More than 10,000 Hindu extremists gathered to protest the follow-on occurrences in Bangladesh since a Quran was desecrated in a Hindu temple at Comilla.
- The Hindu extremists once again burnt the flag of Bangladesh in several places.
- Attempted to cross the Bangladesh-India international border, but were stopped by BSF from doing so as that would have resulted in an armed response from the BGB.
- BSF requested the Hindu extremists never to do this again.
- The protest was called by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
- It was participated by Bharat Sevasram Sangha, Sankar Math, Gauriya Math, Bajrang Dal, RSS women’s wing.
- Hindu extremists requested Indian PM Narendra Modi to stop all kinds of trade with Bangladesh (though India benefits more from it, and ultimately Indian businesses would lose out).
- The Hindu extremists from BJP called on to cut all trade tied with Bangladesh believing Bangladesh would ‘bound to starve’ even though Bangladesh is a fully food sufficient country.
- They once again reminded about 1971, said they gave Bangladeshis ‘identity’ and said if Indian forces wanted ‘the entire country would have been part of India at that time’.
- They threatened India can invade Bangladesh today if required.
- Some protesters jumped in to the Kushiyara river trying to cross the international border but were stopped by BSF.
- They directed their frustration at Narendra Modi for being ‘silent’.
- PM Narenda Modi can do very little because Bangladesh is not reliant upon India for trade, it is not a land locked country, or a country with a weak economy.
- Today Bangladesh is richer than Pakistan and all other South Asian nations (except India) combined.
- Bangladeshis have a higher per capita income than Indians.
- Bangladeshis live longer than Indian men and women too.
- Bangladesh is fully self-sufficient in the production of basic foods.
- In the past where India failed to supply some products, Bangladesh found alternatives. In this competitive market there are always backups.
- India cannot overtly act against Bangladesh on the international arena for geo-political reasons. There is the China-factor, but also the US will not support it from acting in a manner that hurts American interests in the region as Bangladesh is a major economy of the region now with that is increasingly the focus of the West and Japan.
- If India officially or unofficial acts further against Bangladesh it will be proven they were behind the acts to destabilize Bangladesh.
- Bangladesh will be drawn closer to China and Chinese will do the necessary to squeeze India and their agents further.
- Most of the arsenal of the Bangladesh military are supplied by China and the West. India has no scope to create pressure on the military either.
- If India tries anything that is remotely anti-Bangladeshi then its North East will never be the same again as Bangladesh will no longer feel obligated to safeguard Indian interests or its security.
- Bangladesh gained very little from its friendly ties with India. This latest episode serves as a reminder that the relationship is still very fragile.
- As long as India is ruled by Hindu extremists there will always be a rift with Bangladesh, which is ruled by secular Bengali nationalists.
- This latest episode reminds all including Bangladesh policy makers to start minus-India approach.
