Rohingya repatriation, Bangladeshi channels on Indian networks could figure in Hasina-Modi talks | India News
While there have been incidents of violence against minority Hindus in Bangladesh, it has also had to deal with the adverse impact of CAA-NRC that was being propagated by the Modi government till a year back, and BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s controversial statement that had its impact in most Muslim-dominated countries including Bangladesh. The Hasina government that has been propagating a secular state, has had trouble dealing with backlash from fundamentalists, over these issues that otherwise seem to be part of India’s domestic politics, say sources in Dhaka.
Speaking to ANI, on the eve of her Delhi visit, Hasina on Sunday said, “… as long as we are in power, we always give importance to well that (wellbeing of minority Hindus) and I always tell them (Hindus) that you are our citizens. You should own our country. But some incidents, sometimes take place, but we take immediate action. Yet sometimes it happens… it’s an unwanted situation but you know very well it is not only in Bangladesh… even in India sometimes minorities suffer… So I think that both the countries should show their magnanimity and on our part, Bangladesh is a secular country, we have many religions… religious harmony… So, when one or two incidents happen… especially my party… my party people are very conscious on it and also my government… we take immediate action, but it has to be from both sides (of the border). There should be more… I mean cooperation with each other.”
Bangladesh feels that since India too faces the problem of Rohingya refugees, India should talk to Myanmar on repatriation of the refugees, the burden of which has been weighing heavy on Bangladesh. “A number of Rohingyas are coming to Bangladesh from India through fenced areas in recent times which is a matter of worry. Bangladesh has asked India to take measures to halt the entry of the Rohingyas as Dhaka reported the arrival of some Myanmar nationals in the past weeks,” according to government sources in Dhaka.
During the liberation war of Bangladesh, the No.8 building on Theatre Road in Kolkata, was the first office of the “Mujibnagar Government.” Hence the Hasina government wants India to hand over the building to Bangladesh, so that Bangladesh can preserve the historically important architecture.
Apart from sharing waters and trade issues, Bangladesh is keen to have its TV channels to run in India, just as Indian channels are beamed across the border. It has been a long pending plea from Dhaka that “Bangladesh allows most Indian channels like other foreign TV channels, on its cable network and Indian channels earn a significant amount by selling advertisements as well as a subscription to Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and households. But India stops Bangladeshi channels from entering the same network, while allowing other foreign channels. India will allow broadcasting of Bangladeshi TV channels in exchange for a minimum amount of Rs 5 crores for registration and more than Rs 2.5 crores for the regular telecast,” that Dhaka feels is “unfair.”