After the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, tough steps are being taken by India against Pakistan, which has intensified the stir in Islamabad. At a time when tensions between India and Pakistan are at their peak, a controversial statement has also come from Bangladesh, which has put a new rift in the relations between New Delhi and Dhaka.
Provocative remarks of Bangladeshi retired general
Retired Major General ALM Fazlur Rahman, considered close to the interim government of Bangladesh, has said that if India attacks Pakistan, then Bangladesh should take the opportunity and occupy the seven states of India’s northeast.
This statement has come at a time when after the departure of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, tension is being seen in diplomatic relations between the interim government there and India.
Statement on Facebook, also advocated military alliance with China
Fazlur Rahman wrote in his Facebook post:
“If India attacks Pakistan, then Bangladesh should occupy the seven northeastern states of India. For this, it is necessary to formulate a common military strategy with China.”
His statement can further deteriorate India-Bangladesh relations, especially when the government led by Mohammad Yunus has already shown closeness to Chinese officials.
Who is ALM Fazlur Rahman?
Fazlur Rahman was the head of BDR (now BGB) during the India-Bangladesh border conflict in 2001, in which 16 BSF soldiers were martyred.
He is currently the chairman of the National Independent Investigation Commission, appointed by interim Prime Minister Mohammad Yunus.
Through this institution, which is investigating the Pilkhana massacre of 2009, he is claiming to expose foreign conspiracies.
He has also been given status equal to that of a judge of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
Hidden intention behind the statement?
Political analysts believe that this statement of Rahman may not only have been given at the behest of China, but its purpose may also be a strategy to surround India on two fronts – Pakistan on one side, Bangladesh on the other.
It is worth noting that recently an official of the Yunus government had also challenged India’s strategic position by calling Bangladesh the real ‘gateway’ of South Asia.
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