Politics in Bangladesh has been dominated by the two begums; Begam Khalida Zia, widow of late President Maj. Gen. Zia-ur-REHMA and Begam Sheikh Hasina Wajed, daughter of late President Mujib-ur- Rehman.
There are a number of pending issues with Bangladesh which inter-alia include (1) distribution of waters of rivers of Eastern India (2) influx of millions of Bangladesh is into India whom the former Home Minister, Shivraj Patil had called economic “migrants”, (3) ownership of New Moore islands also called South Talpathi islands and at times ‘Purvasha Islands’ emerging in Bay of Bengal as a result of desalting and water being poured into the Bay of Bengal by the various rivers of the region.
The island is likely to be 50,000 sq. kms. and is reported to be containing large deposits of oil and natural gas. Of late, Bangladesh has opposed the construction of Tipaimukh project in Manipur. Bangladesh has serious reservations about the project as it will impede the inflow of water into Bangladesh and their cultivation will suffer and low-lying regions could be flooded.
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Bangladesh, however, is a country which in not too distant future may cease to exist. Rising waters as a sequel to global warming and melting of snows in the Himalayan glaciers will reduce availability of land in Bangladesh; Bangladesh illegal migrants may enter India and neighbouring countries.
Sheikh Hasina Wajid captured power in late 2008 and the Awami League Govt, in Bangladesh augurs well for India. A number of disparate North-East militant groups operate from Bangladesh. They are feted and abetted by elements in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
North-East terrorist groups and their sizeable mushrooming in the region is a major worrying threat in managing insurgency in the North-East. A friendly regime in Bangladesh has caused nervousness amongst Indian insurgent groups and they might shift their infrastructure towards North-East area of Myanmar. Their nuisance value remains unmitigated.
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Bangladesh was hit by mutiny on February 25, ’09’, when thousands of gunshots and mortar fires rocked the Bangladesh Rifles headquarters in Dhaka. Angered and aggrieved Bangladesh Rifles soldiers launched a violent bloody army mutiny against their officers.
At least 100 army officers, including high ranking as Maj. General, Col. Lt. Col and Majors were brutally killed and many were reported missing. Bangladesh mutineers included shipping tycoon Slaluddin Qadeer Chowdhary, an eminent shipping magnate and reportedly very close to Pakistan military – intelligence set-off and the opposition Bangladesh National Party.
It is reported that about one crore Taka had changed hands to help the mutiny. He had also been charged with the Chittagong arms area drop case of April, 2004, the arms apparently meant for ULFA.
Bangladesh can export large quantities of natural gas to India of which it has huge deposits. However, there is considerable opposition to its trade with India, as natural gas can further resuscitate the Indian economy gas being the vital source of energy for fertilisers, power and other sectors. Bangladesh is not prepared to see India prosperous and would rather sell the gas, to a third country.