India watchful of Bangladesh developments; weighs steps

Dhaka High Court's decision to acquit BNP's acting chairperson Tarique Rahman, former minister Lutfozzaman Babar and others in a 2004 grenade attack may further dent Bangladesh's ties with India, which has touched a new low over the past fortnight.

It remains to be seen if this decision paves the way for the return of Rahman to Bangladesh from the UK, where he has been living in exile. Rahman in collaboration with Babar is alleged to have encouraged anti-India insurgent groups from northeast to operate from Bangladesh's soil.

In 2004, Babar was minister of state for home affairs under the BNP-Jamaat regime, when an attempt to smuggle 10 trucks full of arms via Chittagong port meant for ULFA and other NE insurgent groups was thwarted by alert Indian agencies. Babar is also alleged to have shielded radicals and terrorists. Rahman's role in the 10 truck-case cannot be absolved, sources said.



Rahman wants to return to Dhaka to participate in a parliamentary election, but delay in polls will damage BNP's election prospects. Critics feel that the Muhammad Yunus government is working on a formula to keep Awami League and BNP out of power and promote a third front that may include Islamists.

Arrests of monks and journalists, desecration of Indian Flag at a varsity campus and tough statements by advisers in the Yunus administration may create challenges for India's economic and cross-border connectivity initiatives that were put in place since 2009 under the Sheikh Hasina rule.


ET has learnt that the Indian government is carefully monitoring the steps taken by the Yunus regime against Indian interests and is weighing appropriate measures.

The Yunus regime may be planning a tough stand against India ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration as Washington's support for Dhaka may dry up, experts on the Indo-Bangladesh affairs said.