The Hindu : BJP and Bangladesh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 24, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

BJP and Bangladesh

Sir, — As an academic who visited Bangladesh recently, I found Muchkund Dubey's two centre page articles on dealing with Bangladesh misleading. I am amazed that a former Foreign Secretary can hold the current ruling dispensation in India solely or largely responsible for the ongoing crisis that goes back to more than three decades.

The malaise in Bangladesh is deeper, with roots in its ethno-religious identity crisis. One might ask Mr. Dubey what exactly has been the contribution of India, and especially the BJP in this, a party which had an ineffectual political presence right up to the 1980s. To be sure, this party by its policy of communal polarisation has accentuated the existing tension. But one has to be consumed by a single minded political hatred against a party to blame it for an entire tragedy of history.

Bangladesh today faces a crisis of identity and an uncertain future. It is time the ruling elite in Bangladesh decided for itself its own self-image. We in our turn, especially our political masters, ought to be restrained in speech and stop a big brotherly attitude. High-level contacts such as the one currently underway, can help resolve outstanding issues and pave the way for economic cooperation. An increase in people-to-people contact can help in the long run to strengthen and promote ties between the two estranged neighbours.

Sachidananda Mohanty,
Hyderabad

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