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News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Shattered Hope: Bangladesh & The Unfinished Dream Of Freedom
Sain G.M. Syed laid the ideological foundation for a separate Sindhi state as early as 1971, inspired by the liberation of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan). His dream, and ultimately mine, was to break free from the theocratic and militarised state of Pakistan—a nation that has been consistently dominated by the Pakistan Army and manipulated by jihadi Islamist groups. The freedom of Bangladesh was not just a geopolitical event; it was a torch of hope for us in Sindh. When I read about the sacrifices and courage of the Bangladeshi people, and about the leadership of Shaikh Mujibur Rahman, it stirred something deep within me. Mujib was not only the architect of Bangladesh's independence, but also a friend of Sain G.M. Syed. He even visited Sindh on our leader's invitation—a visit that symbolized the solidarity of two oppressed nations under the yoke of an unjust state. It was Bangladesh's liberation—with the vital support of India—that inspired me to engage in student politics. It wasn't about power, popularity, or personal gain. It was about a cause larger than life: the right to self-determination, the dream of a secular, democratic, and peaceful Sindhudesh. For decades, I believed that Bangladesh was a successful example of that dream, proof that resistance could triumph against oppression. Years later, I found myself in exile in America. My first international media interview took place in Houston, Texas, during the 'Howdy Modi' event. There, I told India TV that we had come not only to welcome the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, but to appeal to him. As the leader of the world's largest democracy, and as a neighbour with a shared history of resistance to extremism, we looked to India for help—just as it had helped the Bengali people in 1971. We believed that India would also stand with Sindh. But those hopes have been painfully shattered in recent years. A tragic reversal has taken place in Bangladesh—one that breaks the heart of any freedom lover. In 2024, forces backed by Pakistan's notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), along with Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and quiet support from some Western powers, orchestrated a political upheaval. The secular, pro-India government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—daughter of Shaikh Mujibur Rahman—was pushed out. She was forced into exile, ending a decade-long era of remarkable economic growth and relative stability. Under Hasina's leadership, Bangladesh had become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Despite starting from a position of poverty and devastation, she steered her country past Pakistan, whose economy continues to survive on international bailouts and military patronage. Bangladesh under Hasina was a beacon for us. It proved that post-colonial states could chart an independent, secular, and economically prosperous path. But now, the nightmare has returned. The streets of Dhaka and Chittagong echo once more with the chants of Islamist slogans. ISI-backed operatives walk freely in government circles. Even China, with its expanding influence and authoritarian leanings, has found a new base of operations in Bangladesh. What was once a story of hope is now marred by fear and regression. Advertisement How did this happen? Why did this happen? And who is to blame? These are the questions that haunt me. I've spoken with scholars, activists, and intellectuals from Bangladesh and around the world. The consensus is sobering: we are all responsible. Not just the political actors within Bangladesh, but also those outside who failed to protect democracy and secularism. To me, however, this is also a story of unfinished business. When India helped liberate Bangladesh in 1971, it only cut off one finger from the cancerous hand of Pakistan. The rest of the hand—Punjab-dominated military, religious extremism, and jihadist networks—was left untouched. That cancer continued to spread, metastasizing through Kashmir, Balochistan, Sindh, and even within Pakistan itself. The strategic mistake was stopping short of a full disintegration of Pakistan. Time and again, I have heard the argument that a further Balkanization of Pakistan would have created more unstable and hostile neighbors for India. But history tells us otherwise. The real danger lies in leaving a militarized and extremist state intact. If Pakistan had been fully dismantled in 1971, and its constituent oppressed nations like Balochistan, Sindh, and Pashtunistan were allowed self-rule, we would not be facing the security threats we see today—from proxy wars to cross-border terrorism. advetisement India invested over $7 billion in Bangladesh in recent years. It built roads, ports, and power stations. It signed defense and trade agreements. It even supported counter-terrorism efforts. And yet, all of this progress was undone not just by local forces but by a combination of geopolitical negligence and short-term diplomacy. This should be a wake-up call—not just for India, but for all democracies in the region. There is still time to act. Bangladesh can be saved from falling back into the abyss. But that will require renewed commitment from democratic nations, including India, to support the people of Bangladesh—not just its governments. The legacy of Sheikh Mujib must not be buried under the rubble of Islamist revivalism. Similarly, the dream of Sindhudesh, Balochistan, and a free Pashtun land must be revived with the same passion and vision that brought Bangladesh its freedom. Our hopes may be shattered, but our spirit is not. For those of us who were inspired by Bangladesh's fight for independence, we must continue to resist the forces of oppression and religious extremism. History has shown us that no tyranny lasts forever. But justice, like freedom, must be demanded—and sometimes, fought for. advetisement
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
8 Days, 5 Nations: How PM Modi Packs His Itinerary To Cover Maximum Ground
Last Updated: It will also be yet another example of PM Modi's hallmark of packing his itinerary to the hilt to get the most out of his time on such official trips When Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on an eight-day-long five-nation tour on July 2, it will be among his longest and most expansive foreign tours, covering two continents. It will also be yet another example of PM Modi's hallmark of packing his itinerary to the hilt to get the most out of his time on such official trips. The last time PM Modi went on a 5-nation trip before this was in 2016 to the USA, Mexico, Switzerland, Afghanistan, and Qatar from June 4 to June 8 that year. This time, he is visiting Ghana, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, and Namibia for eight days between July 2 and July 9. This will include spending four days in Brazil for the BRICS summit. PM Modi has once visited six nations in one trip that also lasted eight days – these were Russia and five Central Asian countries in July 2015. Another 8-day-long trip by PM Modi was in 2019, to the USA. The PM had then visited three cities – New York, Houston, and Chicago. Modi then attended the UN General Assembly and met then-President Donald Trump at the 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston. PM Modi's longest trip at nine days was in 2015 when he visited France, Germany and Canada, and in 2014, he had made a 9-day long trip to Myanmar, Australia and Fiji. The secret here is having a very tight itinerary with back-to-back engagements and travelling on many occasions by night to save time and not spending many nights in hotels abroad. Many a time, the checked-in baggage on PM's flights remains on the plane as the itinerary is so packed. PM Modi will embark from Delhi for Ghana on July 2. This will be the Prime Minister's first-ever bilateral visit to Ghana. This Prime Ministerial visit from India to Ghana is taking place after three decades. In the second leg of his visit, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, PM Modi will pay an Official Visit to Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) from July 3-4. This will be his first visit to the country as Prime Minister and the first bilateral visit at the Prime Ministerial level to T&T since 1999. The Prime Minister is also expected to address a Joint Session of the Parliament of T&T. In the third leg of his visit, at the invitation of Argentine President Javier Milei, the Prime Minister will travel to Argentina on an Official Visit from July 4-5. In the fourth leg of his visit, at the invitation of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the Prime Minister will travel to Brazil from July 5-8, 2025, to attend the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 followed by a State Visit. This will be the Prime Minister's fourth visit to Brazil. The Prime Minister is also likely to hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summit. In the final leg of his visit, at the invitation of Namibian President Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the Prime Minister will embark on a State Visit to Namibia on July 9. This will be the first visit of the Prime Minister to Namibia, and the third ever Prime Ministerial visit from India to Namibia. First Published:
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Congress slams Govt over US advisory, calls it ‘another diplomatic failure'
With the US issuing an advisory for its citizens travelling to India, Congress Tuesday hit out at the Centre calling it 'another diplomatic failure' of PM Narendra Modi-led government. At a press conference, Chairperson of the Congress digital and social media platforms Supriya Shrinate said: 'It is yet another diplomatic failure of the Modi government that the same country under the same leader whom Modi had gone out of way to appease by organising shows like 'Howdy Modi', 'Namaste Trump' and 'Ab ki Bar Trump Sarkar' was repeatedly heaping and hurling insults on India.' '… an advisory is being issued against us while Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir is being invited to enjoy a meal with US President Trump, who has, in turn, hyphenated India and Pakistan,' Shrinate said.
Express Tribune
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Modi makes debut on Truth Social, highlights friendship with Trump in first post
Listen to article Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his debut on Truth Social, the social media platform owned by Trump Media and widely associated with former US President Donald Trump, on Monday. Modi's move to join the platform marks a new chapter in his social media engagement, particularly on a platform where President Trump has a significant presence. In his first post, Modi, who used the term "Truths" for his posts on the platform, shared a picture with his 'good friend' President Trump. He wrote, 'Delighted to be on Truth Social! Looking forward to interacting with all the passionate voices here and engaging in meaningful conversations in the times to come.' This marked his entry into the growing digital connection between the two leaders. In his second post, PM Modi shared a link to his recent 3-hour podcast with Lex Fridman, a renowned podcaster and computer scientist. The podcast touched upon a wide range of topics, from leadership to global affairs. Trump himself had highlighted the podcast, further strengthening the bond between the two leaders. In the post, Modi expressed his gratitude, saying, 'Thank you, my friend, President Trump. I've covered a wide range of topics, including my life journey, India's civilisational outlook, global issues, and more.' During the podcast, which aired Sunday, Modi revealed that he and Trump connect deeply due to their shared approach of prioritizing their countries. He also reflected on their mutual trust, which remained strong even during Trump's absence from office under President Joe Biden's administration. Modi fondly recalled an instance during Trump's first term when the US President bypassed security protocol to agree to a request to take a lap around the stadium during the 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston. The development signals a significant moment in Modi's digital presence, especially as he aligns himself with a platform popular among Trump's supporters
Bloomberg
16-02-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Indian Markets Feel the Chill in Trump-Modi Ties
When Narendra Modi dropped in on Donald Trump last week, there was none of the bear-hugging bonhomie that was on display at the White House Rose Garden in 2017. The hand-clasping bromance from the 2019 'Howdy Modi' event in Houston was also missing. The Indian prime minister came bearing trade concessions on Harley-Davidson bikes and Tesla cars, yet the US president met him wielding a fat stick of tariffs. Trump set a frosty tone to the much-anticipated rendezvous when shortly before receiving Modi, he announced reciprocal tariffs worldwide: The US will tax foreign goods at the same rate other nations apply to its products.
