Voting is going on for 299 seats in the general elections of Bangladesh. Here the name of a leader has been in a lot of controversies, who spewed venom against India. Bangladesh’s National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah had added fuel to the fire in India-Bangladesh relations. Hasnat Abdullah had said that if an attempt is made to destabilize Bangladesh, its impact will go beyond the borders. He alleged that the forces which are trying to create instability in Bangladesh are getting shelter in India.

Abdullah had said in his statement that if India gives protection to such forces, then Bangladesh will also separate the north-eastern states of India, which were called Seven Sisters, and the separatists living there will be given refuge in Bangladesh. The seven states of the North-East of India are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. The security situation of these states has historically been sensitive.

Accusations made against India

In his speech, Hasnat Abdullah had claimed that those who are behind weakening the election process in Bangladesh and the attack on candidate Usman Hadi are supported by India. He had also accused the role of Indian agencies in the cases of deaths of Bangladeshi citizens on the border. However, there has been no official response from India yet on these allegations.

changed political situation

Analysts believe that after the change in the internal politics of Bangladesh, the tone of rhetoric regarding India has changed. After the removal of Sheikh Hasina from power and the coming of the new system under the leadership of Mohammad Yunus, a tough stance towards India has been seen in the statements of some leaders. Earlier, a statement of Mohammad Yunus was also in discussion, in which he had described North-East India as land-locked and said that Bangladesh could be an important route for access to the sea. There was a reaction in India on that statement also.

Potential impact on relationships

In the last few years, cooperation between India and Bangladesh has increased in the fields of trade, energy, security and connectivity. In such a situation, such statements can create tension in the relations between the two countries. Sometimes such statements are related to domestic politics, but they can have an impact on regional stability. Overall, this statement regarding Seven Sisters has become a sensitive issue for India-Bangladesh relations. Now it remains to be seen how both the countries handle this situation at the diplomatic level.

India has considered the recent contacts between military officials of Bangladesh and Pakistan as a serious strategic signal. For this reason, the Army has taken major steps to strengthen the security of the Siliguri Corridor, which is called the lifeline of North-East India. According to intelligence sources, three new military stations (garrisons) have been established near the Bangladesh border at Bamuni in Assam, Kishanganj in Bihar and Chopra in West Bengal. This area is extremely sensitive because in difficult situations, these bases will provide fast and flexible response capability to the Army and BSF.

Siliguri Corridor is also called ‘Chicken Neck’, because its width is only 22 kilometers at some places. This route connects the 8 states of the North-East with the rest of the country. Any kind of blockage here can cut off the entire North-East from the mainland, which will stop military supplies and trade worth billions can come to a standstill. A senior army officer says that this is not a weakness of India but a strength because we are deployed in this area from three directions.

Why increased concern?

According to the report of The Hindu, security agencies believe that in any unexpected tension, anti-India forces can target this corridor. Especially India is watching very seriously the new political environment created after the departure of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh. Recently, Acting Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Mohammad Yunus met Pakistan’s General Sahir Shamshad Mirza in Dhaka, in which military cooperation was discussed. India is seeing this not just as a formal meeting but as a sign of changing regional equations.

Why was security increased?

Along with the new garrison, surveillance networks, fencing, drone monitoring, digital watch towers and rapid reaction forces are also being strengthened. Especially Kishanganj is considered very important, because it is just 23 kilometers away from the Bangladesh border. Many central leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah have visited this area and have clearly said that there can be no compromise on the security of this corridor.

India’s clear message

The new deployment and surveillance make it clear that India is pursuing a zero-risk policy on national security and territorial integrity. Amidst the changing geopolitical situation, India’s message is clear that no one can play with the security of the North-East.

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Shamim Hyder Patwari, general secretary of Jatiya Party of Bangladesh, has given an important statement about India-Bangladesh relations. He has said that if Sheikh Hasina ever takes refuge in India, it should not be considered illegal. He insisted that both countries should handle the relationship with mutual respect and understanding.

Patwari said, “If a person takes refuge in a country to save his life, it is not illegal. India is our only active neighbor in today’s situation because Myanmar is struggling with civil war.” He informed that India and Bangladesh have a 3,000 km long border and every year more than one million Bangladeshi citizens go to India for treatment.

He further said, “We are dependent on India for essential commodities and health services. Similarly, India is also dependent on the stability of Bangladesh, especially in the context of the security of the North Eastern states.”

What did Patwari say on the India-Bangladesh relationship?

Patwari also said that some groups raised anti -India slogans and talked about North Eastern India amid the recent anti -protest against Sheikh Hasina government. He said, “Such statements brings unnecessary tension in the relationship between the two countries. We should respect each other’s sovereignty,”

‘We have to work together’, said Patwari

The leader of the ethnic party said that his party wants a relationship based on mutual respect with India. He said, “We are neighbors, we have to work together. Security, sovereignty and peace, cooperation in these three areas is necessary.” Patwari clarified that his party is in favor of respectable and cooperative relations with India. He hoped that in future, both countries will move forward by resolving their differences through negotiations.

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