— By Major Delwar Hossain (Retd.)
A mass people and students revolution toppled the India-installed murderous Sheikh Hasina after nearly 16 years in power. But she didn’t leave before killing almost 1100 innocent people, primarily by shooting, in less than a month. Hasina’s escape to India marked India’s strategic loss as she earned India’s confidence by persecuting the Muslims and surrendering Bangladesh’s sovereignty to India. Indian intelligence organizations are also accused of crimes against humanity inside Bangladesh with the regime’s forces while depriving the country of democracy for 16 years. Hasina’s nexus with India is a reminder of Mir Zafar who joined the conspiracy of Jagoth Seth and Omi Chand only to surrender Bengal’s sovereignty to the East India Company in June 1757.
Many collaborators of Hasina’s crimes faced public wrath, among whom were some members of the Hindu community. Mobs also killed some 100 police personnel for the same reason. But the moment the Hindus faced public wrath like the Police or Awami Muslims, they all became a Hindu minority without any factual reference to their involvement in crimes against humanity or political identity.
Indian Government, opposition, and media immediately mounted minority persecution propaganda against Bangladesh in a matter of days. Both Modi (twice – first using India’s victory day & second with President Biden) and the Indian opposition joined the propaganda.
Many Hindu protestors are on the streets with political demands to stop the Hindu persecution, but they don’t demand justice. As such, not a single police case has been filed! No mandatory details of the so-called criminal act of persecution, such as who, where, when, what, and how, are available.
Bangladeshi Muslims love Hindus. Countless patriotic and talented Hindus enriched Bangladesh’s diversity and contributed to national progress. Even under Hasina’s torture, a Hindu, Shukh Ranjan Bali, maintained his testimony in favor of Islamist Delwar Hossain Sayeedi’s innocence. Unfortunately, a sizeable segment of Hindus loves India more than Bangladesh, which is why there is a steady flow towards India. However, the issue of Hindu torture cannot be seen in isolation. If there are 10 Hindus tortured, there are 10 thousand Muslims tortured at the same time. All tortures are because of poverty or political reasons. Not just the minority communities, every Bangladeshi Muslim fears property’s illegal occupation.
Only to cite a few hypocrisies. Not even one Hindu protested when Haisna forced Chief Justice SK Sinha, a Hindu himself, to resign and leave exile to the USA. None protested when Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, a senior politician, was beaten on the streets like a snake because these 2 Hindus didn’t serve the Indian interest. Mr. Roy asked Hindus – am I not a Hindu? No Hindu protested when Bishwajit, a Hindu tailor, was killed by the Awami League in broad daylight.
This time around – none less than the Chief Advisor Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus clarified – “Attacks on Hindus exaggerated, they are political, not communal.” But India’s propaganda didn’t and won’t stop because “false accusation of minority persecution” is their weapon of choice to bring Professor Yunus down. India already started drumming up Islamic extremism. Racist Indians protested a piece in the NY Times – “Hindus in Bangladesh Face Revenge Attacks After Prime Minister’s Exit,” forcing NYT to drop the word ‘revenge.’ India wants to hide the fact that these Hindus are collaborators of Hasina’s crimes against humanity and, as such, are facing revenge.
India was distraught with the Islamic groups who protected Hindu temples and properties. It was a time when law and order were shaky, and many police personnel didn’t return to duty. Therefore, if the Islamists didn’t protect – it was effortless for the Awami and Hindus to burn and vandalize Hindu temples and properties and blame Professor Yunus’s Government. Failing to attack Hindu temples, Indian agents attacked Muslim Shrines of 800 years, but Indian media was silent. None delivered blistering speeches like the protesting Hindus.
This time the Home Advisor with Hindu leaders announced a mutual decision that Puja organizers should stop music and loudspeakers during Muslims’ azan and namaz which sometimes continue for 18 hours daily. None asked to stop Puja’s religious activities. But the Indian media was quick to twist the truth and dubbed the decision – the silencing of the Hindus. Interestingly, the newscaster even points out Bangladesh’s constitution. However, India’s 75 years of secularism fraud escapes her mind, and India is a de facto Hindu state that stands for none except Hindu.
A recent report marks India’s alarming arms and ammunition supply to Ukraine and the USA’s equally unprecedented coziness towards India against China’s rise, an American fiction that one day India can fight China. Regardless of the USA’s election results in November 2024, Yunus will not receive the current level of support. Hence, while the USA may not have heeded India thus far, they will soon join the Indian chorus. Dr. Yunus must urgently revisit Bangladesh’s strategic geopolitical architecture to counter the new reality. Time isn’t on Bangladesh’s side. If lucky, there could be a maximum of 3 months to prepare.
Returning to the danger facing Bangladesh, we must identify all-encompassing mitigating measures to prevent Indian subversion and sabotage using false pretexts of the minority Hindus or Islamic extremism, specially when Durga Puja is around the corner. Understandably, any such violence against the Hindus will only benefit the murderous Hasina and her backer, India.
Activities of Durga Puja and areas to watch
Durga Puja is the most significant religious festival in the Hindu community, lasting nearly ten days. However, the last four days are more important, i.e., 10th to 13th October: Maha Saptami, Thursday, 10 October 2024; Maha Ashtami, Friday, 11 October 2024; Maha Navami, Saturday, 12 October 2024 and Bijaya Dashami, Sunday, 13 October 2024. In Bangladesh, there will be a massive 32,168 mandaps (pandals), including 241 in the capital city across the country this year, reports news agency BSS. The celebrations continue in the Puja mandaps (pandals) from early morning to late night.
Puja has two more vulnerable events. First, when the idols are sculpted and prepared for days and weeks; second, after the Puja, the idol is immersed in water. Usually, the idol is carried by a procession through the streets.
Actors that will pose a threat
India is organizing Hasina’s sympathizers, both Hindus and Muslims, to undertake subversive activities. If successful, they can swiftly blackmail Dr. Younus and raise the flag of Islamic extremism. India could push terrorists inside Bangladesh to attack the Hindus. There remains the scary precedence of the Sri Lankan Cardinal speaking with Vatican Radio after the Sri Lankan Easter Sunday bombings on 21 April 2019- “facilitated by government sources and political parties to create Islamophobia in this country.” Even worse – a former Sri Lankan president claimed that India was behind Easter Sunday attacks. Similarly, India’s footprint is seen in the eyewitness’s account (wife of Captain Tanvir Haider Noor) of the BDR carnage of 6 February 2009.
Government’s Challenges
A few security forces are available to protect some 32 thousand Puja pandals throughout the country for nearly 12 days. Even if the Government deployed 100,000 security forces, there would be only 3 security personnel in each pandal.
The inside enemy who attacks their own for political leverage is hard to deal with. Bangladeshis remember the mysterious 21 August grenade attack that killed many, which Hasina blamed on her opposition. But there is no answer to the grenades’ source and Hasina’s last-minute venue change that none knew except her. The then BNP government failed to draw any credible conclusion about the attack and, as such, suffered heavily.
Like other institutions, foreign missions and the United Nations offices are filled with Awami local staff, who provide biased views. This factor is exacerbated exponentially by the fact that our leaders and media solely speak Bangla and cannot reach a global audience. Popular English news outlets like Daily Star are known as Indian agents.
All advisors are playing safe. India repeatedly interferes with Bangladesh’s internal matters, but the foreign advisor, Touhid Hussain, an Awami collaborator himself, failed to state the obvious—stop interfering in our internal matters. The Indian ambassador was never called to express our dissatisfaction per the Vienna Convention, a familiar scene during Hasina’s regime.
What to do?
We must understand that there is no magical means to defend against India’s propaganda and subversive attack with inside help. Therefore, we must implement measures comprehensively.
The Government should install CCTV surveillance at key Puja venues and temples and make drones readily available for deployment on short notice. An uninterrupted power supply must also be a top priority for security reasons.
The foreign advisor must tell India clearly and publicly to stop interference in our internal matters. The ministry’s X handle isn’t only for sugarcoating. Instead, it should be used for propaganda rebuttals.
All mainstream news channels must use legible English subtitles so our news can also reach a global audience, like the Indians. There should be English commentaries and talk shows about Muslim and Christian persecution in India on our media.
Whenever reporters talk with Hindu activists, they must collect the protester’s complete identity and mandatory details if any criminal allegation is leveled. A reporter reporting a criminal offense such as persecution, arson, vandalism, etc., without providing the complete address, time, and persons involved is helping in baseless anti-state propaganda. Similarly, reporters must ask protesters if they filed a police complaint or not.
Borders and airports should be appropriately monitored to watch for terrorists entering to destabilize the country. Political parties should protest Indian interference and demand the security and protection of the Indian minorities. They must know that the weakening of the Government under India’s false allegations means their dreams of power will end. And that no bonhomie with India will help, because India will never trust any political party except the Awami League.
Violence Resistance Committees (VRC)
Throughout the country, only political parties (not ordinary citizens to avoid infiltration of unknown people) should organize violence resistance committees (VRC) comprised of their fully known members to observe Puja pandals from a distance. Multiple parties should do the same task for check and balance whenever possible. VRC members should be of sufficient numbers to defend themselves against sudden attacks. VRC should function in a very low profile, silently and should avoid media.
Observers’ primary weapon will be their mobile phone’s camera. They must record videos and pictures of all suspicious developments, conflicts, and violence. However, they should avoid taking pictures and videos if there is no security issue. Observers should have their own WhatsApp and Signal groups to share recorded videos and photos with others immediately. Keeping proof is the most critical function of the VRC.
Those working at night must keep enough torches, batteries, and lights (not only the mobile phone’s light) to use in the event of power failure, which is very likely during the Puja to create chaos and violence.
VRC should plan to observe pandals and surrounding areas for the entire duration of activities, dividing themselves into different groups for shift duties. The arrival of anyone new in the area should be silently followed and noted.
