Trump Hands Over Bangladesh & Regional Policy to Modi

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Trump says India Should Deal with Matters of Bangladesh

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, February 14: In a significant foreign policy development, US President Donald Trump said that it’s for India to deal with matters involving Bangladesh. Trump was responding to a question on recent developments in Bangladesh.

Trump’s remarks at a press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen the US going back to past era when Washington left the South Asian issues except Pakistan for India to handle.

His remarks came after bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House on Thursday. Trump spelt out a policy of non-interference in regional issues. He specifically mentioned Bangladesh.

Trump’s comments suggested that the US might leave matters concerning the South Asia to India. This reflects a potential shift in diplomatic focus for the US.

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India’s former foreign secretary Shashank in a video discussion with The Raisina Hills on Bangladesh had mentioned that the “US had the policy of trusting India on matters of South Asia in the past”. The US in the past left matters involving Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, and Maldives for India to handle.

But with Joe Biden at the helm in the US, Washinton interfered in matters of Bangladesh while Sheikh Hasina was the Prime Minister. The Biden administration entered into a slugfest with Hasina in the run up to the national elections in Bangladesh.

Sections of the diplomatic community accuse the US of toppling the Hasina regime in Bangladesh. India has urged upon the interim regime in Bangladesh led by Nobel laureate Muhammed Yunus to not drag New Delhi in domestic politics.

On Yunus watch, Bangladesh is witnessing vandals attacking the legacy of Sheikh Mujib ur Rehman, founder of the Islamic nation. Experts in India are also keeping a watch on growing involvements of China and Pakistan in matters of Bangladesh.

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Trump’s remarks that it’s for India to handle matters involving Bangladesh is seen giving a clarity amid upheavals in the Islamic nation. Trump also vowed to work with India against Islamic extremism. India’s former diplomats have argued that Islamic extremists had been behind the violent agitation in Bangladesh that ousted Hasina from the country.

Bangladesh is surrounded by India on three sides. The Islamic nation is dependent on supplies of essentials from India. Also, Bangladesh buys electricity from India.

Bangladesh also procures electricity from Nepal through Indian power infrastructure. India also has been top destinations for education and health needs of the Bangladesh nationals.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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