By Dr. Debesh Bhowmik
Bangladesh student movement-led by BNP and Jamaat-e- Islami, ultimately dethroned Hasina government, is not only an internal political and economic crisis but also an external influence which was not nullified by anybody. A long term dis-satisfaction over the Hasina government on several economic issues and political activities created the unrests which destroyed vast peoples’ property, like, metro, roads, railways, ministerial buildings, museum, houses, collapses national laws, education, health, communications and so on. The more important is that the activists killed many important personalities, government officials, gave fire in government properties and business, looted personal and peoples’ wealth and finally kept control over Gana Bhavan or Bangladesh. All these were done before the military and polices who were indirectly or directly helped the students. The resignation of Hasina and took shelter in India has accelerated the protesters activities to an extreme level which they termed as “Independent”, but from whom? Is it from Hasina government who kept peoples of Bangladesh in prison?
No answer. But people saw a clear devastating, collapsing, destroying Bangladesh’s progress which was built during last 15 years. The progress in economy, business, environment, human development, health, education, women empowerment, international relations and so on are noticeable, mentionable and remarkable. The communications and infrastructure development are especially mentioned where enough foreign investment took place and massive employment were created. Bangladesh economy now became competitive in trade and commerce with facilities of export potentialities in abroad although it has heavy import burden on India and other countries as well.
The geo-political reasons in South Asia are vital in case of coup in Bangladesh. As de-activities of SAARC widen day by day due to political set-back in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan as near identical with Bangladesh, the super power’s activities on mobilization of military power have been enhancing. Alternatively, India focuses on BIMSTEC in which Bangladesh is a dominant state which has observed a little progress and free area of super power invasion. The Chinese and Japanese investment markets in South Asia along with Korean entry are critical although they did not intervene in local government except investment decision. The principal reason is that in the arena of investment field, USA and EU started their new investment region along with them as competitors. Thus, the Bay of Bengal would become the power of land of the super powers of the world. The BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami of Bangladesh have been shifting the power since they are not supporting India to be a good friend in international field. Secondly, they do not support Modi government because of religious reasons as because they are fundamentalist. They want to exchange trade and commerce in every sector of the economy with West Asia and other Muslim communities of the world. Since, Hasina government favors India, the BNP opposed this attitude. The interim government headed by Chief adviser Dr. Mohammad Yunus-the Nobel laureate is also an anti-Indian and he had knocked people of Bangladesh to remember 1971 to take revenge. He is not a believer of integration, on the other hand, he is pro-American. He has remarked many insulting and revengeful words during interviews. So that US-led political and economic strategic policy will be the prime choice of his advice. It may not be beneficial to all round development of SAARC or BIMSTEC.
Now the question is-What will bring about the changes in Bangladesh? Will they be able to dissolve the Mujib or Hasina activities from the history of Bangladesh? Will they continue to develop the economy without India? The answers are well known to all. But what devastations they had done will require 10 years to rebuild. Will the Interim Government that will give birth to a new elected government may be able to revamp the activities of SAARC or BIMSTEC or APEC to engender the regional development?
If they go with Pakistan, USA would become their good friend. If they join with Arab countries (GCC) or West Asian groups, their religious future would be kept safe along with economic development. However, the next election will give the clear signal about it or alternatively, the military coup may emerge.
Up till now, the impact of coup in Bangladesh to major powerful countries like USA,UK, and EU are balanced and harmless although they are not interested to give political shelter to Hasina. International disorder will emerge after several steps taken by the interim government especially on import policy, foreign policy, and so on. Finally, once Bangladesh enters into the army ruled government then it is very difficult to exit from that stage without any intervention of foreign power as was proved in earlier. Here lies the problem of geo-politics where domination of power politics is very important. Hence, the south Asia again emerges as a tensed area in international economics and politics.
- The view expressed by the author is his own
