The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the principal rival of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, has expressed dissatisfaction with India’s decision to provide refuge to the ousted Prime Minister. Gayeshwar Roy, a senior BNP leader and former minister, criticized India’s actions, stating that supporting their adversary complicates cooperation between Bangladesh and India. Roy emphasized the importance of maintaining cooperation between the two countries, highlighting the BNP’s belief in their shared interests. These comments were made in a conversation with TOI from Dhaka.
Meanwhile, Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of Bangladesh’s caretaker government on Thursday. Yunus aims to guide the country towards recovery after weeks of intense violence that led to Hasina’s ousting. Hasina’s current residence in New Delhi has caused discontent among some Bangladeshis towards India, a fact acknowledged by Yunus. In response, India’s foreign ministry stated that there were no updates on Hasina’s travel plans and that the decision regarding her next steps lies with her.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Yunus and reaffirmed India’s commitment to collaborating with Bangladesh. Modi expressed India’s desire to work together with Dhaka to achieve shared aspirations of peace, security, and development for both nations. Modi also expressed hope for a swift return to normalcy, stressing the importance of ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh.
The Awami League, under Hasina’s leadership, is not represented in the interim government. Her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, took to Facebook to assure the public that the party remains active and is prepared to engage in discussions with opponents and the interim administration.
The BNP, having boycotted two national elections following the arrest of their leaders, has called for new elections within three months. The student-led movement that led to Hasina’s ousting originated from protests against government job quotas. These protests escalated in July, triggering a violent crackdown that drew international condemnation despite government denials of excessive force.
The unrest was also fueled by severe economic hardships and political repression. Bangladesh’s $450 billion economy, which had previously seen substantial growth, has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to soaring inflation, rising unemployment, and dwindling reserves, contributing to the widespread discontent that ultimately led to Hasina’s ousting.
