Things are happening at quick space from the time of the students protests in Bangladesh in July 2024, which within weeks toppled the fascist regime of Hasina Wajid and forced her to flee and quit politics. For all practical purposes, she has become history, and it will be a miracle if the Awami League (AL) returns to power in the far distant future.
The third generation in BD have turned the tide suddenly and abruptly and drowned the sustained efforts put in by India from 1948 onwards to subvert the minds of the Bengalis of East Bengal and to make them hate West Pakistanis and to view India as their friend and well wisher.
India’s subversive efforts continued after the division of Pakistan in Dec 1971 in order to maintain the level of hate among the post 1971 first, second and third generations. India’s insidious efforts ultimately wore down and failed to subvert and indoctrinate the whole third generation of BD. About half of the population had always remained inclined and soft towards Pakistan, and hated India’s interference and bossy attitude.
During the 16 years iron rule of AL under Hasina, she had made BD a vassal state of India, which was to the deep dislike of the third generation youth. A large number of their parents, siblings and relatives had died of torture at the hands of the police and goons of AL.
Elections in 2014, 2019 and in 2024 were heavily rigged and the opposition parties were crushed. High-handed tactics and terrorism used by AL were similar to those used in 1970 elections.
In her last tenure, following in the footsteps of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, she also announced Baksal and established One-party rule with zero scope for dissent.
Khaleda Zia led BNP and Jamaat Islami (JI) were the worst affected and were put through harrowing persecution and torture. Enforced disappearances and extra judicial killing became a norm.
Hasina’s fascism and intolerance towards opposition parties piled up antagonism and hatred among all the political parties, the civil society and the student community. There was always an element of frustration among the armed forces on account of the preferential treatment given to the Mukti Bahini (MB) and the freedom fighters who had taken part in the 1971 war of liberation. This was one reason for the mutiny led by two Majors of BD Army in August 1975, in which the most popular leader Sheikh Mujib and 22 other members of his family were hacked to death.
A heavy share of quota allocated to the grandchildren of MB and war veterans with regard to the jobs in civil services was another issue of resentment for the students in particular. This issue became the trigger point for the launching of student protests in Dhaka University which morphed into a country wide movement. The protests became aggressive when several protesting students were shot dead by the police.
Hasina dug the last nail in her coffin when she irresponsibly named the protesting students as children of Razaqars (which meant the pro-Pakistan Bengalis and Biharis, who had fought the 1971 war along with the Pak Army for the defence of motherland till last and were declared as collaborators by Mujib and brutally persecuted).
Hasina arrogantly chortled that the Razaqars would be dealt with an iron hand. Branding them as sons and daughters of traitors, and making an allegation that they were creating chaos at the behest of Pakistan, infuriated the students and they not only started chanting that they all were Razaqars, but they also pressed Hasina to quit.
Students from all the 35 universities in the country were asked to assemble in Dhaka to march towards the residence of Hasina. Members of all other grieved political parties joined the march which became uncontrollable. They kept chanting, “we are Razaqars”.
Considering the gravity of the situation, the BD Army chief who had decided not to fire upon the students gave 40 minutes time to pack up and board the army helicopter. She was flown to the neighboring Agartala in NE India before the crowds lynched her.
After she fled to her so-called mentor and patron India, the students ransacked the PM House, looted it and torched it. Houses of AL parliamentarians were also burnt. All the memorials and statues of Mujib were demolished. The portraits of Mujib in all the buildings and even in BD embassies abroad were removed and photos torn. Much to the chagrin of India, they raised Pakistani flags and chanted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans.
An interim regime has been set up under an aged God fearing leader who is deeply respected and revered on account of his good deeds for the welfare of the poor. Most of the AL parliamentarians have either been arrested or have left the country. The pro Hasina judges are also in thick soup and are being hounded. The police and other govt departments are being purged and all the jailed opposition leaders and activists are freed.
There is eagerness on part of the interim regime, the armed forces, the students, the sportspersons, civil society and especially the religious elements fed up of Draconian rule of Hasina and the nastiness of RAW, to come closer to Pakistan.
This generation of BD has now amply seen the ugly face of India, it’s wicked role in the so-called war of independence in 1971, its fake narratives of rape of 300,000 Bengali girls and women, killing of 3 million Bengalis by Pak soldiers in 1971, and the propaganda war, misleading them to believe that erstwhile East Pakistan had been made into a colony of West Pakistan.
They know that the Indian forces had raped each and every able bodied Bengali/Bihari girl & women in 59 refugee camps in India and soon after the war, had carried out massive looting, and that India has all along treated BD as its protégé and a client state. Dozens of books written by Bengali writers have brought out the factual story and exposed the fabricated narratives and stories, as well as lamented the role of AL and 10% Bengalis who wanted independence with the help of India.
During the long rules of Gen Ziaur Rahman, Gen Hussain Ershad and Khaleda Zia, BD had remained friendly to Pakistan and the two countries collaborated in defence matters.
The Bengali officers who had passed out from PMA Kakul and had taken part in the 1965 and 1971 wars, and had done military courses in Pakistan, have maintained contacts with their course-mates and friends in Pakistan through phone calls, visits and websites. Some attained the highest ranks and some are part of the current govt.
They were welcomed and looked after warmly whenever they visited Pakistan with their families. Similar hospitality was conferred upon Pakistan Army officers visiting BD on official or private visits. The epic battle of Hilli fought by 4 FF in the 1971 war is part of the syllabus of BD Army training institutions including the War College.
The military attaches and diplomats serving in foreign embassies have also had cordial relations. JI and Tableeghi Jamaat have been a big source of keeping the Islamic bondage intact. I am sure, the ISI would have already re-established its old links with BD intelligence.
Last but not least, cricket has been a big source of winning the sentiments of Bengalis. They preferred the Pak team over the Indian team and cheered the former and rejoiced in their victory. The BD cricket team never shied away from playing in Pakistan when all other teams were reluctant to come for security reasons.
The anti-Pakistan sentiments in BD are now being replaced with affability, amiability. Hatred is being overtaken by feelings of warmth, friendship, cooperation and some have begun to float the idea of confederation. Both Pakistan and BD want harmonious ties with China. This transformation is happening at a rapid pace which has flustered India. Pakistan should reciprocate. The time is ripe for winning their hearts and minds.
The BD cricket team visiting Pakistan was asked to arrive at Lahore by 13 Aug to get acclimatised for the first match at Rwp on the 17th. This gesture is well timed. The team should be given full protocol and looked after with utmost care.
The reported joint BD – Pakistan naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal would be a huge breakthrough for Pakistan and a big setback for India since it would change the whole dynamics of future Pakistan-BD relationship. The Bay of Bengal has all along been symbolically the exclusive domain of the Indian Navy, and considered Safe Zone for all their missile tests.
Hasina has alleged that the US was behind her fall, and the reason was that she had refused to grant access to the US Navy warships in the Bay of Bengal.
It is a known fact that Russia and the USA have been aspiring to gain a toehold in the strategic Bay, while China in pursuit of her concept of ‘String of Pearls’ to encircle India, has also been vying to gain access to the Bay of Bengal.
