In a dramatic gesture symbolizing growing discord between Bangladesh and India, Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, senior joint secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), publicly set fire to an India-made bedsheet during a protest in Rajshahi on Tuesday.
The bedsheet, reportedly manufactured in Jaipur, Rajasthan, was burned as part of a “Boycott Indian Products” campaign organized by the BNP. Holding up the bedsheet before tossing it into the flames, Rizvi declared, “This bedsheet is from India’s Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan… We are doing this to protest against Indian aggression.”
Party members sprinkled kerosene on the bedsheet before setting it ablaze. The crowd, chanting pro-Bangladesh and anti-India slogans, stomped on the burning fabric to amplify their message.
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Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the BNP leader who burned his wife’s Indian saree, is now burning a Jaipur-made quilt and calling for a ban on Indian items in Bangladesh.pic.twitter.com/V1DukbRD0V
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) December 10, 2024
Escalating Protests Against Indian Goods
This act follows a pattern of similar demonstrations by Rizvi. Last week, the BNP leader burned his wife’s India-made saree during a rally in Dhaka, calling it a protest against “disrespect to the Bangladeshi national flag in India.” Earlier this year, he discarded an Indian shawl during a public event, citing similar grievances.
The BNP’s actions come amid heightened nationalist rhetoric in Bangladesh, as the party accuses India of backing Sheikh Hasina, the country’s former prime minister and leader of the Awami League. Rizvi accused India of interfering in Bangladesh’s internal politics, stating, “Their friendship is only with Sheikh Hasina.”
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Retaliatory Protests in India
The protests in Bangladesh have triggered reciprocal demonstrations in India. In Kolkata’s Salt Lake area, the Bengali Hindu Suraksha Samiti recently organized a protest condemning alleged atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. As part of their demonstration, protesters burned Bangladeshi-made Dhakai Jamdani sarees and called for a boycott of goods from Bangladesh.
Diplomatic Efforts to Ease Tensions
Amid the escalating tensions, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka on Monday, holding high-level talks with Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government. This marks the first significant diplomatic engagement since the military-backed caretaker government assumed power in Bangladesh.
During the meeting, Yunus urged India to “clear the clouds” that have strained bilateral ties. Meanwhile, Misri expressed New Delhi’s concerns over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, describing such incidents as “regrettable.”
Historical and Political Context
India and Bangladesh share deep historical, cultural, and economic ties. However, relations have been strained recently due to political rivalries, allegations of interference, and tensions over minority rights.
The BNP’s anti-India stance is rooted in its perception of New Delhi’s close ties with the Awami League. These protests highlight the BNP’s strategy of leveraging nationalist sentiments to rally support as Bangladesh prepares for its next general election.
While diplomatic channels remain open, the tit-for-tat protests underline the fragility of bilateral relations. Analysts suggest that both nations need to address core grievances through dialogue to prevent further escalation.
