India has disproportionately benefited from Bangladesh. Yunus govt is balancing that

ThePrint editor-in-chief's open letter to Dr Muhammad Yunus reflected a fine grasp of the complex socio-political terrain of South Asia. However, many of his assertions deserve a more balanced examination.

Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus | X/ @ChiefAdviserGoB

I read with great interest ThePrint Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta’s latest National Interest column, an open letter to Dr Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government. Before responding to the article, I want to clarify my personal and professional association with Dr Yunus.

My association with him began in 2014 when I first met him, and it deepened in 2016 when I invited him to deliver a Nobel Laureate Lecture at Kuwait University. On both occasions, I had the privilege of interviewing him for Kuwait Times and producing a four-part documentary on his incredible journey and the global impact of his work. These interactions allowed me to see Yunus as an accomplished intellectual and a compassionate leader deeply committed to humanitarian values.

Dr Muhammad Yunus is admired by political and business leaders across the world for his unparalleled contributions to social and economic development. He represents a unique combination of intellectual brilliance and unshakeable moral integrity. His leadership is deeply anchored in the principles of dignity and empowerment for marginalised groups. His ideals transcend boundaries, bringing new dimensions to solving some of the world’s biggest problems.

Dear Shekhar Gupta, your open letter to Yunus was thought-provoking and reflected a fine grasp of the complex socio-political terrain of South Asia. However, many of your assertions deserve closer and more balanced examination, particularly regarding Bangladesh’s political trajectory, its relationship with India, and the overwhelming support Yunus commands from diverse communities. With this in mind, I address these points to provide a more holistic view based on personal experience and wider context.

1. India’s hegemonic influence on Bangladesh

You have portrayed India as a friendly and helpful neighbour, but this does not consider the deep-seated feeling in Bangladesh about India gaining disproportionately from the bilateral relationship. Indeed, during Sheikh Hasina’s rule, India has enjoyed certain privileges, including:

• One-sided beneficial trade and connectivity: Bangladesh provides India access to the northeastern states through its territory, allows transit routes, and imports Indian goods when the trade is heavily skewed toward India.
• Water-sharing agreements: The long-overdue Teesta River water-sharing agreement has still not been settled, which also creates discontent among Bangladeshis over India’s exploitative reluctance.
• Border killings: The continuing border incidents with the Border Security Force (BSF) have resulted in heavy losses, adding to anti-India sentiment.

While India has played a role in Bangladesh’s liberation and development, its perceived disregard for equitable reciprocity undermines the goodwill between the two nations.

2. Sheikh Hasina’s alignment with Indian interests

Your assertion that Hasina was deeply unpopular is supported by her administration’s association with alleged electoral manipulation and suppression of dissent. However, it is crucial to understand why her government’s overt alignment with Indian interests exacerbated public dissatisfaction:

• Perception of dependency: Many Bangladeshis believe Hasina’s policies excessively prioritised Indian interests at the expense of national sovereignty.
• Energy agreements and FDI: Controversial agreements granting Indian companies access to Bangladesh’s energy sector often lacked transparency, further alienating the populace. In this context, Prof. Yunus’s leadership has been hailed as a breath of fresh air, promising a more balanced and self-reliant Bangladesh.

3. Overwhelming public support for Yunus

Your labeling of Yunus as an “accidental leader” totally underestimates the organic, grassroots support that he enjoys from Bangladeshis on the ground. 

• Champion of empowerment: Yunus founded Grameen Bank and thus changed the course of millions of lives, many of them marginal women, by providing microfinance. His initiatives have earned him respect from all quarters.
• Symbol of integrity: He signifies integrity and transparency in a political landscape full of corruption and cronyism. His international stature and status as a Nobel laureate raise his profile as a unifying figure. Yunus’ popularity is premised on people’s aspiration for governance, which is committed to safeguarding Bangladesh’s interests without adopting an adversarial approach toward her neighbours.

4. India-Bangladesh relations: A call for equitability

Your suggestion that anti-India feelings are being exploited as a political tool by Yunus’s government deserves scrutiny. While forging constructive ties with India is necessary, it is equally important to address the genuine grievances of the Bangladeshi people:

• Mutual respect and reciprocity: Bangladesh seeks a partnership based on mutual benefit, whereby India acknowledges and addresses its concerns rather than expecting unconditional allegiance.
• Cultural sensitivity: India must approach Bangladesh with respect for its sovereignty and avoid actions perceived as hegemonic, ensuring that the relationship is built on equal footing.

Yunus’ leadership offers an opportunity to reset and reframe this bilateral relationship, emphasising cooperation while safeguarding Bangladesh’s interests.

 

5. A Vision for the future

Your apprehensions regarding Yunus’ long-term goals and governance are understandable. Yet, his priorities, as stated, include restoring democratic institutions, free and fair elections, and a transparent governance framework that upholds the principles of accountability. Unlike power-hungry leaders, Yunus has repeatedly emphasised the need for reform of institutions rather than feeding individual ambitions.

I want to take up the appeal that Bangladesh should try to maintain a cooperative relationship with India as a good neighbour. Though I am in principle agreeable to such fostering of amicable ties, I cannot get rid of the question: on what foundational basis is such a relationship to be built? It is befitting to reflect upon why India has not been able to maintain cordial relations with most of its neighbours in the SAARC region, including Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and even Bhutan. The common thread through these strained relationships is India’s perceived “big brother” approach and hegemonistic tendencies that often create an imbalance in mutual respect and equitable cooperation. Otherwise, without a resolution of these issues, no goodwill can last.

Finally, Bangladesh’s journey under Yunus has reached a point where his leadership is a prelude to balanced diplomacy, democratic restoration, and national self-reliance. For India, the most important neighbour, this juncture provides an opportunity for consolidating the relationship through genuine cooperation and not a threat to her interests.

Your letter to Yunus reminds me that history, politics, and diplomacy are in a balancing act. Let us hope all the stakeholders come forward to help create a future where mutual respect and shared prosperity define the region.

Serajul I. Bhuiyan is a Professor and former Chair, the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, Savannah State University, Savannah, Georgia, USA. Views are personal. 

(Edited by Ratan Priya)