Author: Seema Guha
Publication: Daily News Analysis
Date: April 23, 2007
URL: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1092637
India, an ardent admirer of Bangladesh's army-backed
interim administration, has surprisingly remained silent over recent actions
of the army regime in Bangladesh.
India's indifference is even more shocking
considering that Sheikh Hasina, long known as India's well-wisher, is at the
receiving end. The daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the 'father of the nation',
is being charged with murder with an arrest warrant issued against her. She
has been barred from returning home and on Sunday, was prevented from boarding
a British Airways flight from London at the request of the interim administration.
Bangladesh's chief interim administrator Fakhrrudin
Ahmed claims he wants to clean up the mess made by politicians and is preparing
the grounds to have an elected government in place. No one knows when polls
will be announced in Bangladesh - it could take two years or longer, until
required institutions and infrastructure are in place.
Under orders from the Bangladesh's military
regime, Ahmed wants to exile the two most prominent politicians - Sheikh Hasina
and Begum Khaleda Zia.
It's a scene reminiscent from the days when
General Musharraf took over as the President of Pakistan. The people of Pakistan
were delighted when he showed the door to their politicians. Things have,
however, changed dramatically since then - the military regime has long outstayed
its welcome.
The Bangladesh regime, which was once part
of the Pakistan army, is taking a leaf out of Musharraf's book. The general
deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, too, has been unable
to return home as yet. History of military coup's have shown that once the
army tastes power, it is reluctant to go back to the barracks.
Yet, New Delhi has not spoken out against
the state of affairs in Bangladesh. When asked to comment, official spokesman
Navtej Sarna only said: "Your question has been noted."
Not surprisingly, the British government has
also backed the interim administrations' request. It is known that India,
US and Britain had together backed the army, which has now propped up a civilian
administration which follows the army's diktats.
However, despite making much noise about the
value of democracy, New Delhi was delighted by the silent coup in Dhaka under
the thin guise of civilian control. The army also sent a message to India
that it was willing to work with New Delhi's concerns about its security.
India was overjoyed.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, along with
US President George W Bush, is a prime mover of promoting democracy worldwide.
In fact, the joint statement released by the two after their meeting in Washington
stressed the point.
"Develop and support, through the new
US-India Global Democracy Initiative, countries that seek such assistance,
institutions and resources that strengthen the foundations that make democracies
credible and effective. India and the US will work together to strengthen
democratic practices and capacities and contribute to the new UN Democracy
Fund.''
