Shashi Tharoor on Bangladesh politics: ‘End of Sheikh Hasina Era’

On Sheikh Hasina and the current political situation in Bangladesh, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor remarked, “It is very clearly the end of the Sheikh Hasina era, no doubt about that. She is also 76 years old, and I don’t think she will sit in exile plotting a comeback—that would be unwise. We’ve witnessed an unfolding drama over the last half-century between the forces associated with the liberation movement, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and, subsequently, his daughter for an extended period. On the other side, there are people more aligned with the military and, to some degree, the more Islamist forces within Bangladesh. Bangladesh used to be East Pakistan, and there is a certain basis for Islamic fervor in parts of that society.”

Tharoor continued, “India has engaged fairly constructively with every government, even those not overtly friendly to us. I believe we must continue doing exactly the same. Regarding the interim government in Bangladesh, I think we should offer our good offices to help them in whatever way we can. India must reassure everyone that we are not an unfriendly power and have no desire to dominate or control what is happening in Bangladesh. We aim to be helpful. That is the kind of message we should convey both publicly and privately.