Staff Reporter :
With the establishment of the interim government, which enjoys widespread public support, Dhaka has issued strong calls for Delhi to realign its stance on several critical matters concerning Bangladesh, most notably the equitable sharing of water from the 54 trans-boundary rivers, particularly the Teesta River.
The issue of Teesta water sharing has been a long-standing concern. However, India has yet to reach an agreement that ensures Bangladesh, as a lower riparian country, receives a fair share of water.
Reports during the Awami League’s tenure suggested that the West Bengal government had been diverting Teesta’s water without notifying Bangladesh.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka formally requested Delhi to address this unilateral diversion, but as of yet, India has not responded.
Recently, frustration has grown among the people of Bangladesh following significant floods in the eastern regions, attributed to India’s release of a large volume of water without prior warning.
The floods resulted in substantial loss of life and property, further aggravating tensions.
In response to India’s unilateral water diversions and the construction of numerous dams on trans-boundary rivers, students and citizens on Friday initiated a ‘long march’ towards the Dumbur Dam in India.
Hundreds of students, packed in 10 trucks, set off from Shahbag in Dhaka, signalling to Delhi the urgency for a foreign policy that reflects the interests of the Bangladeshi people rather than solely catering to a particular government.
Despite these tensions, Professor Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the interim government, has emphasised that Bangladesh remains committed to fostering strong bilateral relations with India.
However, he insists that these relations must be balanced and equitable.
In a recent interview with India’s Press Trust of India (PTI), Dr Yunus underscored Bangladesh’s rights as a lower riparian country to receive a fair share of water, urging that the long-awaited treaty be finalised.
“This is not a new issue, but a very old one. We have raised this matter on multiple occasions. Discussions on the matter began during the era of Pakistan’s rule.
While we all sought to finalise the treaty, even the Indian government appeared ready for it. However, the West Bengal state government was not. We need to resolve this,” Dr Yunus told PTI.
In addition to the water-sharing issue, the interim government, from its inception, has cautioned India to refrain from exploiting the Hindu minority card.
This government treats all citizens equally and is resolute in its commitment to protecting the lives and properties of all its people.
Shortly after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, a group attempted to attack Hindu homes in a bid to create unrest.
However, local communities, including madrasa students and teachers, stood with the Hindu community, protecting their temples day and night.
Reports of this communal harmony were widely published in Indian media during the tumultuous period following Hasina’s ousting on 5 August.
A group of Indian journalists visited Bangladesh at that time, interviewing various people to understand the condition of the Hindu community. Their reports highlighted the unity among different communities in Bangladesh.
In his interview with PTI, Dr Yunus categorically stated that the reports of attacks on minority Hindus were exaggerated and largely politically motivated rather than communal.
“I told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that this issue is exaggerated. It has multiple dimensions.
After the upheaval caused by the atrocities committed by Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League, those who supported them also faced attacks,” the Nobel laureate said.
Moreover, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain recently expressed that the people of Bangladesh should view India as a true friend. He stressed that India’s focus should be on nurturing relations with the Bangladeshi people, not just any single government.
“The governments of Bangladesh and India have always maintained deep relations. However, there is a public perception that during the previous government’s tenure, our national interests were not sufficiently safeguarded in various agreements with India,” he remarked.
Touhid further noted that incidents such as the killing of innocent Bangladeshis by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) deeply affect the people of Bangladesh.
While this issue did not receive adequate attention during the Awami League’s government, the Yunus-led interim government has taken a firmer stance.
Bangladesh recently lodged a strong protest with the Indian government regarding the shooting of a minor Hindu girl, Swarna Das, by the BSF along the India-Bangladesh border.
Bangladesh has reminded Delhi that such border killings are not only undesirable but also violate the provisions of the Joint Indo-Bangladesh Guidelines for Border Authorities, 1975.
