Bangladesh flood and the conspiracy theory?
Shahinul Khalisdar
Tax Advisor | Business Advisor/ Taxation Expertise/ Enrolled Agent (EA)/Master of Science in Taxation (MST)/ Author
Bangladesh flood and the conspiracy theory?
?
Bangladesh was previously part of United Pakistan from 1947 to 1971 but was renamed Bangladesh on January 17, 1972, as a sovereign country in 1972 after a prolonged struggle for autonomy from United Pakistan. Despite East Pakistan's larger population, most bureaucratic authority was controlled by West Pakistan, located over a thousand miles away. The central government in Islamabad military rule East Pakistan economically, politically, and culturally, leading to increased discomfort in the region.
During the debate around the creation of "Pakistan," my father lived in Calcutta. He read numerous editorials in English, Urdu, and Bangla and attended various political party meetings to understand their perspectives on the Partition. Once, my father asked Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy if they were headed in the wrong direction, to which Suhrawardy advised to show sincerity in the movement. When my father expressed concern about the distance between West and East, Suhrawardy emphasized the importance of federalism and encouraged my father to keep moving forward.
Having heard various arguments for and against the creation of Pakistan, my father tried to keep both parts of Pakistan united until December 13, 1971. However, he later dissolved the East Pakistan Peace Committee and embraced the Indian invasion. Situations changed when senior leaders such as MAG Osmani, M. A. Rab, and Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad arrived in Dhaka in January 1972, and Mujib returned on January 10th. They made it clear to Mujib that the Indian military must leave Dhaka or face a civil war.
During a family conversation, my father asked him why he made this decision. He explained that some sector commanders wanted the Indian military to leave East Pakistan and disregard the "Mitro" (Confederation) agreement between Tajuddin Ahmad and Ms. Indira Gandhi. My father disagreed with their decision that this was a historical mistake. Letting the Indian military withdraw, he senses, in the future, the nation will face serious consequences. In this world, there's no such thing as a "free lunch" unless it's done for the sake of Allah.
During my time as a Muslim student activist in the Tri-States area, I have had the opportunity to meet various Indian politicians, intellectuals, journalists, and activists. When they learned about my background as the grandson of a founding member of the Muslim League and the son of the Chairman of the Standing Committee of East Pakistan Peace Committee in 1971, they expressed their eagerness to learn from my insights. I simply told them that the people of Bangladesh, especially the Bengalis, want nothing more than to be proud of their Bengali heritage. They have “Bitch Fight” about Shadhinotar Goshok Zia,” "Jatir Pita," "Jatir Janak,” “Bangabandhu,” and “Hajar Bochor Bengali," that basically it.
With India, all Bengalis feel gratitude that India liberated them from the invader Pakistan. In Bangladesh, there is no threat to India. Bangladesh Jamaati Islami does not pose a serious threat to India, and in Bangladesh, Jamaat will never be able to form a government.
Recently, a Hindu upper caste, Pinaki Bhattacharya, has been inciting a very strong anti-Indian movement in Bangladesh that seems to be appealing to some college students. I am not sure what his motive is, but I learned that he had some personal issues with PM Hasina that led him to become anti-Hasina and anti-India. He has over a few million subscribers.
Transboundary River Water Management:
India and Bangladesh have long been at odds over how to manage their shared river flows. Fifty-four rivers between the two nations are vital to millions of people's lives in each country. Despite the signing of important treaties to govern water-sharing arrangements, such as the Kushiyara River Treaty (2022) and the Ganga Waters Treaty (1996), many significant rivers—most notably the Teesta River—remain contentious. The Teesta River is crucial for irrigation and water supply in West Bengal, as well as for agriculture in the northern part of Bangladesh.
领英推荐
Flood History
The history of Bangladesh is marked by devastating floods that have had severe impacts on both lives and property. Major floods occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries, with catastrophic consequences in certain years. The floods of 1987, 1988, 1998, and 2004 were particularly destructive, affecting large areas of land and causing significant loss of life and property damage. The catastrophic flood of 1987 affected around 40% of the country's total area and was estimated to be a once-in-30 to 70-year event. Similarly, the flood of 1988 inundated about 60% of the land and had a return period estimated at 50–100 years. The 1998 flood was comparable to the catastrophic flood of 1988 in terms of its extent, affecting over 75% of the country and leading to significant displacement, loss of life, and economic impact.
The 1999 floods, although not as severe as the 1998 floods, still caused significant damage, resulting in fatalities, homelessness, and the need for foreign assistance. The 2004 flood also submerged two-thirds of the country, posing a significant threat to lives and livelihoods.
In subsequent years, Bangladesh continued to face the recurring challenge of floods, with significant inundation and displacement in 2005 and 2007 due to heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers. These floods affected numerous villages and districts, leading to widespread homelessness and the need for relief efforts.
2024 Flood
India has denied reports claiming that the opening of a dam in Tripura has caused flooding in Bangladesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement refuting the claims, stating that the flooding in Bangladesh is actually due to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas downstream of the Gumti River and not because of the opening of India's Dumbur dam.
The statement clarified that the heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Gumti River, which flows through both countries, were the primary cause of the flooding. It pointed out that the Dumbur dam is located more than 120 km from the border and upstream of Bangladesh and that it is a low-height dam of about 30 meters. The power generated by the dam feeds a grid in Tripura, from which Bangladesh draws 40 MW.
The Indian side also mentioned that heavy rainfall has been ongoing since August 21 in Tripura and adjoining districts of Bangladesh. Automatic releases have been made in the event of heavy inflow, and real-time flood data has been shared with Bangladesh as part of a bilateral protocol. The statement emphasized that floods on rivers flowing between India and Bangladesh are a shared problem that requires close mutual cooperation towards resolving them. Additionally, it highlighted the importance of river water cooperation as an important part of bilateral engagement between India and Bangladesh.
The statement also mentioned that India remains committed to resolving issues and mutual concerns in water resources and river water management through bilateral consultations and technical discussions. It noted that water-sharing agreements have been reached on all rivers except the Teesta, which has been held up since 2011 due to opposition from the West Bengal chief minister. This is because under India’s Constitution, the governments of states through which a cross-border river flows must sign off on water-sharing agreements with another country.
Bangladesh politics:
Bangladesh Bengalis mainly wanted a “Bengali Jatir Pita" or "Jatir Janak.” I personally requested PM Hasina 30 years ago that if she ever gets the majority in the parliament without a coalition, to immediately constitutionally make “Sheikh Mujibur Rahman” Bengali Jatir Pita and to resolve the “Declaration of Independence” issue in order to move the country forward.
Unprecedently, the entire political dynamic changed. I am not sure where Bangladesh is heading. ?