This step of the Mohammad Yunus government has increased the concern that the arrival of Pakistani goods without inspection and scrutiny may encourage illegal transfer and smuggling of weapons. The roots of terrorism are very deep in Pakistan and the anti-India campaign has been going on there for a long time.
The interim government of Bangladesh led by Professor Muhammad Yunus has recalled its diplomats from five countries including India a day earlier. This step of Bangladesh government is the latest in the series of deteriorating relations with India. As part of its diplomatic changes, the Yunus government has carried out the second phase of reshuffle in the domestic administration as well as the diplomatic service in Bangladesh. Under this, the ambassadors of Bangladesh posted in the Permanent Mission of the United Nations in New Delhi, Brussels, Canberra, Lisbon and New York have been immediately recalled.
This step of Mohammad Yunus comes after his meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the United Nations meeting in New York last month. In another shocking move, Bangladesh National Board of Revenue (NBR) has abolished mandatory physical inspection of goods imported from Pakistan to make trade with Pakistan simpler and easier. With this, Pakistan has become the only country to get such facility in Bangladesh. Before this, every shipment coming from Pakistan was closely monitored and rigorously checked.
What does Bangladesh import from Pakistan?
Bangladesh imports a variety of products from Pakistan including cotton, yarn, chemicals, wheat, plastic materials, leather and petroleum products. Other major imports include foods such as baby food, rice and fruits, as well as surgical instruments and electric fans. Pakistani media quoted sources as saying that removing mandatory inspections would reduce delays and potentially reduce costs. But Indian experts fear that this will facilitate the movement of prohibited goods like arms and ammunition.
Concern increased due to this step of Bangladesh
This step of the Mohammad Yunus government has increased the concern that the arrival of Pakistani goods without inspection and scrutiny may encourage illegal transfer and smuggling of weapons. The roots of terrorism are very deep in Pakistan and the anti-India campaign has been going on there for a long time. Apart from this, Pakistan also has a dark history against Bangladesh. After independence in 1947, Bangladesh became part of Pakistan and was known as East Pakistan, where many atrocities were committed by Pakistani rulers. However, with the help of India, Bangladesh could become independent from the clutches of Pakistan in 1971.
Why are you angry with India?
Sheikh Hasina was in power in Bangladesh for the last 15 years. Their relations with India were very good but on August 5, 2024, after a month-long student movement and nationwide unrest, when Hasina fled from Dhaka and reached India and with the help of the army, Mohammad Yunus became the head of the interim government there, since then both the countries The tension in the relationship is increasing. This is also because Mohammad Yunus wants to extradite Sheikh Hasina from India but India has maintained silence on it. Sheikh Hasina has been a friend of India and a staunch critic of Pakistan. It was under the leadership of his father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that Bangladesh became independent from Pakistan.
Why is Bangladesh important for India?
Bangladesh is of great importance for India as it is very important to connect the geographically isolated north-eastern states with the Bay of Bengal. The two countries share more than 4,000 kilometers of land and sea border in the Bay of Bengal but Bangladesh has abolished mandatory 100 per cent inspection of all goods imported from there to appease Pakistani rulers. The Mohammad Yunus government argues that the move is aimed at speeding up custom clearance and increasing trade. However, experts are saying that with this step Yunus has shot himself in the foot because the path that has been opened for trade can become a path for supply of terrorism. This has posed a threat to Bangladesh as well as India.
