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South Asian Update
South Asian Update

South Asia

India unhappy with US role in Bangladesh elections

 Published: 15:33, 21 August 2023

India unhappy with US role in Bangladesh elections

India has reportedly conveyed its unease to the United States regarding what it perceives as actions taken by the US that could destabilize the government led by Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh. This development has raised concerns about the overall security situation in India, as a neighboring country, and in South Asia as a whole, as per reports in Anandabazar Patrika.

Unnamed sources cited in the Kolkata-based newspaper suggest that India is dissatisfied with the current role played by the United States in the context of the forthcoming elections in Bangladesh. This message has allegedly been communicated to Washington.
It's worth noting that India shares the same goal as Washington, desiring a fair and free electoral process in Dhaka.
The upcoming G20 Leaders Summit in New Delhi, where both US President Joe Biden and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be in attendance, makes this message from India particularly significant.
From New Delhi's perspective, a weakened government in Bangladesh, led by Sheikh Hasina, would not serve the interests of either India or the United States.
Diplomatic sources reveal that New Delhi has conveyed these concerns to the Biden administration through various high-level meetings.
In the diplomatic arena, the entire region's security dynamics have been considerably altered following the US decision to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan.
Sources cited in the report indicate that New Delhi has informed the Biden administration that if groups like Jamaat are allowed to flourish, it could lead to an increase in cross-border terrorism directed towards India. Additionally, it may result in a significant boost to China's influence in Bangladesh, an outcome not in line with Washington's interests.
While the US has previously compared Jamaat to the Muslim Brotherhood, New Delhi reportedly believes that Jamaat is linked to radical fundamentalist organizations and Pakistan.
Another point of contention is the Biden administration's announcement of a distinct visa policy for Bangladesh. New Delhi views this as unjustified interference in the internal politics of Bangladesh. Under this new visa policy, individuals believed to disrupt the forthcoming elections in Bangladesh may be denied entry into the United States.
This development has raised concerns in diplomatic circles, as it suggests direct involvement by the US administration in the internal politics of Bangladesh, using its own country's laws and a distinct visa policy tailored for Bangladesh.

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