Worldview | New regime in Bangladesh | Lessons for India & South Asia

In this episode of Worldview we discuss, what will the changes in Dhaka mean for Delhi and are there lessons for the entire neighbourhood?
As Bangladesh boiled over
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka after being in power for 15 years, she is now at an undisclosed location in India after landing at the Hindon airbase on Delhi’s outskirts

-  Days of protests and violence, then saw mobs ransacking Hasina’s homes and Mujib’s memorial. Attacks on Hasina’s Awami League supporters and their properties have seen minorities, particularly Hindus being targeted.

- The military moved in to stabilize the situation and a new interim government headed by Professor Muhammad Yunus has now taken charge.
His priority, he said, was “save the country from anarchy”, and warned protestors against attacking any minorities

Hasina’s departure also saw the release of Bangladesh’s biggest opposition leader former PM 78 year old Khaleda Zia, who accused Sheikh Hasina of corruption and being undemocratic- and promised a new future for Bangladesh as thousands joined a BNP rally

All eyes are now on where Sheikh Hasina goes next
1. Hasina is believed to be at a safehouse at the Hindon airbase- the choice making it clear her original plan was to fly elsewhere. Her daughter Dr. Saima Wazed lives in Delhi, as Regional Director for WHO, but said on social media she is unable to see her or hug her- later deleting that post .
In parliament, EAM Jaishankar said she had come just “for the moment”
2. Sheikh Hasina is believed to have applied to the UK for entry- but sources said the UK is not prepared to give her protection from prosecution, and the UK government cited technicalities on an asylum application. Hasina’s sister is a UK citizen and her niece Tulip Siddique is a British MP
3. There’s also Finland, where Hasina’s nephew lives
4. And the US, where her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy lives- but Hasina has had a tense relationship with the US. When asked, Wazed said she was the victim of an internal and external conspiracy
5. Other possible destinations like the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are being discussed, but for the moment, Ms. Hasina remains in India
 
 Apart from those concerns, India does have much to worry about with the changes in Dhaka:
1. About 19,000 Indians in Bangladesh, many of which have been brought back now
2. Worry that those fleeing violence and others could come across the borders- India has cancelled visas for now and stepped up BSF security
3. India’s infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, and in particular, the recently announced Adani power project could be reviewed. More than 10 billion dollars in trade and major connectivity moves also in the balance
4. India’s military cooperation, strategic and defence ties could also be a worry
5. With Bangladesh seemingly caught in the US-China geopolitical rivalry, India will have to work harder to keep its pre-eminent position in the country
Remember, Hasina’s departure is one of a series of political instability and turmoil in South Asia in the past few years:
1. In 2021, the military coup in Myanmar and the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan
2. In 2022, PM Imran Khan’s ouster in Pakistan and then protests forced President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee from Sri Lanka
3. In 2023 and 2024, the rapid changes in government in Nepal, and elections that brought President Muizzu to power in Maldives amid an India Out campaign
What now are the main lessons for India – in South Asia
1. Street power, the power of protests should not be taken lightly, even if they are quelled in the short term
2. Joblessness and lopsided unequal economic growth is increasingly a South Asian concern
3. Religious radicalization, and majoritarianism is endemic to South Asia, home to many religious majorities, and will need to be reversed- or there is the risk of spillover
4. Regional groupings are the only way South Asian countries can deal with their common social and economic challenges- if SAARC could be abandoned due to India-Pakistan differences, then what happens to BIMSTEC if India and Bangladesh now develop issues?
5. No change is permanent- Pakistan’s leaders have often gone into exile and returned to power, Rajapaksa has also returned to the country- and so might Hasina, but it is important to learn the lessons of democracy and keeping a finger on the pulse of the people- and for India to keep engaging all parts of its neighbourhood.

 WV take: The change in Bangladesh is a setback to India’s interests, both in terms of economic and in terms of geopolitical stakes and even as New Delhi works on helping Hasina remain safe and secure, it must engage the new regime in Dhaka- and show by actions more than words, that when it comes to the neighbourhood, India’s friendship is with a country and people not any one leader or party.

[mahirashhabkhan]

dont portray hasina as a victim . people of bangladesh were her fascist regime's victim for 15 years. india should undestand the sentiment of bangladeshi people . hasina and her son are liars, peoples bloods on their hands, people wont forgive them. please have the honesty to say which one is right and which is wrong .

[yasinpavel]

I would like to request Indian friends not to judge Bangladesh based on Hasina's present condition. Plz don't create a propaganda out of this dictator. We treat India as a very good neighbour.

[AssignmentAssistance-hy]

Dr. Professor Muhammad Yunus is our hope and only he can change Bangladesh political systems.

[MdAlAmin-ogcu]

What would India do when Hasina will be tried for her crime against humanity and found guilty of that. You cannot think of giving asylum to a convicted person. Then it will create a fragile bilateral relations.

There isn't much lesson to learn from other countries as Bangadesh is a very special case, it has a very unique culture for which other people don't understand. Many people understand their culture know that this will sooner or later happen because Bengladesh people used to be like that over turn a regime they don't like, being betrayed by another. It has been happening again and again. This time will be the same. However, after a lot of drama, nothing will be changed due to its culture. corruption will still there, crimes will still there, poverty will still be there. Dictatorship will still be there. Anyone understands their culture will know why. Ones should not have any expectation on this country at all.

[muditjain]

Sadly, India plays second or third fiddle on the global stage but plays no role amongst its neighbours. Shame on our leaders

[visitthailand]

No foreigners, only people of Bangladesh who suffered from Hasina directly.

[adityabanerjee]

Make her India's representative for SAARC - she will put on 5 quintals of lipstick and chat away with auntyjis from other countries - a toothless talk shop.

[amarnathjamalpur]

I appreciate your interest to interduce some wondeful and relevant books to your viewers .
Good gesture on your part.

[Seymour-dt]

Pakistan took back East Pakistan with their big friends. India needs to be prepared to what is being planned for them, with the external forces and Bangladesh. I am sure India knows what is going on.

[hasanmasud]

You are biased! You keep showing Hasina and her party as a victim. But you never shown any image or video, when Hasina’s Police killed students and protesters, that’s where Hasina lost her power, because of her dictatorship over the last 15 years, she turned down image of her father also.

[jaydeepgadhavi]

Of many fast moving updates, some of which could be wrong, I just heard that Mohammed Yunus has called for the reinvigoration of SAARC. How much traction will the issue now get in the region when the founder country has called for it ? People in South Asia would be looking at SCO right ?

[masudunnabi]

Well covered. Expect more such coverage. Media fairness helps people from neighbouring countries get to know each other better and build stronger neighbourhood.

[JEZFinancialWorld]

India does not have good relationship with any of her neighbor. It is not good for India be alone in South Asia.

[KAWSARKAMRAN]

All the Indian Midea, stop spreading propaganda against the new revolution of Bangladesh.

[mdnasrullah]

Why is she calling the interim government a regime?

[nhaq]

Hasina signed the contracts with India, which is not known Bangladeshi people, nor discussed in the Parliament ! Those might not have legitimate.

[avikbhattacharya]

No mention at all that the biggest risk from BD to India is that it will again start to provide refuge to all kinds of terrorist groups especially the ones operating in the NE

[MD.HABIULHABIBUL-xujb]

ডক্টর ইউনুসকে জানাই স্বাগতম জানি বাংলাদেশের জন্য সে অবশ্যই ভালো কিছু করবেন

[rhinetanvir]

It's india not hasina who fled from the country. Check. 😅😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😝😝😝😜😜😜😛😛😛😛😜😜😜😜😜😜