Dr Smruti S. Pattanaik, who has been tracking South Asia for several years, has dissected in this conversation, Sheikh Hasina’s downfall from the post of Prime Minister.
A Research Fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies And Analysis, Smruti says that Hasina’s provocative words and extreme actions messed up the situation in Bangladesh.
Hasina’s wrong decisions, politically incorrect and inflammatory statements, the killing of students, and late remedial measures during the anti- quota protests, worsened the situation.
Smruti said that Hasina never cared to lend her ears to the grievances of the students and the course correction was too late.
Consequently, the Hasina government completely failed to manage the crisis.
She spoke at length about the circumstances before and after Hasina’s resignation and said that the attack on Hindu minorities cannot be justified.
The South Asia expert also enumerated reasons that led to complete lawlessness following the anti-quota protests.
Dr Pattanaik further said that the authorities did nothing to prevent the attacks and agreed that it attached no value to human lives.
Smruti said that the student movement is for a better Bangladesh, that is ruled by law, is non-discriminatory and a Bangladesh that is supposed to be democratic or on a path to the revival of democracy
The South Asia expert said that Bangladesh is facing multiple challenges.
Most of the governments are very keenly watching the situation.
She hopes that the travel advisories will probably be withdrawn by next week or next ten days.
Dr Pattanaik said that investor confidence will be restored once the situation normalizes.
As of now, investors will be very cautious and will not like to put more money in Bangladesh as things are very uncertain.
Obviously, they would look into political stability because their investment will not be secure unless you have political stability.
She pointed out that economic recovery takes a long time.
Smruti said that while it appears that the situation in Bangladesh is stabilizing, one really does not know what is going to happen.
So the interim government will make efforts to ensure that the growth rate does not fall and the confidence of the investor in Bangladesh does not reduce.
The need of the hour is to have an elected government in place.
On the status of the Rohingyas, Dr Pattanaik said that she does not think that the interim government is going to focus on Rohingyas at present.
