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15 August 2024

Accepting the realities of Bangladesh

Tara Kartha

As the situation in Bangladesh unfolds, television anchors and their guests outdoing each other in finding a new angle, a new accusation, or yet another conspiracy theory. True, there is much to be alarmed about, both on the immediate front and in terms of the future trajectory of India-Bangladesh ties. But some realities have to be faced, and acknowledged, so that analysis is grounded in reality rather than rhetoric.

First, the discussion in whether or not India should have welcomed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina into India should take into consideration that everyone has a right to seek political asylum. Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights says “everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution”. The unfolding violence indicates that if she had stayed, her treatment would have gone far further than just persecution. As a leader who had undoubtedly delivered in terms of bilateral relations, and an often overlooked fact, also delivered to her people – she deserved every courtesy on her arrival. Her reception by the National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, was, therefore, not another ‘proof’ of intelligence collusion, but the courtesy extended to her as was her right. There’s however a cautionary clause which says this right “may not be invoked… in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations”. In short, if she is indicted by Bangladeshi courts for authorising the killing of some 300 plus people who died in the protests, her right of shelter would become questionable, and a problem for India and could complicate matters. At present, Delhi is just riding out the storm, until a quiet and amicable solution can be found.

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