Deepanwita Martin
Islamists Are Reshaping Bangladesh’s Future by Resurrecting Ghosts of East Pakistan in Dhaka, Turning Bangladesh into a Shadow of Its Former Self.Reclaiming Power in Bangladesh, Using Yunus as a Cover
The coup and it’s Aftermath:
The Islamist takeover in Bangladesh has raised alarms across the region. Once seen as a model of progress under Sheikh Hasina, the country is now teetering on the brink of chaos, with Islamists reclaiming the narrative they lost in 1971. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, a celebrated economist, is accused of acting as a fig leaf for the Islamist resurgence.
The coup, orchestrated by Islamist students, has revived the specter of East Pakistan, a period marked by oppression and violence. This comes decades after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, with the aid of the Indian Army, dismantled the oppressive West Pakistani regime to create a sovereign Bangladesh.
Under Sheikh Hasina, the nation prospered, with per capita income nearly doubling Pakistan’s, a thriving textile industry, and a secular governance model. However, her alleged corruption and election rigging in January 2024 provided the perfect storm for her ousting.
The Role of Foreign Powers in the Coup
The Islamist resurgence did not occur in isolation. It had the backing of external players, notably Pakistan and the United States. The January 2024 election, boycotted by the Islamist-leaning Bangladesh National Party (BNP), became the rallying cry for regime change.
The US deep state, with its history of engineering coups in countries like Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, played a subtle but critical role. Washington has long favored pliant dictators over democratically elected leaders, as evidenced by its cozy ties with Pakistan’s generals. In Bangladesh, the US saw Sheikh Hasina’s alleged corruption and election mismanagement as an opportunity to install a government more amenable to its geopolitical interests.
A Troubling Parallel: East Pakistan and the 1971 Genocide
Washington’s tilt towards Islamist forces is reminiscent of its stance during the 1971 genocide in East Pakistan. Back then, the US turned a blind eye to West Pakistan’s atrocities in its eastern province, even deploying the Seventh Fleet to intimidate India during its intervention to liberate Bangladesh.
Zorawar Daulet Singh, writing in The Hindu, highlighted the deep collaboration between Washington and Islamabad. “By July 1971, the veil had been lifted. Pakistan had served as a middleman in the US-China détente,” Singh noted, emphasizing the US’s strategic interests in keeping Pakistan afloat.
India’s Prime Minister at the time, Indira Gandhi, outmaneuvered US interference by securing a treaty with the Soviet Union in August 1971, ensuring support against external threats. This diplomatic victory proved crucial in countering American intimidation.
Sheikh Hasina’s Virtual Address: A Dire Warning
Sheikh Hasina, speaking publicly for the first time since her ouster, delivered a virtual address during a New York event on December 1, marking Vijay Diwas. She accused Muhammad Yunus and the interim government of orchestrating genocide:
“The armed protestors were directed towards my residence. If the security guards had opened fire, many lives would have been lost. In a matter of 25-30 minutes, I was forced to leave. Today, I am being accused of genocide. In reality, Yunus has been involved in genocide in a meticulously designed manner.”
She further detailed the atrocities, highlighting attacks on minorities:
“Hindus, Buddhists, Christians — no one has been spared. Eleven churches have been razed, temples and Buddhist shrines have been broken. When Hindus protested, an ISKCON leader was arrested.”
Media Narratives and False Equivalences
Indian media, often accused of catering to ideological biases, has provided mixed coverage of the developments in Bangladesh. Academics like Pratap Bhanu Mehta have drawn controversial parallels between the political trajectories of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
In an op-ed in The Indian Express, Mehta argued that South Asia is succumbing to “religious nationalism.” He suggested that India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are “displaying symptoms of the same political disease.” However, his analysis drew criticism for its lack of nuance and false equivalence, equating India’s democratic setup with the Islamist coup in Bangladesh.
Mehta’s argument that “India uses the fires in Pakistan and Bangladesh to shore up the claims of a Hindu state” reflects a narrative that discounts the severity of Islamist radicalism in Bangladesh.
Economic and Geopolitical Fallout
Bangladesh’s fragile economy is likely to bear the brunt of the Islamist coup. The student radicals who spearheaded the movement must now govern a nation of 170 million people, navigate international isolation, and manage strained relations with India, a critical partner.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on December 10 to address the unfolding crisis. However, diplomatic efforts may not be enough to extinguish the Islamist fires stoked by Pakistan and supported by a complicit Washington.
Conclusion: Bangladesh at a Crossroads
The coup in Bangladesh marks a troubling chapter in the country’s history. The Islamist takeover threatens to erode decades of progress, plunging the nation into chaos reminiscent of its dark past as East Pakistan.
While Sheikh Hasina’s governance was far from flawless, her secular vision and economic policies transformed Bangladesh into a regional success story. The international community must now grapple with the implications of an Islamist-led government in Dhaka, one that could destabilize South Asia and alter the region’s balance of power.