In a major political development, Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, called an all-party meeting to discuss relations with India amidst tensions over the Iskcon controversy. The Awami League, belonging to ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now in exile in India, did not attend. This was the first big political gathering by Yunus since he took over in August after countrywide protests that saw Hasina go into exile.
During the talks, Yunus consulted representatives from all political factions to deal with what he described as “aggression against the nation.” The meeting came after there was a security lapse at the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala, Tripura, after demonstrators ransacked the complex and tried to burn it. Indian police subsequently arrested several people and initiated action against police personnel on the ground.
After the meeting, Asif Nazrul, adviser on law affairs, condemned India’s perceived cultural hegemony and economic harassment of Bangladesh. He called for the government to publish all agreements made with India in the last 15 years and to cancel those which might affect Bangladesh’s interests. Nazrul said that all political groups were represented in the meeting, except what he described as “fascist parties” such as the Awami League.
Yunus, without naming India, spoke of a orchestrated campaign by “big countries” to undermine the legitimacy of his government. He expressed concern over misinformation being spread and rallied for unity to counter the portrayal of the July-August uprising as destabilizing. The government led by Yunus accused the “governing elite” of India of nurturing hostility, insinuating that anti-Bangladesh sentiments would not serve India’s national interests.
