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Amma Turns Red
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Past Tense
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Starting Over
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NEIGHBOURS: BANGLADESH

VIEW FROM DHAKA
Caught In Balance

By Almas Zakiuddin

The Bangladeshi side of the story has taken time to emerge, and is, to a great extent, influenced not only by the passionate and angry reaction on the Indian side, but also by the diplomatic offensive mounted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. She has been quick to defuse the tension, but has held back from offering an apology. In many ways, she is walking a tightrope, using the goodwill with India to downplay the incident and at the same time making an effort to belie accusations of a sellout.

With parliamentary elections due this year, the retreat from Pyrdiwah, or Padua as Bangladesh calls it, was considered a let down. The External Affairs Ministry was quick to deny any such setback. "We will continue to negotiate on Padua through diplomatic channels and at flag meetings," said Foreign Secretary Syed Muazzam Ali. But was the episode over? "We can't do magic. Millions of people in the border areas need to feel safe again. It will take time," he said.

It will also take time to heal the sense of resentment that Bangladeshis in general feel about the manner in which the Indian Government and the media have been quick to blame atrocities on the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR). Hasina's statement that in the Boraibari encounter the BDR acted in self defence after it was attacked by the BSF, a fact that is being borne out in India now, has added to the feeling of anger. And Bangladeshis, though horrified by pictures of an Indian soldier's body hung on a pole, are satisfied by the official explanation that the corpses of BSF soldiers were not mutilated by the BDR but were a result of decomposition.

Speculation that the clash has been motivated by either the Pakistani ISI or the Indian raw has been touted in some circles but has not gained credence. Nor has the argument that slogans supporting Opposition leader Khaleda Zia were found conveniently placed alongside the dead Indians in Boraibari. "If that indeed were the case, then the Indians themselves planted it," says a garment factory owner in Dhaka. "Why would Zia's followers or the ISI leave a calling card?" he asks. However, internal strife, including four serious bomb explosions that have killed 33 and injured nearly 200 people in the past two years have raised suspicions of the involvement of "vested" quarters. Hasina's ruling Awami League has been quick to blame fundamentalist groups, particularly after the most recent blast on April 14 in Dhaka's Ramna Park during the Bengali New Year celebration which killed nine and injured 20.

The rise of the right wing is worrying the Awami League, particularly because the Bangladesh National Party headed by Zia has recently forged what could be a strong electoral alliance with them. The Jamaat-i-Islami, the strongest among the right wing parties, has a strong grass roots presence, drawing its strength from madarsas across the country and funds from foreign sources. The ruling party's efforts to whip up anger against the Jamaat-i-Islami and other rightist parties have not made much headway.

Fortunately for Hasina, despite the internal strife, economic growth has not flagged. According to the ADB, the economy grew at 5.7 per cent this year and is predicted to grow by 6 per cent next year. Bumper crops in 1999 and 2000 have boosted the agriculture sector while the exports, manufacturing and revenue sectors have also done well. Hasina's tactic has been to bait Zia on the subject of elections, but to remain unfazed by the strikes and shutdowns. Zia, on the other hand, has remained stubbornly committed to calling strikes. In the process, she has lost much of the public support she once enjoyed.

Although Zia's rhetoric against Hasina's diplomatic moves to defuse tensions with India have not been echoed yet, whether it will become an issue in the forthcoming polls depends to a great extent on future events. If the border situation flares up again, and if Bangladeshi lives come under threat or are lost, the sentiment could change. Zia's description of Hasina as being "subservient" to India could be taken far more seriously then. Signs that India may be massing troops on the border are cause for concern. No one wants to tangle with India. But at the same time, pride in being Bangladeshi rides very high. The assistance given by India in 1971 will never be forgotten. But Bangladeshis would like their gratitude to be a matter of choice, not of compulsion.

MetroScape

Focusing On Art
The brief for participants at
"Exhibit 'A' 2001" organised by the
200-member
Photographers'
Guild of India at the Nehru Centre, Mumbai, was clear—no advertisement and portfolio photos. more...

Looking Glass

Delhi Poster:
One Page Classics

Calcutta Pub:
London Pub

Bangalore & Mumbai Rock Concert:
Bryan Adams

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharya reflected optimism about winning the state election when he spoke to INDIA TODAY Senior Editor Sumit Mitra at the CPI(M) headquarters in Kolkata, minutes before rushing off for campaigning.
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