Anti-Indianism
A write-up on above caption on the 24th July by Prof Habibul is absolutely disappointing. It shows neither academic depth nor it contains facts and essence. The concluding sentence is sarcastic. As a result, a serious matter became too simplistic in presentation.
Bangladeshis are open-minded people. In the last few decades the overall outlook of average Bangladeshis underwent a positive transformation due to mass migration into different countries. As a result most people shed off the hangover of pre 1947 taboos. Religious fanaticism was never a countable phenomenon in Bangladesh which is evident from the fact that religious parties were never a choice of people.
On the contrary, modern, secular India had religious fanatics at the helm of state several times with HINDU -JIHAD against other religious minority including Christians. So relation with India cannot be judged from the anti-Indian spectrum. Rather, the feelings of Bangladeshis against India are an expression of total despair of a poor nation against a mighty neighbour's arrogance in all aspects --from economy to border killing. Let us enumerate few of the unconceivable actions of our great neighbour that hurt souls of most Bangladeshis, both Hindus and Muslims and other communities.
(1)In 1947,immediately after partition of India Mr. Jinnah requested Mr. Nehru to allow use of Kolkata port for the then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh for six months considering no merchandise facilities in Chittagong port. The great Indian leader politely refused the request saying that India could not allow Kolkata port to be used by East Pakistan even for six hours.
(2)In 1974, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib on good faith returned Berubari and other enclaves to India. But none of Indian leaders till now reciprocated the gesture by returning our enclaves under India. India showed “ good will” by allowing a small strip of land about 340 yards to be used by Bangladeshis of Dahagram only for six hours!
(3)All Indian TV channels are permitted to be transmitted in Bangladesh. While India does not allow any Bangladeshi TV channel.
(4)Indian BSF kills on an average two Bangladeshis daily on various pretexts. Nowhere in the world such barbaric acts are seen even for worst kind of offences.
(5)Diversification of water from common river basin without any consultation with Bangladesh added new dimensions to bilateral misunderstanding.
(6)Bangladesh is the biggest market for Indian goods. Despite great demand from seven north eastern states, Indian govt creates different barriers for entry of Bangladeshi goods into this neighbouring states.
(7)India wants transit through Bangladesh but will not do so regarding our transit to Nepal and Bhutan.
These are the few of the points that touch souls of Bangladeshis, irrespective of religion. If such grievances are to be termed as “Anti Indianism” let God review Homo sapiens-consciousness of the person concerned.
Bangladesh looks forward to the horizon of developing world while India boasts of an aberrant psyche and hangover of Hindu-Muslim chaos of 1947.Let them live with it.
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