Bangladesh Unhappy With India Over Sheikh Hasina's New Delhi Stay: 'Supporting Our Adversaries...'

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the principal rival of the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina, has expressed dissatisfaction with India's decision to provide refuge to the ousted prime minister.

BNP senior leader Gayeshwar Roy, a former minister and standing committee member of the party, criticized India's actions, stating, "The BNP believes that Bangladesh and India should have cooperation. The Indian government must understand and act following this spirit. However, supporting our adversaries complicates the maintenance of that cooperation." Roy conveyed these concerns in an interview with The Times of India from Dhaka.

In the meantime, Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus has taken over as the leader of Bangladesh's caretaker government, tasked with steering the nation toward recovery after weeks of intense violence.

Yunus acknowledged that Hasina's presence in New Delhi has caused some Bangladeshis to feel discontented towards India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Yunus on his new role and reaffirmed India's commitment to working with Dhaka to achieve the "shared aspirations" of peace, security, and development for both nations.

Modi also emphasised the importance of protecting Hindus and other minority communities, expressing hope for a quick return to stability.

The Awami League, Hasina's party, is not currently represented in the interim government. However, her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, reassured supporters through Facebook that the party remains active and is open to discussions with opponents and the caretaker administration.

The BNP, which has boycotted two national elections following the arrest of its leaders, is now demanding that new elections be held within three months.

The student-led protests that led to Hasina's ousting began as a movement against government job quotas but escalated in July, prompting a violent crackdown that drew international criticism.

Economic challenges, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, have further fueled the unrest in Bangladesh, leading to high inflation, rising unemployment, and diminishing reserves.