and opportunities for all citizens regardless of their faith..” Even Jamaat said they separate religion and the State.
Instead of fact-checking, “Indian media outlets fed one another and reinforced the story that Hasina’s fall was the work of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir, assisted by Pakistan’s ISI.”
“Thousands of incidents of violence against Hindus…” that is the distorted and exaggerated story spread, day in day out, through hundreds of media outlets in all Indian languages. (See Disinformation, a key instrument of India’s foreign policy, Counter Currents, 2023 July 1).
Bangladesh chief Prof Yunus invited, more than once, Indian media persons to visit Bangladesh, and write facts, rather than circulate false or distorted reports. Strangely no one apparently responded.
Referring to the barrage of misinformation, wrote Mahfuz Anam, Editor-publisher of Bangladesh’s Daily Star Dec 6:
“ What has shocked me is their refusal to fact-check what they are writing, broadcasting or televising…footage was shown of unrelated events to make Bangladesh look communal…” He cited a specific example how, on RT India’s website, footage of an idol of Shiva being broken into pieces was shown…Actually, it was footage from Sultanpur, Bardhaman, India, we debunked the story on our website.” It is such malpractices that pushed down India’s rank in Press (Media) Freedom Index to 159 out of 180 countries.
“There were only two deaths in thousands of incidents claimed by Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.” And that is bad enough, Mahfuz Anam wrote, but rightly asked: “ Are attacks on minorities not a reality in India too? Consider the Godhra train burning incident and the riots that followed, which alone killed 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus—rendering tens of thousands of people homeless.”
“What India is doing is refusing to acknowledge that we have the right to change our government democratically. While the regime change may not have followed the usual electoral route—which the former prime minister herself prevented” by all means including rigging…“It was democracy in full play,” and welcomed by most of Bangladeshis. That is the OpEd comment by Mahfuz Anam (See countercurrents, Dec 6).
Recent events including the killing of a Muslim lawyer in Chattogram and a Hindu doctor in Dhaka, the desecration of Bangladeshi flag by demonstrators in India, an attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, violating international law, were all part of the aftermath of the arrest of an ISKCON leader. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s suggestion to PM Modi to ask for UN peace-keepers to intervene in Bangladesh is “an insult that has further worsened the situation,” wrote the editor. Some others including VHP also urged the same.
Thus an attempt is made to internationalize the events, which are only weeks-old, and not grave. It is detestable. India never relished Kashmir or North-east atrocities being even mentioned in UN.
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Hindutva and Iscon in Bangladesh are being actively promoted
We began noting the brazen attack on Bangladesh Mission in Tripura. The fresh bout of violence in Bangladesh is not a consequence of the arrest of Iscon monk, Chinmoy Krishna Das. It was already in the making.
This was all revealed by RSS itself, through its weekly magazine, Organizer, webdesk, Sep 4, 2024. It is titled: ‘Bharat needs to support and safeguard Bangladeshi Hindus’: Swapan Dasgupta.
A former Member of Parliament and senior Journalist, Dasgupta referred to ‘violence against Hindus’ in Bangladesh, and “emphasised that organisations like ISKCON and Bharat Sewa Sansad are acting as vital protectors for the Hindu community..”
Thus Iscon in Bangladesh has been politically active, aggressive, and not just after the political monk was arrested on Nov 25. Organized efforts by Hindutva lobby can be gleaned in this report by Organizer.
We shall look into this report, at some length.
Note the date: it is after Hasina is sheltered in India. It is a new political avatar of the Iscon, a cat’s paw, activated after Hasina fleeing Bangladesh. And in the garb of “democratic rights,” deployed to spread brazenly divisive, communal politics. In India there are many arms of Hindutva politics, but Iscon was not among them. It is projected as a philanthropic organization. In Bangladesh, Iscon is assigned the task.
“The Centre for Democracy, Pluralism and Human Rights (CDPHR) on September 4, 2024, released a report on plight of Hindus in Bangladesh amid regime change,” and Dasgupta spoke on the occasion. Note the venue, the Constitution Club of India in Delhi.
“ CDPHR has published human rights reports on several countries around the world,” including Bangladesh, and recent situation of political turmoil. Apparently, it is a less known arm adopted by the Sangh parivar, now donning the Human Rights mantle, promoted as its global arm.
The session “urged India to send a clear message that it remains open to Bangladeshi Hindus, affirming their status as part of the broader Indian family..” It has echoes of partition and of Akhand Bharat. Mind you, India exceptionally fenced off Bangladesh, with the longest land border of 4000 plus kms. India lately further tightened the borders, notwithstanding a discriminatory CAA.
Abhijit Majumder, Prominent Journalist and Author revealed “a disturbing trend of about 450 (anti-Hindu) attacks per year over the past eight years.” It means Hasina regime basically was no different, and that the tirade against the interim regime is motivated. He urged to avoid over-reliance on Sheikh Hasina and called for“alternative approaches.”
“Hindu organisations need to mobilise street power by rallying people and funds. Simultaneously, treat Bangladesh as an Islamic country and try to open channels with all stakeholders..but not solely relying on the façade of peace..”
Deep Halder, author of “Being Hindu in Bangladesh” stated that “The situation of “Islamo-trauma” is currently occurring in Bangladesh..
One can see the communal violence and aggressive Hindutva were actively promoted.
Global Hindutva, being promoted as a companion to global Zionism
“For the first time, global media had to address the plight of Hindus..It is crucial for the global community to maintain its focus on the plight of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh and not turn a blind eye to their ongoing struggles.”
Dr Prerna Malhotra, President, CDPHR, stressed: “Without decisive intervention from international organisations, governments, and societal leaders, there is a serious risk that the Hindu population could face extinction.. The only ray of hope is the unity shown by Bangladesh minorities in coming out for their human rights.” And..
“ .. these minorities need India’s complete diplomatic, political, economic and legal protection… India should effectively play its predestined role as a dharmic civilisational state that protects the persecuted minorities in this neighbourhood..”
“Clash of civilizations” …it was a controversial theory by Samuel P. Huntington, that spurred US foreign policy too. And it is now being renewed and revived for a global Hindutva, a companion to global Zionism.
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“India must put préssure on the USA and its intelligence agencies” to pressurize Bangladesh: Swapan Dasgupta of BJP
If the above session was in September, things are clearer by now, as can be seen in an article by the same Hindutva opinion maker. It is: Bangladesh India can’t step in, but it can pressure US by Swapan Dasgupta, Sunday Times of India, Dec 1, 2024.
We shall look into that as it reveals the mind of the Sangh parivar.
He speculates: “it is now clear that the centre of power has shifted quite decisively to the Islamists .. If unchecked, there is every possibility of Bangladesh becoming an Islamist enclave, with ominous consequences for eastern India…” (Yes, Bengal elections are due; BJP has an eye on it.)
‘’.. there were 2,010 incidents of attacks on minorities between Aug 4 and 20 (a fortnight, after Hasina fled) , and another 57 incidents between Aug 22 and Oct 12 (50 plus days).”
Even if his figures, put out by a Bangladesh platform of minorities, are baseless, he acknowledges that the violence has drastically come down, rather than escalating.
He hints at Delhi’s support to Hasina in her latest rigged election: “ the (Hindu) community voting with their feet and crossing into India using either legal or illegal means…”
The September session indicated Iscon being activated ..”mobilise street power by rallying people and funds… not solely relying on the façade of peace..” Yes, it is all working:
“ Thanks to the leadership provided by the likes of Chinmoy Krishna Das and many of his former colleagues in ISKCON, there were large protest demonstrations by Hindus in places such as Dhaka and Chittagong.”
Dasgupta, a senior journalist and a former Member of Rajya sabha, is well aware that India, more so under Modi, interferes in other countries’ affairs, and violates international law.
“ As opposed to past govts that viewed the issues affecting Bangladeshi Hindus as an internal matter of a neighbour, the Modi govt has made it clear that the harassment and persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh is very much India’s business too.” It goes against its own practice, in relation to worst persecution of its own minorities.
Of course, this is nothing new to India: It hosts a so-called govt-in-exile of Tibet, since Nehru’s days, founded by the American cat’s paw Dalai Lama, in Dharamshala, India, for decades now.
“Since direct intervention to help the Hindu population in Bangladesh will be internationally unacceptable, India is left with no easy choices,” acknowledges Dasgupta.
“ At the same time, India has more or less closed its borders and tightened its visa regime to prevent another Hindu exodus to WestBengal, Assam and Tripura. The message is clear: India wants the Hindus of Bangladesh to fight for their rights from within. There are no easy choices for India. Direct intervention would be internationally unacceptable and would play into the hands of the shambolic Yunus regime.”
He suggests: “Although unpopular with domestic hotheads, a more viable option is to exercise patience and allow the political and economic crisis confronting Bangladesh to come to a head.” Allow? It actually means ignite and promote.
“…after the Trump administration assumes charge, India must put préssure on the State Department and intelligence agencies to clean up the mess it (ie., Biden) created in the guise of restoring democracy.”
Then comes the voice of the hegemon, and the tone of conspiracy, as he concludes:
“India must make it clear that it cannot countenance a regressive and hostile Islamist regime on its eastern borders. How the cleansing should happen need not be the subject of a public debate.”
India has been doing business as usual with Islamist Talibans, both before and after they grabbed power..Modi lunches with Saudis and dines with UAE, just as US does.
They can’t dictate to Bangladesh what kind of polity they should have. It is public knowledge that Modi-led India tried, in vain, to force Nepal adopt a Hindu Constitution.
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Why Appeal To America or West? Questions raised
In fact, Swapan Dasgupta is only relaying the views of no less than Modi, the Vishwa guru himself. Shekhar Gupta reported and commented on it.
We shall look into his views to know what it implies.
“ It’s intriguing that the prime minister now wants his American partner to help protect the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.. This is serious business..an Indian prime minister, that too of a strong and stable government no less, needed to seek Washington’s good offices to protect the Hindus next door,” wrote Shekhar Gupta, editor of theprint.in, September 13, 2024. He is a liberal, pro-US, an Establishment man, by no means anti-American. He wrote it five weeks after Hasina fled Bangladesh, at the peak of alleged incidents against Hindus in Bangladesh.
And “this is not the India of the 1980s..Its economy is reaching $4 trillion…It’s the only nation outside the P5 to drive nuclear missile submarines. That’s conceding to the Americans a pre-eminence India has always contested, resented and feared.”
In fact, he says, “In these frightfully prickly times, trifles tend to become controversies in our geopolitical debates.”
He hints the violence is more against Muslim contenders within Pakistan, and says: “.. but does India really care what the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or 10 other militant groups with fancy names do within Pakistan? Take a look at what the TTP did to the Pakistani army colonel they’ve kidnapped. You can even watch him groveling in a video that the TTP tweeted.” Yes, Pakistan army itself is at the receiving end, not just Hindus.
“.. The final question follows, then: Are we now admitting that the Americans have more leverage in Bangladesh than us. The simple answer to all these five questions is never, never, never, never and no. ..These principles have been established, elaborated and strengthened over the past 53 years under 12 prime ministers.”
“Self -defeating and self-demeaning” appeal to USA by Modi
Is Modi more subservient to America than all of those PMs? The Sangh parivar nationalists should ponder over. Gupta asks:
“Then why appeal to Joe Biden?..it is self-defeating and self-demeaning to believe that your Hindu constituency in India would be more reassured with you seeking Biden’s influence in Bangladesh rather than using your own…Nobody ever achieved or protected it by inviting the elephant inside your tent.”
He reminds..“How irritated do we get when other countries, including neighbours and the OIC, lecture us on our Muslims?”
Modi’s appeal to USA was likely directed at the domestic audience, he muses.
Now not a day passes in Modi-led India without an atrocity or discrimination against minorities, Muslims in particular – somewhere lynching, bull-dozing, love jihad, beef attacks etc..and frequently, digging a masjid or lately even dargas, those revered by Hindus too, often the courts facilitating it.. Sambhal riots, Ajmeer Darga, where Modi too reportedly had prayed, are among the latest..
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Communal politics and massacres existed long before Islamists arrived
Yes, it is so. Public memory is short, it is proverbial. Imperialists and compradors, very much “secular” in their loot and plunder, promoted worst communal massacres.
India, with secularism as a basic tenet in its Constitution, is a model now for communal politics. Even Trump emulates it, UK and Canada have their share. And they are not islamists.
Bangladesh follows inevitably: Colonialism and partition left behind problems that still haunt not only India but the entire South Asia. As to Bangladesh, it is basically a Bengali territory, that witnessed momentous events. Bengal was partitioned long before 1947, and united again a century ago, by colonialists of UK, and that reminds us of anti-colonial Swadeshi movement.
If Germanies could re-unite, why not Bengals? Someone may ask…
Thus there were lot of problems long before Islamist politics arose. Partition riots were not created by them. Bangladesh was not created by them:
“There had been multiple waves of the flight of Hindus in the 1950s and 1960s..The fact, however, is that the exodus became a trickle in the 1970s and then mostly faded”, Shekhar Gupta recalls. “It is a demographic burden India must not invite….Millions of Hindus among the 10 million-plus East Pakistanis who sought refuge in India during the genocide of 1971 chose not to return…”
Politics of communalism, often tailor-made to suit electoral interests
As you sow, so you reap..Sekhar Gupta recalls politics of communalism: “In 2013, when the Bangladesh Supreme Court barred the Jamaat-e-Islami from contesting elections, the mobs turned on Hindus and their places of worship. These are recorded, undisputed facts.”
India is hands full with its own politics of communalism, often tailor-made to suit electoral interests. It need not dabble in Bangladesh, and invite trouble. Hindus are best protected by Bangladesh, and by Yunus, says Shekhar Gupta:
“..And his administration “acted with alacrity”…”However nasty the anti-Indianism on the street might be, Bangladeshi elites know it is their most vital relationship..although there are forces — especially on the Islamist Right — who might wish to do so..”
Durga puja, biggest festival involving idolatry, passed off peacefully in Bangladesh, Hindutva zealots and their apologists must note.
As Yunus said, latest: Durga puja passed off peacefully. There were 33,431 puja pandals last year under Hasina; this year, post-Hasina, their number will be exceeded last year’s, as per Bangla Home Ministry (Times of India, 12.09.2024).
Hasina’s party Awami League was always troubling Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamic political force like India’s Muslim League, or we can say like Sangh parivar elements…It is not basically different..It was banned, suppressed by her father Mujib as later by her, over the decades. But that did not help eliminate Jamaat-e-Islami; in fact it helped its rejuvenation.
Indira Gandhi tried a ban on Hindu groups including RSS. Hindutva forces need to be reminded that she banned many Muslim groups too – during her notorious emergency (1975-77), but that only helped Hindutva forces to grow, and occupy Delhi throne. Hindutva forces must thank Indira and Rajiv Gandhi too (for opening the locks of Ayodhya). And secularists need to know they are ‘pseudo-secularists’ as BJP called them. They too bring religion into politics, as by flaunting their ‘sacred threads’, and launching election campaigns from Hindu temples. .
Sekhar Gupta tellingly concludes:
“Bangladesh has dumped Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League now. Are we in turn dumping Bangladesh? Hasina’s debacle must not be India’s…It will be so unwise to keep moping and waiting for Bangladeshis to ‘come to their senses’. A sovereign country will go where its people take it. We can’t choose our neighbours, but we can choose the kind of neighbour we want to be.”
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But Trump is no friend of India ..
“…after the Trump administration assumes charge, India must put préssure on the US and intelligences ..to clean up the mess ..” That was Swapan Dasgupta.
But Trump is no friend of India or any country for that matter. He wants supremacy of America and the dollar, MAGA. “ Trump on Nov 30 warned BRICS countries against any move to replace the US dollar and has sought a commitment from the nine-member group that includes India, Russia, China, and Brazil…”
If they defy, “they will face 100% Tariffs and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy,’ Trump warned.
‘Won’t spare anyone attacking Hindus: Bangladesh govt,”says a report, August 16, 2024. “Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain gave an assurance. He in fact met a delegation from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Bangladesh at his office in the Secretariat on August 15 Thursday, the Dhaka Tribunenewspaper reported.
Dr. Yunus too reached out to the Hindu community and urged them to ‘exercise patience’ and assured them that his government would punish those who attacked the minority members. Bangladesh ministry in fact set up a hotline asking people to provide information about attacks on temples, churches or any other religious institutions, PTI had reported.
“Yunus was characterising it as politically motivated rather than communal…This issue has several dimensions. When the country went through an upheaval following the atrocities by (Sheikh) Hasina and the Awami League, those who were with them also faced attacks.”(PTI, September 28, 2024).
His view is endorsed by others: “But as a large section of Hindus are identified with the Awami League, we too are facing attacks,” said Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, also general secretary of the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote.
Swapan Dasgupta , former MP of BJP wrote: “Since the Hindu community, by and large, were supporters of the Awami League, they bore the worst of the political recrimi nations after Aug 5.”
Bangladesh Hindus likely to form political party, seek reservation
“Hindu leaders from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCOP) and other groups are now discussing the possibility of establishing a separate political party or demanding reserved parliamentary seats,” BHBCOP presidium member Kajal Debnath told PTI September 28 last. “The discussions regarding forming a political party are at the top of our priority, although nothing has been finalised..,” said Ranjan Karmakar, a Hindu leader.
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We had noted 8 demands of Hindutva forces of Bangladesh. Some of them are brazenly reactionary. The demands presented by the leaders include:
- Formation of a tribunal to expedite trials for those involved in minority atrocities.
- Appropriate compensation and rehabilitation for victims.
- Enactment of a minority protection law without delay.
- Creation of a ministry of minority affairs.
- Construction of places of worship for minorities in every educational institution.
- Establishment of prayer rooms in every hostel.
- Modernisation of the Sanskrit and Pali Education Board.
- A five-day holiday for Durga Puja.
Imagine reaction in India, and among Hindutva lobbies, if similar demands are placed by India’s minorities. See for more..
Bangladesh: Hindutva becomes more ominous, and fuels Trump campaign too (03/11/2024)
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Ramakrishnan is a political observer who regularly contributed to countercurrents.org.
See series of articles on this subject by this author, including…
Bangladesh: Exporting politics of Hindutva and itching for gross interference (01/11/2024)
