Recently a peaceful protest of the students in Bangladesh turned into violent protest and political crisis which led to the death of more that 300 people. As a result that led to the political instability in Bangladesh and finally, the collapse of Shaikh Hasina’s government.
But how such greatly progressive and outperforming Bangladesh suddenly started facing the internal disturbances, political turmoil and failure of administrative machineries. Let’s understand in detail.
Evolution of Bangladesh
- Bangladesh got the freedom from the Pakistan in 1971 and India had played crucial role in that war of independence of Bangladesh.
- After liberation, the economy of Bangladesh had become one of the fast growing economies in the world.
Shaikh Hasina’s Terms and Achievements
- She had come into power in 2009 through free and fair elections and Served from 2009 to 2024.
- Bangladesh became one of the fast growing economy in South Asia in last few years. The IMF predicted that the GPD of Bangladesh would soon exceed that of Denmark or Singapore.
- The per capita income tripled in a decade even was more than that of India. It was out performing it’s neighbours.
- Bangladesh’s economy lifted out over 25 million of people out of poverty in last 20 years.
- It built the ambitious infrastructure project such as Padma Bridge which worth $2.9 Billion dollars during the reign of Shaikh Hasina.
Reasons for the Bangladesh Crisis
- The quota system in government jobs for the descendants of freedom fighters, religious minorities, under represented districts resulted into protest of students.
- The government used paramilitary forces, strict curfew against the students. It resulted into the death of more than 300 people.
- Shaikh Hasina’s statements such as ‘Razacars included in the protest’ fueled the anger of protesters worsening the situations. It is derogatory term used to refer the group of people who supported the Pakistani army during Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence.
- Shaikh Hasina rigged elections in 2014, 2018 and 2024 hence opposition boycotted the elections. The opposition such as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-E-Islami joined the protests.
- Shaikh Hasina’s government used hard power to silent the critics. Internet services and other communication services were stopped using Digital Security Act of 2018, freedom of press and civil rights were suppressed.
- Forex reserves of the Bangladesh were severely hit due to Covid-19, because major chunk of the foreign money that used to come from the export of textiles and clothing industries disrupted and majority of people lost their jobs.
- The essential commodity prices such as food, fuel, fertilizers had increased drastically.
- The crude oil prices were hiked due to Ukraine- Russia conflict.
- The inflation was on its high post pandemic because the economy couldn’t revived comprehensively.
Impacts of Crisis on India
- Bangladesh has been crucial ally to eradicate cross border terrorism and strengthening of bilateral relations in Indo-Bangladesh region since Shaikh Hasina came in power in 2009. After resignation of Shaikh Hasina India has lost trusted ally.
- The trade with Bangladesh accounts $ 13 billion in FY 2023-24, would get affected by that political crisis. The bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would get affected.
- The new radical Islamist forces in power might threaten the Bangladesh’s secular governance that could hampered India-Bangladesh relations.
- It has increased the threat of infiltration and terrorism in India-Bangladesh border region as India is already facing the same challenge in India-Pakistan border and India-China border. However, Border Security Force (BSF) on high alert and the border has been ceased.
- India Has halted the all the air services, rail-road transports and movement of people.