“We’ll ensure at any cost all minorities are protected . (but) there’s an urgent need for New Delhi to signal it stands with the people of Bangladesh”: Senior Fellow, Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Shafqat Munir
……………………………………. One of Bangladesh’s most highly regarded foreign policy experts, who closely follows India-Bangladesh relations, has said “we will ensure at any cost all minorities are protected” adding that this is a requirement that flows from the identity that Bangladesh has always accepted for itself. However, at the same time, Shafqat Munir, a Senior Fellow of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, adds: “There’s an urgent need for New Delhi to signal that it stands with the people of Bangladesh”.
Mr. Munir was clearly saying that New Delhi must realize that a new chapter has opened in Dhaka and there is a need to respond to this reality by reaching out to the new government of Prof. Muhammad Yunus. In a 30-minute interview to Karan Thapar for The Wire, Shafqat Munir covered a lot of further ground both about the coalition of forces and revolution that brought down Sheikh Hasina as well as about the nature and character of the new interim government, its composition and Prof. Yunus’s attitude to India as well as Sheikh Hasina’s future and whether a future government of Bangladesh or public opinion in Bangladesh will demand her extradition.
Mr. Munir categorically stated that the “Monsoon Revolution”, as he called it, which brought down Sheikh Hasina, is not a front for or manipulated by Islamic fundamentalist forces represented by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Jamaat. He added, that no member of either the BNP or the Jamaat is part of the interim administration announced and sworn-in yesterday. Similarly,
Mr. Munir categorically said that it’s wrong to claim that Pakistan’s ISI or China or any other foreign hand had a role to play in Sheikh Hasina’s fall. Mr. Munir said the new interim government is not only independent but it’s not under the tutelage of the army. He specifically said that the Army Chief is subordinate to Prof. Yunus. I am only giving you the main broad points made by Mr. Munir. If you want to understand the situation in Bangladesh – both in terms of the revolution that brought down Sheikh Hasina and in terms of the new interim government as well as Sheikh Hasina’s future – this is an interview you must see. Mr. Munir is extremely impressive in his analysis and description. He is cogent and very easy to follow. Join The Wire’s Youtube Membership and get exclusive content, member-only emojis, live interaction with The Wire’s founders, editors and reporters and much more. Memberships to The Wire Crew start at Rs 89/month. / @thewirenews