Rising Tensions in Bangladesh: Why Some Are Blaming Pakistan for the Unrest
“We have given our most precious thing and died insides many times but you won’t find our names engraved on any monument or war memorial.”
- Aisha, survivor of rape in the 1971 Bangladesh war (as featured in “Our Bodies, Their Battlefields” by Christina Lamb)
Such words paint a chilling picture of a modern war few of us know much about, one that strikes at the heart of the problems unraveling in the country today.
Bangladesh is currently facing a period of political unrest and social tension. The recent upsurge in violence and protests has led to accusations against Pakistan, with many in Bangladesh blaming their Western neighbor for fueling the instability. To understand the current situation, it's essential to delve into the complex historical, geopolitical, and strategic factors shaping relations between these two South Asian countries.
The Current Situation: A Surge in Violence
Starting in July, Bangladesh has witnessed a wave of student-led protests and violent clashes between opposition supporters and law enforcement. Such anti-government demonstrations erupted in response to a contentious government job quota system, in which the Supreme Court reduced the quota for government jobs reserved for descendants of 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War veterans from one-third to a smaller percentage.
This exacerbated long-standing political divisions within the country. The ruling party, the Awami League, led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been accused of authoritarianism, suppressing dissent and attacking protesters. In just a few weeks, nearly 300 people lost their lives, marking one of the deadliest periods during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's 15-year tenure.
Hasina, 76, and her government initially claimed that students were not involved in the violence during the quota protests, instead blaming the clashes and arson on the Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami and the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). However, as anti-government demonstrations gained momentum, on August 5, Hasina was forced to resign and flee the country – ending her long-running rule.
Some reports suggest that Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), worked in collaboration with the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the student factions of Jamaat-e-Islami to orchestrate a regime change. There is no concrete evidence, but it warrants further examination and a look back into the history books.
Pakistan's Alleged Role: Strategic Interests and Historical Grievances
Amid the escalating unrest, accusations have been directed toward Pakistan, with some Bangladeshi leaders and media outlets suggesting that Islamabad is playing a role in destabilizing the country. These allegations are deeply rooted in the history of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, during which Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) fought a brutal and bloody struggle for independence from West Pakistan. The war, marked by atrocities committed by the Pakistani military, has left a lasting scar on Bangladesh, and relations between the two countries have remained tense ever since.
In theory, Pakistan might have several motivations for wanting to stir unrest in Bangladesh. Firstly, destabilizing Bangladesh could serve as a strategic move to weaken a key ally of India, Pakistan's primary regional rival. By fostering instability in Bangladesh, Pakistan could create challenges for India, which shares a long border with Bangladesh and has a vested interest in maintaining regional stability.
Moreover, Pakistan's alleged support for Islamist factions in Bangladesh, such as the Jamaat-e-Islami party, could be seen as an attempt to promote groups that are sympathetic to Pakistani interests and opposed to the secular and nationalist agenda of the ruling Awami League. These Islamist groups have historically been aligned with Pakistan and were implicated in war crimes during the 1971 conflict. By backing such factions, Pakistan could be trying to exert influence in Bangladesh's internal politics and weaken the current government's position.
A weakened or destabilized Bangladesh could serve Pakistan's interests by creating a buffer against Indian influence in South Asia. Conversely, a stable and democratic Bangladesh would likely continue strengthening its ties with India, further isolating Pakistan.
More on the War of 1971
The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War was a brutal conflict marked by widespread atrocities committed by the Pakistani military. The war, which led to the formation of Bangladesh, was a result of deep-rooted political, economic, and cultural tensions between East and West Pakistan. The Pakistani army's response to the Bengali people's demand for autonomy was horrific. Mass killings, systematic rape, torture, and the destruction of villages became hallmarks of the conflict. The Pakistani military also targeted intellectuals, teachers, and religious leaders in a calculated attempt to cripple Bengali society. These acts of violence have been widely condemned as genocide and crimes against humanity.
Before the 1971 war, the region now known as Bangladesh was part of Pakistan.
The partition of India in 1947 divided the subcontinent into India (primarily Hindu) and Pakistan (mainly Muslim). The Muslim-majority regions of Bengal and Punjab were divided, with East Bengal becoming East Pakistan, separated from West Pakistan by over a thousand miles of Indian territory. Despite sharing a common religion, East and West Pakistan had distinct languages, cultures, and economic interests. Over time, growing resentment towards the dominance of West Pakistan in political and economic affairs fueled a Bengali nationalist movement demanding greater autonomy. This tension culminated in the 1971 Liberation War.
The New Interim Leadership: Who is at the Helm?
Meanwhile, as Bangladesh navigates this turbulent period, a new interim leader has been sworn in: Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The decision to appoint Yunus, a renowned economist and banker to the poor, came after a meeting between the president, military leaders, and student leaders, who had been at the forefront of the anti-government demonstrations. Yunus's cabinet includes two prominent student activists, symbolizing a new era for Bangladesh.
Yunus faces the daunting task of rebuilding Bangladesh. He has called for unity and the involvement of young people in the nation's reconstruction. As the world watches, Bangladesh is at a critical juncture, with the potential to either rebuild itself as a democratic nation or face further instability.
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