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Leaky Boats In Waterland

Modi’s Bangladesh visit finds the nation battling for its soul, as its two begums battle each other

On May 12 early morning, Ananta Bijoy Das, a 32-year-old resident of Sylhet city in northeastern Bangladesh, was hacked to death by four masked men while on his way to the local bank where he was employed. Bijoy was a well-known blogger whose posts in Mukto Mona (Free Thinkers),  a blog against religious fundamentalism, was extremely popular in his country and beyond. But his killing was not something in isolation; rather, it seems to be part of a very dangerous trend in Bangladesh. In February this year, US-based Bangladeshi blogger Avijit Roy was hacked to death in Dhaka while he was visiting a book fair in the heart of the capital with his wife. A month later, in March, 27-year-old blogger Washiqur Rahman ‘Babu’ was killed in a similarly brutal fashion in broad daylight in Dhaka. Two years back, another blogger, Ahmed Rajib Haider’s gory death in Dhaka had sparked off days of street protests and demonstrations. The condemnation from different quarters of Bangladesh and the world notwithstanding, there is nothing to suggest that such cruelty against those perceived to be ‘anti-Islam’ by virulent religious fundamentalist groups would end soon.

“It is an extremely dangerous trend and we are all very concerned over the impunity with which these attacks are taking place,” says Bangladesh Supreme Court lawyer Nihad Kabir.

The fight between religious fundamentalists and liberal, secular voices in Bangladesh, like in many other societies, is not new. But the viciousness with which attempts are being made to silence contrary voices and opinions is unprecedented. According to an estimate of free-thinking bloggers, religious fundamentalist groups have put the names of 86 people in their ‘hit-list’. They have managed to kill nine so far.

Interestingly, the attacks come at a time when the Sheikh Hasina government has launched a drive to isolate the Jamaat-e-Islami, many of whose leaders have been tried and sentenced to death for their alleged ‘anti-national’ roles—criminal activities against innocent people during the country’s liberation struggle in 1971. While some arrests have been made by the security forces and authorities, there are sections, particularly those close to the main opposition Bangladesh Nationa­list Party (BNP), who see this as a ploy of the Hasina government to undermine political opponents and isolate and muzzle voices critical of her government’s policies.

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When Words Cost Dear: A Gallery Of Martyr Bloggers

Ananta Bijoy Das, Blogger, killed in Sylhet on May 12, 2015  
Avijit Roy, Mukto Mona founder, killed in Dhaka on February 26, 2015

Ahmed Rajib Haider, Atheist blogger, killed in Dhaka on February 15, 2013  
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Washiqur Rahman, Young blogger, killed in Dhaka on March 30, 2015

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“We are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea,” says Sarah Hussain, another Supreme Court lawyer. She argued that while all liberal-minded people are against attacks on bloggers, they are also seriously concerned over the fast disappearance of the space for political dissent in Bangladesh.

While in the opposition, Sheikh Hasina herself had had some close shaves with death and had witnessed attacks in which some of her close party colleagues lost their lives. Since coming to power she has set upon the task of crushing the forces believed to be behind the attacks on her with steely resolve. But, willy-nilly, part of this counter-attack has been against the BNP, which not only has a long history of hostility with Awami League but has also been an electoral ally of the Jamaat. Many therefore feel that in the garb of fighting religious fundamentalism, Hasina is attempting to weaken and isolate the BNP and its leader Khaleda Zia.

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In the light of this prevailing scenario in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Nare­ndra Modi’s impending visit to the country, beginning June 6, has heightened both tensions and expectations from different quarters. “It will be a very important visit,” predicts former Indian high commissioner to the country, Veena Sikri. She points out that people in Bangladesh had initially been apprehensive when Modi came to power in New Delhi. But his attempt to reach out to neighbours and the successful passing of the Land Boundary Agreement in Parliament has changed the mood in his favour. There is now a broad consensus among political parties in Bangladesh that bilateral relations could improve meaningfully and that many long-pending issues could now be resolved.

Good ties with Bangladesh are important for New Delhi. They are a key component in India’s ‘Act East’ policy and is crucial to develop India’s Nor­theast. Moreover, a long, porous border means instability and violence in Ban­gladesh could spill over to India and negatively impact its development.

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Prime talks Modi with Sheikh Hasina in 2014. (Photograph by AFP, From Outlook 08 June 2015)

Modi is expected to announce and sign a number of agreements that are likely to boost economic ties, while stressing the strengthening of Indo-Bangladesh transport connectivity as well as closer links with other South Asian countries.

However, some expect Modi to talk about the prevailing political situation in Bangladesh, where over 60 per cent of lawmakers had won the 2014 parliamentary elections unopposed due to a boycott of the polls by the BNP and other parties. “We expect Prime Minister Modi to raise issues relating to the weakening of the democratic and pluralistic system in Bangladesh during his visit,” says Asaduzzaman, president of a research unit linked to the BNP.

Sarah Hussain also makes the same point, while arguing that many are surprised at India’s ambivalence on developments in Bangladesh. “Why is it that India, which is so vocal against att­acks on bloggers, is sil­ent on the continuing isolation of pol­itical opponents in Bangladesh?” she asks.

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But South Block mandarins have made it clear that in the present circumstances, India has no choice but to back Hasina. “She is our best bet in Bangladesh. The BNP, with its alliance with the Jamaat, is bad news for India,” says a senior diplomat.

While such clarity may never be articulated in public, going by the present mood in New Delhi, Modi’s forthcoming visit to Dhaka will not only concentrate on deepening bil­ateral ties but should also be seen as an endorsement and an unequivocal support for Hasina and the Awami League. India’s stance is unlikely to change in a hurry, unless of course the BNP decides to break its links with the Jamaat and other Islamic fundamentalist groups and rediscovers itself as a democratic, liberal and secular political outfit.

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