‘Foreign hand likely, worrisome for India’: Veena Sikri, former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh
Aditi Tandon
New Delhi, August 5
Former High Commissioner to Bangladesh Veena Sikri on Monday said the instability in Bangladesh was "worrisome for India" and the government was maintaining the highest level of vigil along a nearly 4,000-km-long border with the violence-hit nation.
Speaking to The Tribune, Sikri did not rule out a foreign hand in the developments in Bangladesh and said students' movement for abolition of quotas in the neighbouring nation had morphed into a political protest with elements of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami getting involved.
Sikri, the only woman to serve as the High Commissioner to Bangladesh (2003-2006), said the first indications of a possible foreign hand surfaced when the top Chinese leadership cold-shouldered Sheikh Hasina during her recent visit to the country.
"I have always been worried about a foreign hand (in the Bangladesh situation). The most recent indicator of this was when Sheikh Hasina's visit to China went very badly. It shocked me. China did not accord her a proper protocol welcome. Xi Jinping did not give her a separate meeting. This was uncharacteristic of China. One could not fathom why China did this. But now one can see. The Pakistan-China nexus is very strong," said Sikri.
She said Sheikh Hasina had been on the same page as protesting students on the quota issue but the movement was infiltrated by protesters who vandalised the statue of Bangladesh liberation hero and Hasina's father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman today.
"Those who vandalised the statue were protesters, not students. Students of Bangladesh are very patriotic and were at the forefront of the war for liberation of Bangladesh," Sikri said.
Referring to Bangladesh Army Chief's invitation to the Jamaat-e-Islami for talks and his assertion that Hasina's Awami League will not be engaged, Sikri said the growing role of the Jamaat-e-Islami, known to be close to Pakistan, is a worrying sign for India.
"India is very worried about this instability. We want the situation to calm down. The Bangladesh Army Chief has said an interim government will take charge, but we do not know what shape this interim government will take. Many lists are circulating as of now. We will have to wait and see," she said.
The ex-diplomat added that the Jamaat-e-Islami, banned on court orders by Hasina, appeared to be getting a very prominent role in Bangladesh now.
"Jamaat-e-Islami's role seems to be a very large one. It forces us to think whether there is a Pakistan-China hand behind development in Bangladesh," said Sikri, adding that any instability in Bangladesh could have a spill over effect in India and the BSF which guards our borders with Bangladesh would be in a state of “high alert” at present.
On Hasina's future, Sikri said it was not known yet whether India would be her interim stop or whether she has sought refuge here.
"There is a lot of talk that she may go to London or Belarus. Sheikh Hasina's own views on the issue are yet to be known. She has spent many years in India after her father's brutal assassination," the former diplomat added.
