- He also said, ‘Sheikh Hasina Should Be Brought Back to Bangladesh and Tried.’
Referring to the allegations that India is to blame for the flood situation in Bangladesh as “incorrect narratives,” Jatiya Party (JAPA) Chairman Golam Mohammad Quader (GM Quader) rejected these claims. He stated that some are wrongly blaming New Delhi for natural disasters by exploiting the prevailing anti-India sentiment. He also said that the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should be brought back to Bangladesh and tried.
GM Quader was the opposition leader in the recently dissolved National Parliament of Bangladesh. The student protests demanding reforms to the controversial quota system in government jobs led to significant casualties. At one point, these protests turned into an anti-government movement. In the face of these protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India. The National Parliament was dissolved the next day, on August 6.
GM Quader emphasized that Sheikh Hasina should be extradited from India. He stated that Sheikh Hasina and her government should be tried in Bangladesh’s courts for all crimes committed during her rule.
In an interview with India’s news agency PTI, the former minister of Bangladesh said, “When the people of both countries want good relations, it is important to end any overbearing behaviour from one country. Instead, it is essential to consider each other as equal partners.”
Regarding the “India Out” campaign in Bangladesh, GM Quader said this resentment is not against India itself. Instead, it is against India’s unquestioning support for a specific political party (the Awami League) and its leader (Sheikh Hasina), despite many allegations of autocratic rule and misgovernance in Bangladesh.
The 76-year-old politician said it is wrong to blame India for the floods in Bangladesh. He described it as an incorrect narrative, asking, “How can you blame someone for floods or any natural disaster? It is normal for water to flow into low-lying areas. The issue we are facing is the reduced release of water from India. However, if water is not released during the monsoon, the dams there could break, causing a major disaster.”
GM Quader further stated, “It would have been better if there had been prior warning from India so that we could have had time to prepare.”
GM Quader made these remarks in response to various reports from Dhaka that blamed India for the floods in Bangladesh.
Due to seasonal rains in the delta region of Bangladesh and upstream in India, floods have occurred, causing several deaths. Almost three million people have been affected in Bangladesh. This situation has created a significant administrative challenge for the newly formed interim government during a period of political change in Bangladesh.
Reports that the current flood situation in parts of Bangladesh resulted from the opening of the Gomti River dam in Tripura have been dismissed as false by India last Thursday.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi stated that flooding of shared rivers is a common issue affecting both countries and that close mutual cooperation is needed to resolve this problem.
GM Quader said those who do not understand the situation and are using the current anti-India sentiment are trying to mislead people. “Naturally, water will flow from higher elevations to lower ones. If excess water is not released from the dams, the dams could break, causing a major disaster.”
Over 200 rivers flow through Bangladesh, with 54 of these being shared rivers between Bangladesh and India.
In response to a question about the rise in anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh, despite India being a “time-tested friend,” GM Quader said the anti-India sentiment is not against the Indian people but against the policymakers. The anger is not against the Indian people; there are still people here who desire good relations between the people.
GM Quader said, “The problem is that India supported the Awami League so strongly, despite its faults, misgovernance, lack of fair elections, and corruption, that the Indian establishment is now seen as a supporter of the Awami League. This is why people are angry, and that’s why people see India as an enemy of Bangladesh.”
The JAPA chairman said, “Sheikh Hasina’s decision to flee to India has made the situation worse. I believe Sheikh Hasina should be extradited to Bangladesh and tried here. India must hand her over to the Bangladeshi government.”
The interim government of Bangladesh has revoked the diplomatic passports of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and members of her former cabinet.
Speaking about the future of bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh, GM Quader said, “Both countries need each other. After the fall of the Awami League government, a new and positive perspective must be adopted.”
The JAPA chairman said, “The Awami League is now a thing of the past. We must look forward. Both countries need to sit down and reconsider ways to improve bilateral relations. However, both should be considered equals in terms of their relationship, and India should avoid any form of big brotherly attitude. No one should behave like a supreme overlord.”
Regarding the current situation in Bangladesh, GM Quader said, “The people of the country want to return to the democratic process as soon as possible.”
The JAPA chairman said, “Right now, after the people’s uprising, the general public wants a proper democratic framework. Even though governments have been formed through the people’s vote for decades, those governments have never worked for the people.”
GM Quader called for reforms not only in the government structure but also in the constitution to prevent any single political party or individual from becoming too powerful.
GM Quader stated, “In the past, we have seen parties weaken independent institutions after coming to power and turning into autocratic rulers. This should not happen. We should reform our constitution to stop this tendency if necessary.”
Welcoming the call for patience made by the interim government’s chief adviser, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, to the people of Bangladesh yesterday, GM Quader said that the government has promised free, fair, and participatory elections after implementing significant reforms in various sectors. In this situation, it is difficult to face mountainous challenges overnight.
GM Quader said, “I think the call he (the chief adviser) has made, the statement he has given, is very positive. And these reforms should be carried out as soon as possible.”
The interim government led by Dr. Yunus is trying to stabilize the country, and reforms in various sectors are their top priority.
