Big challenge for India in B’desh: Defence experts

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, August 11

The ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh that resulted in the ouster of its pro-India Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina this month has serious implications for India on the diplomatic as well as security front.

As the world, with India in particular, watches the developments unfold in Bangladesh, defence experts have urged the Indian establishment to remain highly vigilant and make all-out attempts to engage the political and military dispensation in the neighbouring country to ensure the Indian interests are not compromised.

In a video interview with The Tribune, former GOC-in-C, Western Command, Lt-Gen KJ Singh, who had earlier commanded a corps based in north Bengal, and Brig SS Ahluwalia, a veteran of Indo-Pak War, were of the view that with regional organisations like the SAARC being defunct, it would be very dangerous for India not to find a mechanism of engagement.

Both veterans did not discount the possibility of foreign powers having a role in the ongoing agitation. “There are three narratives that are going on. The first is that the US wanted this to happen as Sheikh Hasina was not listening to it. The second is that Pakistan’s ISI and China had a hand it catalysing the situation; and third, that it was spontaneous,” Lt-Gen Singh said.

While ruling out that there was an intelligence failure on part of India to foresee the developments in Bangladesh, Brig Ahluwalia said that there were indications for a month, but the Foreign Ministry missed the bus. “The ministry should have got in touch with Sheikh Hasina and advised her,” he said. “Bangladesh, with its Chittagong port, is a strategic port where several foreign powers have an interest and we have to move fast,” he added. On the part of the Bangladesh army, he said that it had an all-pervasive role and it was the 30th intervention by it. It suits India’s interest if Bangladesh army retains its influence. The Indian and the Bangladesh army have cordial relations and its present Chief, General Waker-uz-Zaman, has great credentials.

Brig Ahluwalia said Bangladesh was very important for India as it bordered seven states that had a history of insurgency and internal disturbances.

Three narratives over turmoil

Three narratives doing the rounds. The first: The US wanted this to happen as Hasina was not listening to it; the second: Pak’s ISI and China had a hand it catalysing the situation; and the third: It was spontaneous. — Lt Gen KJ Singh