By Nitya Chakraborty
Three months after the installation of the interim government in Bangladesh headed by chief adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the politics of the 18 crore-nation has landed in fresh turmoil after the win of the Republican candidate Donald Trump in the just concluded November 5 presidential elections. Only six days have passed since the victory of Trump, but it has stirred the Bangladesh political establishment so much that talks are on in Dhaka’s diplomatic circles that Dr. Yunus may resign. The question is only when?
It is known to everyone dealing with the with the South Asian advisers of Trump that the President-elect has a distaste for Dr. Yunus who is known in Washington DC as Hillary Clinton’s man. Already, in his Diwali message, just a few days before the polls, Trump made his position clear by mentioning that Bangladesh is in chaos and there are attacks on the Hindus which he would not have allowed if he were the President. This was a sufficient signal to Dr. Yunus to understand what Trump meant.
Now in the last few days after November 5 poll results, the Awami League workers have got back their mojo. The significant thing that Sheikh Hasina, currently in exile in New Delhi, sent her message on Trump’s victory signing as the Prime Minister, and this was allowed by the Indian government. The fact is that Sheikh Hasina was forced to leave within 15 minutes on August 5 and she could not sign her resignation letter, though she was ready to do so after being advised by her son and daughter, who feared otherwise she would be killed there itself.
This got confirmed after the Bangladesh president Sahabuddin said publicly that his office could not trace any resignation letter from Hasina. This infuriated the supporters of the anti-discriminatory students body and they demanded the removal of the President. Though the President still remains, as the Bangladesh army chief strongly defended him, uncertainty lingers.
The immediate fallout of the Trump victory on the Awami League is that the organization, which till recently was lying low as the important leaders were hiding and many of the offices were burnt after August 5, as also functionaries and former MPs killed, suddenly started organising and the cryptic messages went to the core base of supporters that the turnaround was near. On November 10, the Awami League’s students wing gave a call for a public meeting in memory of the students movement martyr Noor Hussain at 3 PM at the central place in Dhaka. This was an instance of courage and resistance, as it was known that they would not be allowed to hold the rally.
Sure, the rally could not take place after large number of arrests and beating of the workers who dared to come. But this got the Yunus-led establishment worried since they did not expect even token emergence of Awami League after the student movements fury against them before or after August 5. More than the consolidation within Bangladesh, the Awami League has made some headway overseas. Awami League’s overseas base is still strongest in UK and USA, and they are flush with funds also. Senior AL leaders are lobbying in US with the South Asia advisers of Trump and they are getting good response. The BNP overseas body is also lobbying in Washington, but so far, they are much behind the Awami League. Things will take definite shape on Bangladesh policy of the Trump government shortly after Trump officially takes over on January 20 next year.
In Dhaka, in the last few days, intense battles took place among the components of the political parties and the student leaders who comprise the advisory team. Both BNP and Jamaat-E-Islami demanded more representation on the advisory board. The Anti-Discrimination League students’ body also demanded more positions. Originally, it was decided that six new advisors will be inducted. But finally, three advisors were inducted making the total number of advisors to 24. These three were sworn in on November 10. They are Mahafuj Alam, a Jamaat supporter who was already working with Dr. Yunus as one of the assistants, industrialist Sheikh Bahar Uddin and film-maker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki.
The selection has led to widespread furore and the students body has reacted in a wild manner. A leading students body leader Sarjis Alam said last night that even lackeys of the fallen government are getting berth as advisers. The BNP is also feeling disappointed. The interim government is now trying to do its best to distract the attention of its supporters to the proposed actions against the Awami League leaders, including Sheikh Hasina. The officials said that Bangladesh government would soon approach Interpol for issuing red corner notice to Sheikh Hasina for repatriation to Bangladesh from India. Further on December 10, the Dhaka court will hold the hearing on the probe by the police relating to murder accusation against Sheikh Hasina.
On the diplomatic front in Dhaka, the U.S. Embassy is not active now as their earlier activities were related to promoting Dr. Yunus and his government. So that is going to change. So Megan Bouldin, who assumed charge as the deputy chief of the US mission in Dhaka in August this year after regime change, is not meeting the political leaders as was the case earlier. But the Chinese ambassador Yao Wen is most active. China has big economic interests in Bangladesh. Many big projects are continuing. China’s main interest now is to ensure that the Yunus government officially announces its decision to join RCEP. The commerce ministry of Bangladesh approved the proposal and sent it to the foreign ministry and PMO last month, but no official announcement has been made. China is worried.
As regards India, the scenario is at last looking better after a low dip in India-Bangladesh relations after August 5. In the emerging political scenario in Bangladesh following Trump’s win, even if Dr. Yunus stays in his position, he will be more amenable to India’s position. Dr. Yunus desperately wants to meet the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BIMSTEC meet later this month. Whatever be the final shape of Trump’s Bangladesh policy, Trump will keep Narendra Modi in the loop and that will be a big relief for India at the moment. (IPA Service)
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