Bangladesh’s diplomatic blunder in the Middle East

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Image result for King Salman and Sheikh Hasina

Credit : Benar news

M A Hossain        10/5/2018

When Saudi King Salman accorded a royal reception to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and sought Dhaka’s active participation in the Saudi-led coalition by sending Bangladeshi troops, Hasina gave a cautious reply. She vowed to send troops only if the holy mosques in Mecca and Medina come under attack. This proposition from the Bangladeshi Prime Minister was advocated by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India succeeded in convincing Sheikh Hasina that sending of troops to the Saudi-led coalition would mean inviting rivalry with Iran. Earlier, Iranian leaders requested India to convince Sheikh Hasina in refraining from sending troops to the Saudi-led coalition.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s response to the Saudi request though was very much diplomatic; it had, in fact, annoyed the Saudi King. As a result, when Bangladesh, quoting King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz al Saud sent a press statement on the one billion dollars Saudi grant for the construction of mosques, Riyadh instantly refuted the news by terming it as baseless.

Dhaka’s relations with Riyadh instantly deteriorated. Saudi Arabia started distancing itself from Bangladesh. Nothing could improve this situation.

The reaction of the Saudis became crystal clear when Sheikh Hasina revisited the kingdom in 2018. This time there had been no more warmth – no more special reception from the Saudi side.

Sheikh Hasina’s decision of not sending troops instantly to the Saudi-led coalition put her war against radical Islamic terrorism [when she has been successfully using as an effective tool in legitimizing her questioned consecutive second term] under cloud and doubt. This had not only dismayed Saudi Arabia alone but also its key ally- the United States of America as well.

By successfully convincing Sheikh Hasina in not sending troops to the Saudi-led coalition, India earned special gratitude from Iran. In exchange, Delhi-Tehran trade had increased several folds during the past couple of years.

Iran has always been considering India as the most trusted and tested ally. Most importantly, to both the nations, the US is a potential threat and the worst enemy. Another key point is, to Iran, Sunni nations are her enemies while to India, both Muslims and the US are enemies. More precisely, the ideologies of a Hinduist Narendra Modi [and India] have huge compatibilities with a Shiite Iran.

India’s Middle East policy has also been extremely cunning. By doing so, India has been simultaneously milking Riyadh and Tehran. It tries to please all the parties in the area for their economic reasons.
But this time, unfortunately again, Bangladesh has been entrapped by India. By listening to Modi’s tips on the Saudi affairs, Sheikh Hasina compromised the interests of Bangladesh on India’s command and wishes. No one knows, how long Bangladesh will have to pay the cost of this diplomatic blunder.

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