Bangladesh Politician Issues Stark Warning to India Over Regional Stability

Provocative Statements from Bangladesh's National Citizen Party Leader

Guwahati, Dec 16: Hasnat Abdullah, a prominent member of Bangladesh's newly established National Citizen Party (NCP), has escalated tensions with India by issuing a stark warning that Dhaka could potentially 'isolate' India's northeastern regions if New Delhi attempts to destabilize Bangladesh.

Speaking at an all-party protest rally organized by Inqilab Mancha at Dhaka's Central Shaheed Minar on Monday, Abdullah accused India of supporting 'chaos-creators' who are allegedly trying to disrupt Bangladesh's electoral process.

He further implicated India in the recent assault on right-wing activist Osman Hadi, stating, 'We will provide refuge to separatist and anti-India factions, and we will cut off the Seven Sisters from India,' which was met with enthusiastic applause from parts of the audience.

Abdullah also claimed that India was involved in cross-border killings of Bangladeshi citizens, warning that any attempts to undermine Bangladesh's sovereignty would have repercussions throughout the region.

Known for his strong anti-India stance, Abdullah accused New Delhi of harboring political 'terrorists' from the now-banned Awami League party.

He advocated for a future Bangladeshi Parliament that would oppose Indian dominance and be firmly 'pro-Bangladesh,' insisting that Dhaka should engage with India as an equal partner rather than a subordinate.

Touching on a sensitive historical issue, the NCP leader minimized India's contribution to the 1971 Liberation War, asserting that the victory was solely Bangladesh's.

He criticized India's observance of Vijay Diwas, a day that honors Indian soldiers who fought alongside Bangladeshi forces, stating, 'Even after 54 years of independence, Bangladesh continues to face attempts by vultures to exert control.'

Abdullah, a key figure in the upcoming 2024 July Uprising, has previously targeted New Delhi, including last December when he condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments on Vijay Diwas, labeling them a 'threat to our independence.'

These remarks were made just a day before Vijay Diwas, which is commemorated annually to honor the soldiers who fought in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, culminating in the surrender of Pakistan's Army and the establishment of Bangladesh.

Approximately 93,000 Pakistani soldiers, led by General A A Khan Niazi, surrendered in what was one of the largest surrenders since World War II.