Bangladeshi Professor Advocates Pakistan-Bangladesh Alliance Against India
In a shocking turn of events, a professor from Dhaka University recently made inflammatory anti-India remarks that have sparked concern across the region. The professor, Shahiduzzaman, emphasized the need for Bangladesh to collaborate with Pakistan.
He said Bangladesh should acquire nuclear capabilities and deploy missiles along the Indian border. His speech, which was widely circulated online, shows the growing anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiment taking root in Bangladeshis. The implications of this rhetoric go beyond just politics – it threatens to shape the minds of the next generation of Bangladeshis.
“We have to develop a Nuclear Treaty with Pakistan. Pakistan is the most reliable and trustworthy security ally of Bangladesh. This is exactly what the Indians don't want us to believe.”
~ Professor Shahiduzzaman, Dhaka University while addressing military officers at a seminar pic.twitter.com/gfAeZrTJcj
— Fidato (@tequieremos) September 14, 2024
What This Means for the Future of Bangladesh
When a university professor speaks with such authority, it reflects what is likely to be passed on to students. This speech signals a disturbing shift, where the future intellectuals of Bangladesh could be taught to view India as a permanent threat.
Professor Shahiduzzaman’s words weren’t just an isolated rant. They were a symbol of the wider radicalization that seems to be spreading across the country.
Looking at the political landscape, anti-India and anti-Hindu forces are consolidating power, pushing the country further into a future driven by extremism and hostility toward its neighbors.
Advocating for Pakistani Missiles
Shahiduzzaman’s speech urged Bangladesh to consider acquiring nuclear capabilities, but not necessarily in the form of weapons. Instead, he suggested a strategic partnership with Pakistan, insisting that Bangladesh needs Pakistani Ghauri missiles deployed in strategic locations like the Chittagong Hills and northern Bengal to create a deterrent against India.
He believes that India’s northeastern states are under threat of annexation by India, and only Pakistani support could prevent this.
His statement that “Bangladesh must rely on Pakistan to counter India” echoes sentiments from the 1971 war when Bangladesh fought for independence from Pakistan. The current situation, with growing pro-Pakistani rhetoric, is alarming for both nations.
Anti-India Sentiments Reach Dangerous Heights
The professor argued that Pakistan is Bangladesh’s most reliable security partner, accusing India of attempting to annex parts of Bangladesh. He emphasized that without Pakistani technical assistance, Bangladesh would be powerless to halt India’s alleged expansionist ambitions.
This incident comes just weeks after the coup of the Sheikh Hasina government. Under her leadership, anti-radical policies were at the forefront. However, with her exit, anti-India activities are becoming more vocal and visible.
One confusing statement the professor made was that “Pakistan’s heart is jealous, they do not want us to apologize to them. But they also do not want us to live with India. They are willing to do anything to save us from India.” referring to India’s relationship with Bangladesh. To clarify, he claimed that Pakistan has always resented India’s involvement in the region and does not want Bangladesh to have positive ties with India.
This kind of rhetoric only inflames historical tensions and undermines decades of progress between India and Bangladesh.
Forgetting the Past: India’s Role in Bangladesh’s Independence
What is particularly alarming is the ignorance of Bangladesh’s own history. Anti-India figures, like Professor Shahiduzzaman, seem to forget that without India’s help, Bangladesh would not have gained its independence in 1971. India stood by Bangladesh through its liberation and has continued to provide essential support in the decades since.
Even now, Bangladesh relies heavily on Indian imports of food, water, and electricity to sustain its population. Yet, despite these facts, Bangladeshis appear to be slowly rewriting its own history.
In a striking example, the 76th anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s death was recently commemorated in Dhaka with Urdu poetry and songs. This celebration was particularly ironic given that the Bangla language was central to Bangladesh’s independence movement from Pakistan.
The push toward embracing Urdu and honoring figures like Jinnah. It further shows how Bangladesh is drifting away from its foundational values. With rising anti-India and pro-Pakistan sentiments gaining ground.
However, the rising anti-India rhetoric paints a dangerous picture of a neighbor willing to turn its back on the very country that ensured its survival.
A Growing Threat to Hindu Minorities
The recent rise in anti-Hindu and anti-India rhetoric in Bangladesh is troubling for the region’s peace. Historically, it has struggled with Hindu persecution, and these inflammatory statements could exacerbate tensions between religious communities.
Hindu minorities in Bangladesh face a growing threat as Islamist forces gain more ground politically, especially with the weakening of secular forces after Hasina’s government collapsed.
This anti-India rhetoric also ties into the larger regional conflicts, where India, as a predominantly Hindu nation, faces hostility from neighboring Muslim-majority countries like Pakistan. If Bangladesh were to align more closely with Pakistan, this could further isolate the Hindu population in Bangladesh and worsen relations with India
Uncertain Future of Bangladesh
While the professor’s speech is just one part of a broader shift, it raises serious concerns about Bangladesh’s political trajectory. Is Bangladesh on the verge of becoming a satellite state of Pakistan again?
The return of pro-Pakistan rhetoric, coupled with rising anti-India sentiment, could mark the beginning of a new chapter in South Asia’s geopolitical landscape.
The professor’s inflammatory statements might signal more than just a political shift — they could be laying the foundation for a dangerous new alliance that would destabilize the region.
A Warning to India: Time for a Reality Check
For India, the time has come to reassess its relationship with Bangladesh. What was once a friendly neighbor is now on a path of radicalization and anti-India sentiment. The Indian government must prepare for the potential fallout and ensure that it is ready to protect its interests.
As Bangladesh gravitates toward aligning with Pakistan once again, it’s time to face the new political reality.
