Anti-India sentiment is increasing in Bangladesh due to fundamentalism and foreign influence, which has deteriorated relations. The population of Hindus there has declined from 22% to less than 8%. Due to the influence of China and America, other neighboring countries are also moving away from India.
Bangladesh was a country which was being exploited a lot by Pakistan. When Pakistan and Muslim fundamentalists tried to impose their Sharia culture, the people of Bangladesh strongly opposed it. Bangladeshis were persecuted a lot then. In such difficult circumstances, it was India that liberated Bangladesh from Pakistan. But now the situation has completely changed. A wave of hatred is rising against India and Indian culture in Bangladesh. India is also receiving negative messages from many other countries including America. India’s neighbors are becoming friendly countries and enemy countries. What are the reasons for all this? What is the solution to Hindu hatred of Bangladesh? What is the future of India’s relations with foreign countries? On many such important issues, critic, historian and philosopher Dr. G.B. Harish has spoken face to face to ‘Kannadaprabha’.
Question: As a historian, according to you, how were the relations between Bangladesh and India earlier?
Answer: It was India that gave it freedom from the exploitation of Pakistan. Therefore relations between India and Bangladesh were very good. Before this, the people of Bangladesh thought that Bengali and Indian culture should be followed and Bengali identity should be preserved. That is why he adopted the song written by Rabindranath Tagore as his national anthem. The Ganga river flowing in that country is called Padma river. Bangladesh considered India as its guide.
Question: Then, how did Muslim fundamentalism and Hindu hatred arise? What is the reason for this?
Answer: This is a change brought about by fundamentalism. Within a few years of independence, Bangladesh’s founding president, Bangabandhu Mujib ur Rahman, was assassinated. Such fundamentalists had forced Sheikh Hasina to flee the country. The reason for this is the fundamentalist Muslim organizations there. The fundamentalists think that Bangladesh should become a staunch Muslim country and Sharia law should be implemented there. Neither Mujib ur Rehman of that time nor Sheikh Hasina in recent times allowed this. On both those occasions, the rule of the country passed into the hands of the army. The coming of military rule means that there is interference from powerful countries.
Question: India gave independence to Bangladesh, there are historical relations also. Despite this, why is India not able to handle the challenges of security of Hindus?
Answer: Since last one year, anti-India sentiments are becoming stronger in Bangladesh. Like Pakistan, Bangladesh is also falling under the control of the army and fundamentalists. It is turning into a fundamentalist country like Pakistan. This is not good for Indians and Hindus. Therefore, efforts should be made for the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh through more than 30 Muslim countries of the world and neighboring countries like Thailand, Indonesia. It seems that the Central Government is handling this matter very carefully.
Question: What is the condition of Hindus in Bangladesh at present?
Answer: At present the condition of Hindus is worrying. The number of economically prosperous Hindus has reduced considerably or we can say that it does not exist at all. The number of Hindus is decreasing in urban areas. Farming people cannot leave their villages quickly, so they stay in rural areas. The population of Hindus which was 22% in 1940 has reduced to less than 8% today. It will not be surprising if this number reduces further in future.
Question: What are the reasons for the decline in the number of Hindus?
Answer: When asked how the population of Hindus decreased, the governments there say that they went ‘missing’! Is it believable that millions of people went missing?
Question: Then, what steps has the Indian government taken for the safety of minority Hindus of Bangladesh?
Answer: At present many efforts are being made. Also, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), brought to give citizenship to religious minorities who are victims of persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, should be properly implemented. Hindus seeking asylum in India should be given citizenship. Similarly, Bangladeshi citizens who have illegally entered India should be expelled from the country.
Question: What are the reasons for deteriorating India’s relations with Bangladesh?
Answer: Relations between any two countries are not always the same. Sometimes they are like a calm ocean and sometimes like fire and storm. America and China are exerting their influence in Bangladesh. They are creating political instability. Now the army has dominance in Bangladesh. If the army is dominant, it means that powerful countries like America and China have a hand in that country.
Question: Not only Bangladesh, but friendly countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius are now turning against India, why?
Answer: While building muscles in the gym, there is pain in different parts of the body. But, after making it, the body looks strong. Similarly, India has today become the fourth largest economic power in the world. The country’s expectations are even bigger. Those who are above us naturally feel anxious and insecure. He argues that no one should come close to him. Therefore, work is going on to instigate them by using the politicians, army and radicals of our neighboring countries. The government is handling it carefully.
Question: What effect do incidents like political instability and anarchy in neighboring countries have on India?
Answer: Anarchy in neighboring countries is not good for any country. The Bangladesh government was violently overthrown by the fundamentalists there. Some people wanted that the Indian government should also be overthrown in the same way and the Indian youth should also come forward to struggle. Through this, some people had said that they wanted to create riots and unrest in the country, harm the economy and destroy brotherhood. But, Indians did not pay attention to any such provocative talk. India is stable.
Question: All the neighboring countries of India are building good relations with China. Where did India’s priority go?
Answer: Today China has become the second most powerful country in the world. It is the biggest power of Asia. Its only option is India. Our country is also progressing well. We have good relations with all the neighboring countries except Pakistan. Sometimes the politicians of one or two countries who are more powerful than us get lured by their greed. But, after that they come back towards us. For example, you can just look at Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Question: America is also threatening us with tariffs. He is also showing anger against the Indians there. What effect will this have?
Answer: President Trump, who came to power with the slogan of ‘America First’, has to prove this to the people of his country. That’s why sometimes they behave like friends and sometimes like enemies. We should not forget that America and our country also have many interests associated with America. As always, in this matter also we should be patient.
Question: America kidnapped the President of Venezuela. He is directly interfering in the governance of all countries. What are the reasons for this behavior?
Answer: This behavior of America has been like this for hundreds of years. That country always has an eye on oil and other natural resources. America’s agenda is to acquire or snatch it by any means.
Question: How will our relations be with America?
Answer: When our country tested the atomic bomb twice, it successfully tested it without America knowing. This does not mean that we will go to war. Our country’s policy is that war is the last resort. Our country has good relations with America. Being the most populous and developing country in the world, we will benefit more if we exercise a little patience.