Dhaka’s response to Delhi’s plaint carries weight of people

White Water Lily, the national flower of Bangladesh.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Bangladesh has on Monday turned down an Indian allegation that religious minorities faced hindrance in the performance of rites during festivals and said it was uncalled for. 

A spokesman of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ claim of ‘…a systemic pattern of desecration and damage to temples and deities…’ was baseless as the government here remained alert to ensuring a peaceful festival across Bangladesh.

Again maintaining the safety and security of people irrespective of their religious identifies is the responsibility of the government of Bangladesh and an internal affair of the country.

About the theft of a golden crown on 10 October last from the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple in the southern Bangladesh district of Satkhira on 10th October 2024, it said the head priest of the temple performed rites till 2-30 pm that day and investigations were on why the precious metal was left unguarded thereafter and how the theft was committed.

One should be thankful of the MOFA that it did not refer to the worst communal disturbances being committed against the largest minorities in India who are systematically deprived of not only the freedom of performing religious rites but also government jobs. Delhi would do well also to note that the minorities in Bangladesh have a share jobs which is more than double their proportion of population in the country.

Chief Adviser Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus himself visited the Dhakeswari Temple on Bijaya Nabami and had exchange of ideas with the leaders of the minority community.

The response of Dhaka to allegations from Delhi should be taken as an example of the fact that bullying as a big brother does not work. If it doesn't work in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan, there is no reason to think that the same will work in Bangladesh. 

There are a number of indicators that suggest that the big neighbor is not happy with the political change that has taken place in Bangladesh against the 15-year old autocratic and fascist regime. Members of the Awami League itself acknowledge that they were apprehending a big disaster awaiting their party because of the injustice that was perpetrated against the people of the country. The big neighour has a big diplomatic presence in Bangladesh. Do they interact with only their yes-men, and does Delhi rely on one-sided narratives on Bangladesh? There must be some wrong that is being committed somewhere. Otherwise when even Awami Leaguers accept the mass upsurge for a discrimination-free country why the message does not get across the border to Delhi. Even Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal had expressed her desire to keep the border open in case Bangladesh students looked for safety. 

The other day the head of RSS blamed Bangladesh for the growth of anti-India sentiments here. What is of interest to observers is that this very assertion can work as instigation against the whole people. The allegations from the MEA, New Delhi, have come in addition to the assertion from the RSS chief, the one-sided border killings and the Dec 2023 position, taken against the US stance, in favour of the sitting government to conduct an one sided election on January 7 this year. 

Instead of adding injuries to the hurt feelings of the people Bangladesh, Delhi would do better to make sure those heal over time.

Dhaka has started talking back after 15 years. Delhi must have enough resources to ascertain if this reflects the sentiment of the majority of Bangladeshis or is just a mistaken stand taken by Dhaka to be ignored.