Pinak's diplomacy
Mr Pinak is going to be replaced by Rajeet Mitter currently India's ambassador to Philippines. Mr Pinak's stint in Bangladesh flagrantly displayed the Indian mindset about Bangladesh. India as a regional power should behave responsibly with its nearest neighbours. But what we see is quite disappointing. Its prolonged espionage policy prolonged the fighting in Sri Lanka. With Bangladesh India always behaved like a bullyboy. Everyday BSF kill, kidnap and torture Bangladeshi nationals at the border areas. Sheikh Mujib handed over Berubari in 1974 but India is yet to transfer the full control of Tin Bigha to Bangladesh. The newly emerged Talpatti Island is occupied by India and she along with Myanmar tried to mobilize troops with a view to exploring minerals at the disputed maritime boundary. India always accuses Bangladesh of harbouring jihadists. But it is India that actively patronized and still patronizing Shanti Bahini to fight for the separation of what is the one tenth of the land of Bangladesh,
Mr Pinak antagonized many of us by his undiplomatic comments which border on interfering in our internal affairs. He openly accused the journalists of being nationalists in their protest against Tipaimukh dam which according to the experts will have a more disastrous effect on environment than the Farakka. Explaining the cause of delay in visa processing in the Indian embassy, he said that about 80% of those that queue up for visa in front of Indian embassy are “touts and brokers”. His claim that 25,000 of the Bangladeshis who entered India with legal visa each year never returned to Bangladesh proved groundless. To me his coarse remarks seemed more unfriendly and harsher than the barbwire fence that India is constructing on the border in an effort to leave us in a ghetto.
With the inception of this present government naturally we hoped that our relationship with India will stand on a strong footing but some recent mysterious and gruesome events speak of a clandestine marriage of convenience between the two governments.
India and our government should keep in mind that Bangladeshis are now smart enough to see through everything. And given its huge population Bangladesh is a dormant powerhouse. So India should change its hegemonic attitude towards Bangladesh if it wants to win the hearts and minds of the people here. We hope Rajeet Mitter who is going to replace Pinak will be a welcome change.
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