How an Indian prominent journalist sees Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in his realization

“Prime minister Modi,s visit to dhaka was to shore up support for declining image of Hasina. This untimely visit has increased anti-Indian sentiments because New Delhi is not seen as neutral.” This is the opinion of a prominent journalist and a former diplomat of India Kuldip Nayar. He states in today’s “The Statesman”  “I do not know why and for how long we have to support the authoritarian rule by Prime Minister Hasina in Bangladesh. True, she is the daughter of Sheikh Mujib-ur Rehman, who liberated East Pakistan from distant and oppressive West Pakistan. But that does not give her the right to flout the Constitution and accepted norms.”

“Bangladesh, a product of the people’s right to a say in governance, has lost the vigour of expression which the nation once had. This is a sad development by itself. But it becomes all the more poignant when the person changing it is from the family which liberated the people from the clutches of West Pakistan.”

“No one else is to blame except Hasina. She is herself extinguishing the flame of democracy. That it should be done by the daughter of Sheikh Mujib is not only disappointing but also disconcerting. That she can shackle the nation still further is a harrowing thought. But it can happen since she has effaced the lines between right and wrong, moral and immoral.”

In this atmosphere of Hasina representing a dictatorial figure, Modi’s visit was all the more unfortunate. He should have said somewhere while in Bangladesh that the country was a product of revolution and it should continue to radiate the same kind of thoughts. But he preferred to placate her even though the people of Bangladesh were disappointed because they expected India to give some sign that it is not happy with the way Hasina is functioning.”

He pointed out the vote rigging of recent Dhaka Municipal polls by the rulling Awamileage to the horror of voters and othe neutral observers. He accept the fact the had BNP went to the polls in the last election, Hasina would have made every attempt and would have gone to any extent to win the election. It is surprising that many in Bangladesh don’t see accept that Hasina is a dictator while an Indian from New Delhi is able to see and conclude the truth that there is no democracy in Bangladesh. The solution to our problem is not staying silent and not doing anything about it, rather the solution is doing something and letting the dictaor know that we will not be silent.