Bangladesh Election 2024: Voting will be held for the general elections in Bangladesh on Sunday (January 7). It is almost certain that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will become the PM for the fourth time as the main opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has decided to boycott the elections and claimed that any election under the current government will not be fair and credible. .
On the one hand, the US and other Western countries have repeatedly expressed concern over reports of Hasina government allegedly arresting thousands of rival politicians and supporters. Western countries have repeatedly questioned the democratic credentials of the Hasina government and rights groups have condemned the Bangladesh government, accusing it of crippling the opposition, while India and China have adopted a soft stance towards the Sheikh Hasina government.
India has reiterated in the last two months that the general elections to be held in Bangladesh are its own matter. Looking at the statement of the Ministry of External Affairs, it was believed that India would stand with the government of PM Sheikh Hasina. The Foreign Ministry had said, “Elections are a domestic matter of Bangladesh and we believe that the people of Bangladesh have to decide their own future.”
Why does India need Sheikh Hasina government?
India has its own interests with Bangladesh. India surrounds the Muslim-majority country of about 170 million (17 crore) people from almost all three sides. For India, Bangladesh is not only a neighbor but also a strategic partner and close ally, which is important for the security and connectivity of the north-eastern states.
Indian policymakers believe that Delhi needs a friendly regime in Dhaka and since coming back to power in 2009, Sheikh Hasina has forged closer political and economic ties with India. This strong economic cooperation is evident from shared infrastructure projects like the Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link and the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline, which have not only boosted trade but also improved connectivity between the two countries.
According to TOI report, bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh exceeded $15 billion in 2021-22. After China dominated defense imports for decades, cooperation has now extended to Bangladesh, which buys arms from India.
India’s security concerns
As far as India’s concern regarding Bangladesh is concerned, the return of BNP to power in the neighboring country could pave the way for the return of Islamists, as happened when the coalition government was in power between 2001 and 2006.
Sheikh Hasina received India’s support soon after coming to power in 2009 as she worked against Islamist groups as well as ethnic insurgent groups in India’s north-east, some of which were operating from Bangladesh.
While many Western governments want to impose additional sanctions on Bangladeshi officials over alleged human rights violations and extrajudicial killings, India is opposing the move, calling it counterproductive, especially given that Any Western emphasis on democratic principles could push Dhaka towards China.
Why is China supporting Sheikh Hasina?
China supports Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh. In 2016, Bangladesh joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Apart from selling two submarines to Bangladesh, China is building a base worth $1 billion for them in Qutubdia. China has also invested in many big infrastructure projects. It has continued its arms sales and has promised to invest $38 billion in projects in Bangladesh.
Such presence of China in Bangladesh is not favorable for India or America, but it is a matter of relief for New Delhi that Sheikh Hasina’s government has been conscious of India’s strategic interests in the region.
In fact, Sheikh Hasina has been very adept in striking a balance between India and China in her foreign policy and she knows very well that she needs both for Bangladesh.