Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India is a testament how the world community views her now as a leader to be reckoned with; and she has correctly addressed defence cooperation with New Delhi at a time of global security crisis.
I believe one has to be very irrational to criticise the visit and Sheikh Hasina does not need to care about these critics -- some of whom would be more comfortable siding with Pakistan. And others are just at the edge of their seats in total dismay as she creates a position of respect and power in the world community.
I have written in the past about how she has been a wizard in diplomacy. The imams from Saudi Arabia who toured Bangladesh and the gesture of the Saudi monarchy make it clear that she has won the hearts of Arab leaders who had been misled at one point about the ruling Awami League and Sheikh Hasina because of their ties with Pakistan.
Sheikh Hasina is bold because she is honest and she is genuinely doing everything in her power
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol to welcome Sheikh Hasina at the airport and President Pranab Mukherjee is hosting her in his presidential palace -- both rare gestures.
Modi termed the existing relations a “golden era” while Hasina said Bangladesh considers India as its “most important neighbour and one of our key development partners.”
Such friendship also strengthens democracy as it gives the government power to continue to work with firmness for the good of the country. Modi spoke out on the defence understanding, assuring critics that a $500 million line of credit for Dhaka’s defense related procurement would be “guided by Bangladesh’s needs and priorities.”
There are many such instances related to our PM’s diplomatic calibre, but the most important part of the this defence pact is that it gives a signal to certain quarters not to be adventurous in matters relating to Bangladesh.
It is indeed a true example of what we would deem a “balance of power.”
Every statement was accurately given, with few exceptions, by Sheikh Hasina at the joint press conference, and that was indeed a welcome change from the usual “read text only.”
It also demonstrated our PM’s maturity in such a major meeting.
I have even seen some politicians clamouring against her visit. I can only say they do so because they have lost the game by always taking an anti-India stance in public but offering everything to India behind the scenes.
Sheikh Hasina is bold because she is honest and she is genuinely doing everything in her power for the betterment of this country, which was previously headed towards its doomsday when pro-Pakistani elements ruled in the past -- those who never wanted Bangladesh to be a great country.
Nadeem Qadir is the Press Minister of the Bangladesh High Commission in London.
