Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina concerned over Narendra Modi’s remarks on Bangladeshi infiltrators

[BanglaBhoot]

The Economic Times – May 6, 2014

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed concern over the BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi's statement that Bangladeshi infiltrators in India must go back to their country, telling her close aides in a private meeting that the comment was unnecessary and unwarranted.

Such statements do not contribute to bilateral ties and could spoil relations between the future Indian government and Bangladeshi citizens, Hasina said in a meeting at the prime minister's office on Monday morning, a person familiar with the matter told ET on the phone from Dhaka.

Narendra Modi's statement could strengthen the anti-India extremist groups in Bangladesh and the minorities in the country could face the ire of these groups, a Dhakabased official said on the condition of anonymity.

However, the Bangladesh government did not issue any official reaction to Narendra Modi's statement. The Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi also declined to comment on the matter.

Sheikh Hasina, who has been a close friend of India in the subcontinent, returned to power for a second successive term earlier this year and was welcomed by India despite international criticism of the election process.

Modi on Sunday said that Bangladeshi infiltrators allowed in India for "vote-bank politics" would have to go back while the refugees thrown out of Bangladesh on religious grounds would be greeted with open arms. He had earlier spoken on the issue in Assam as well as West Bengal during campaigning.

Along with the ruling Bangladesh Awami League's members who favour strong relations with India, various members of Bangladesh's civil society are also worried over Modi's stand. Thousands of Bangladeshis travel to India every year for medical tourism, sightseeing and education.

India-Bangladesh ties had touched a low during Bangladesh Nationalist Party-Jamaat-e-Islami rule during 2001-06. Bangladesh territory was used by anti-India terrorist groups to launch an attack against India during that period. Hasina's return to power in 2009 boosted ties and she handed over insurgents and terrorists to Delhi. Her government also cracked down on terrorist cells and infrastructure. India reciprocated by sanctioning several development and infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. In January, India garnered international support for the newly re-elected Hasina's government.

Assam govt orders judicial probe


GUWAHATI: Assam government has ordered a judicial probe into the ethnic clashes that have claimed at least 34 lives and rendered thousands homeless in the Bodoland area since Thursday, reports Bikash Singh. On Monday, violence spilled outside the four districts of the Bodoland area, with mobs attacking police in several places amid a 12-hour state bandh called by the All Bodoland Minority Students' Union and other organisations. In Nagaon district, several policemen were injured.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina concerned over Narendra Modi’s remarks on Bangladeshi infiltrators - The Economic Times

For more on the false allegations of mass Muslim Bangladeshi illegal immigration to India -

https://www.academia.edu/5690262/The_India_Doctrine_1947-2007_

 

[BDforever]

The Economic Times – May 6, 2014

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed concern over the BJP prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi's statement that Bangladeshi infiltrators in India must go back to their country, telling her close aides in a private meeting that the comment was unnecessary and unwarranted.

Such statements do not contribute to bilateral ties and could spoil relations between the future Indian government and Bangladeshi citizens, Hasina said in a meeting at the prime minister's office on Monday morning, a person familiar with the matter told ET on the phone from Dhaka.

Narendra Modi's statement could strengthen the anti-India extremist groups in Bangladesh and the minorities in the country could face the ire of these groups, a Dhakabased official said on the condition of anonymity.

However, the Bangladesh government did not issue any official reaction to Narendra Modi's statement. The Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi also declined to comment on the matter.

Sheikh Hasina, who has been a close friend of India in the subcontinent, returned to power for a second successive term earlier this year and was welcomed by India despite international criticism of the election process.

Modi on Sunday said that Bangladeshi infiltrators allowed in India for "vote-bank politics" would have to go back while the refugees thrown out of Bangladesh on religious grounds would be greeted with open arms. He had earlier spoken on the issue in Assam as well as West Bengal during campaigning.

Along with the ruling Bangladesh Awami League's members who favour strong relations with India, various members of Bangladesh's civil society are also worried over Modi's stand. Thousands of Bangladeshis travel to India every year for medical tourism, sightseeing and education.

India-Bangladesh ties had touched a low during Bangladesh Nationalist Party-Jamaat-e-Islami rule during 2001-06. Bangladesh territory was used by anti-India terrorist groups to launch an attack against India during that period. Hasina's return to power in 2009 boosted ties and she handed over insurgents and terrorists to Delhi. Her government also cracked down on terrorist cells and infrastructure. India reciprocated by sanctioning several development and infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. In January, India garnered international support for the newly re-elected Hasina's government.

Assam govt orders judicial probe


GUWAHATI: Assam government has ordered a judicial probe into the ethnic clashes that have claimed at least 34 lives and rendered thousands homeless in the Bodoland area since Thursday, reports Bikash Singh. On Monday, violence spilled outside the four districts of the Bodoland area, with mobs attacking police in several places amid a 12-hour state bandh called by the All Bodoland Minority Students' Union and other organisations. In Nagaon district, several policemen were injured.

Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina concerned over Narendra Modi’s remarks on Bangladeshi infiltrators - The Economic Times

For more on the false allegations of mass Muslim Bangladeshi illegal immigration to India -

https://www.academia.edu/5690262/The_India_Doctrine_1947-2007_

WTF ! ! she concerns over India

 

[scholseys]

@MBI Munshi this article is Hasina's message to Delhi that she is ready to serve her Indian masters....

 

[Pakistanisage]

This woman will stoop to any depth to appease her Indian Masters.....

 

[BanglaBhoot]

The future of India-Bangladesh ties


Rupak Bhattacharjee


IDSA - May 6, 2014


The people of Bangladesh are closely watching the election-related developments in India. Reports say that the Sheikh Hasina regime wants to see a stable government in India for all round development of the region. In some quarters, questions have been raised about the future of India-Bangla ties following the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The Bangladeshi intelligentsia is anxious to know if there would be paradigm shift in the bilateral relations after May16. Many of them believe that Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) domestic programmes and political ideology would influence India’s neighbourhood policy, particularly in the light of Narendra Modi’s repeated assertion of initiating tough measures against the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.

So long, the Indian observers used to point out the growing influence of domestic political considerations on Bangladesh’s approach towards New Delhi. This time around, India’s own foreign policy is being determined by political parties with agendas that are designed to consolidate their respective support bases rather than well-thought out policy formulations from the perspective of national interest.

Some strongly believe that with the BJPHinduvtaagenda as part of state policy, the first casualty would be the relationship between the Hasina government and New Delhi. A few foreign policy observers apprehend that the relationship might even undergo a radical transformation in case the new Indian government vigorously pursues certain policies vis-à-vis Bangladesh. India enjoys historic ties with the Awami League (AL). It was the AL government that for the first time officially acknowledged India’s vital contribution to the cause of Bangladesh in 1971. The good will of India that has been generated in the last five years would receive a serious jolt if New Delhi decides to act unilaterally on the contentious issue of illegal migration.

Bangladesh is placed between the two Asian giants—India and China. Dhaka has to constantly balance its ties between New Delhi and Beijing. India surrounds Bangladesh from three sides and has more influence than any other nation. Despite India’s inability to fulfill all the pledges and implement the agreements signed, Dhaka-New Delhi relations remained cordial during 2009-14. In the history of India-Bangladesh relations, such deeper and broader engagement was only witnessed in the early seventies.

There has been an increasing realisation among the policy makers of both the countries that they need each other’s cooperation in the changing geo-political and economic scenarios at the regional and global level. Under such circumstances, it is obvious that national interest should get priority over matters. The illegal migration is undoubtedly a major issue that merits immediate attention and should be included in India’s bilateral agenda with Bangladesh. When the problem was earlier raised, Dhaka did not accept the fact that large scale influx has been going for a long period. The ruling elites of Bangladesh across the party lines refuse to recognise India’s claim on huge illegal migration from across the borders substantiated by documentary evidence. In their opinion, lakhs of people identified as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are in fact Indian citizens composed of Bengali speaking Muslims. A Dhaka-based report suggests that the government of Bangladesh may even counter India’s claims by citing data produced by its Ministry of Home Affairs indicating the illegal presence of over 500,000 Indians in that country since 2009. Dhaka also accuses that India’s BSF has been regularly killing or kidnapping Bangladeshi citizens at the international border.

Amid claims and counter claims, it can not be denied that unabated influx from Bangladesh into the North Eastern states has reached alarming proportion. It is essential that India convey strongly its concerns to Bangladesh. But the BJP’s prescribed policy of rehabilitating Hindu immigrants while pushing back the Muslims would find few takers. To execute a policy that only takes care of the interests of a single community might be disastrous from the point of India’s national interests. On the other hand, a few foreign policy experts believe that Modi might discard theHinduvtaagenda and continue friendly relations with the strategically-located and economically- important Bangladesh.

The successive Indian governments have found the secular nationalist forces led by the AL are friendlier than the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) - Jamaat alliance consisting of religious fanatics and reactionary groups. In the context of past experience, India needs to proceed on this ticklish issue with caution and maturity. The BNP would also miss no time to derive political mileage out of the situation. Dhaka is already worried about the delay in reaching an understanding with India on sharing the Teesta water and non-ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA). While Mamata blocked the Teesta agreement, BJP, AGP and Trinamool jointly opposed the UPA government to implement the LBA. The transit issue has temporarily been shelved since India failed to make any forward movement on the Teesta. Besides, both the governments need to resolve the question of transit fee and improvement of infrastructure to make the scheme operational. Dhaka also complains that India has not responded favourably to its demands for the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers on Bangladeshi products in an effort to reduce huge trade imbalance.

In the mean time, opinion polls conducted recently by Dhaka’s two leading dailies have revealed that BNP is likely to form the next government in Bangladesh. Party’s Chairperson Khaleda Zia is waiting for that to happen. Local reports indicate that the former premier intends to visit New Delhi if BJP forms the next government. She is likely to hold talks with the top BJP leaders to clarify her position and renew pledge for a meaningful partnership with India. It may be noted that Khaleda opened up the market of Bangladesh to the Indian companies during her tenure (2001-06) as prime minister. The party undoubtedly benefited from such trade and cooperation. Some Bangladeshis maintain that the BNP has not resorted to anti-India rhetoric in the recent time largely due to this factor. Moreover, the party is not averse to granting transit facilities to the North Eastern states if India agrees to share the Teesta water on equitable basis. The BNP leaders have also lately realised that in order to win the crucial support of the international community, they have to stop encouraging the radical Islamic groups and assure India about not offering sanctuary to the North Eastern militant outfits. It remains to be seen how India-Bangladesh relations evolve in the vicissitudes of change.

Views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IDSA or of the Government of India.

The future of India-Bangladesh ties | Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses

 

[BanglaBhoot]

In search of a home away from home

MANJU MENON

Bharatiya Janata Party prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s recent proclamation that Bangladeshi immigrants will be deported if he comes to power is in keeping with the BJP’s culture of over promises, bombast and open threats to people of a minority community. Many people in this country rave about his decisive statements — never mind their historical flaws or logical holes. However, the statement he made in April at Serampore, West Bengal, while criticising the Trinamool Congress (TMC), goes beyond the party’s routine practice of creating hatred for the “other” — be it the religious or nationalist kind. He declared that all these Bangladeshis had better be prepared with their bags packed by May 16. Rally speeches apart, there is a need to clarify a few things to the Indian audience/voter as well as to Mr. Modi’s party.

Pawns of nation-building
We do have the draconian Foreigners Act of 1946 which allows the government to deport those who it thinks are foreigners while their families are left to move court and prove legitimacy of residency. Neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh have similar legislation with equally terrorising clauses. Indeed most countries do; after all these are the tools with which nation-states are crafted. It involves erecting concrete borders while allowing goods and labour to pass through. These tools end up allowing the entry of foreigners and then turning them into criminals. Even if both these moves are not by the same parties in all cases, it is the same political system that perpetuates the criminality of some and protects the citizenship of others. Therefore, individuals, if they are members of any such immigrant community, cannot be punished for the crimes of political parties. They are the pawns of nation-building with little to help them survive.

In recent times, the concept of human rights has emerged and its umbrella extends to those who do not have the secure roof of full citizenship over their heads. Conservative estimates of refugees alone put the number at over 12 million worldwide. Stateless people, which includes refugees and many others, who are “semi-citizens,” are difficult to count because they are neither full nor non-citizens. These are men, women and children shunned by national governments and criminalised by state laws. Though it may seem to the BJP and others to be unwanted sympathy and hollow intellectualism, just like people of all communities, minority Hindus or minority Indians in many countries survive thanks to this progressive idea against all kinds of abuses in the name of race, nationality or plain economics. Spurious history and a hostile public allow political parties in many countries turn near stateless people into scapegoats at the time of elections. At other times, these are the very same people who are exploited as cheap labour and carry out non-contractual risky jobs in the homes and businesses of full citizens.

Immigrants don’t sit idle because they cannot afford to. They work like most of us. They create relationships with their new place, make homes and learn the local language. They bring their favourite foods and grow them on unused little farms, often leased at high rates from local landlords. Urban dwellers live in ghettos in the shadow of the city. By no means can we, full citizens, claim to have given them any dignified space, but political parties promise us that they will get back these shanties to us, their rightful owners and thus reduce their developmental burden resting on our shoulders. Whether it is the “Bihari” in Bangladesh, the illegal worker in the United Arab Emirates or the taxi driver of Indian origin in the United States, these immigrants are a part of the economic system of their countries. They are not waiting for some paternal figure to rescue them from there. They struggle hard to get passports, IDs and public services, to have their children educated and retain their low paying jobs at the very least. They are keen to show history its place instead of constantly harking back to the complex question of origins.

Need for humane governments
When people cross borders due to coercion by political parties or to escape abject poverty, discrimination and prejudice, they also leave behind what they had. The process cannot be reversed by a sweep of the hand or a proclamation like Mr. Modi’s. The colossal injury to public sensibility and intimate neighbours caused by the post-Partition migration on our western and eastern borders has still not healed. Do we need more of such traumas? Is that how we seek to achieve development and good governance? The least that today’s political parties can offer to do is to commit to maintain good relations with our neighbours with whom we share very porous borders. Just like our neighbours, we have the difficulty of not being able to distinguish, without massive abuse of state power, who an illegal citizen is. Everyone knows that taking a hard line on this will result in the persecution of many hapless victims. Instead, the BJP chooses to declare that it will send Bangladeshi immigrants back. When immigrants are asked to have their bags packed, Mr. Modi is not merely criticising political parties he holds responsible for allowing border crossings but is also charging an entire group of people as being agents of their own misery.

Poor stateless people around our north-eastern borders — immigrants, illegal or foreign refugees — need humane and responsive governments. They need ration cards, work permits and some form of security from those who hate them because they are human beings with a universal right to life before being members of one or the other community. They also need regulated and just government processes so that the illegality can be distinguished and entire communities are not tarred with the same brush of criminality. The BJP’s slogan of “less government, more governance” falls short of what the movement of universal human rights needs.

In search of a home away from home - The Hindu

 

[Pandora]

I have to say what goes around comes around. Hassina didnt give refuge to Rohingyas when they were getting slaughtered and now same thing is happening to bangladeshis.

 

[my2cents]

WTF ! ! she concerns over India

Well if Modi does what he says about BD migrants, then Hasina will not be able to support India.

She wants a friendly govt. in Delhi because it help her cause, that is to " retain power".

For Modi, India come first. Modi doesn't care if Hasina stays in power or not. So, all of you Modi haters, he is actually your saviour to get rid of Hasina.

 

[SrNair]

So they are telling we must accomodate these illegal immigrants in our country .we cant allow that

 

[Rafi]

aur choppo

 

[the just]

WTF ! ! she concerns over India

Offcourse,she lived there for quite a long time,and most probably have to live there again till her death hopefully