The BNP has appealed to India to restore democracy in Bangladesh. Through various channels, India has been approached by the BNP with a request to goad the Hasina government to hold a fresh, fair and inclusive election.
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan has been quoted in Times of India that democracy faced its gravest-ever threat in Bangladesh since the end of the military dictatorship of HM Ershad.
“Failure of democracy will push the country towards extremism and rise of extremism will have serious security implications for India,” Khan is quoted as saying.
“India as a neighbour and a friendly country should stand by the people of Bangladesh. It is a mature democracy that Bangladesh aspires to be.”
The BNP has told Indian government and leaders of the ruling alliance that it had only started a ‘peaceful and democratic agitation’ demanding fresh elections.
“But the ruling government has resorted to a brutal crackdown, arrested or confined senior leaders and unleashed party-sponsored goons to attack Opposition supporters. That is provoking the people to violence,” a senior BJP leader was told by BNP leaders over phone from Dhaka.
“The situation may soon spin out of control.”
The BNP leaders told the BJP leader that the Awami League is giving all in Bangladesh the impression that Delhi is firmly behind its government and therefore it will continue in power at all costs. “If India fails to protect democracy in Bangladesh, its goodwill in the country will be severely eroded,” the BJP leader was told by BNP leaders in touch with him.
The BJP as a party does not seem to be interested in any intervention in a neighbouring country.
“We appreciate the way the Hasina government has addressed India’s security and connectivity concerns. But we have to closely monitor the situation as it evolves in Bangladesh because it will have a direct bearing on India’s Eastern and Northeastern states,” said a top BJP leader known to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
