(41.92) Why Ershad in Delhi in the election year
Former President of Bangladesh and Jatiya Party Chairman General Hussain Mohammad Ershad came to Delhi with a separate meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj. It has been known that long discussions have been held between them regarding the political context of Bangladesh's upcoming national elections, including bilateral issues.
Ershad arrived in New Delhi on Sunday (July 22th) with a Jatiya Party delegation.
Earlier, in the past few months many leaders of the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP have gone to Delhi. Jatiya Party leaders also stepped in the Indian capital during the continuation of the election.
But there is a fundamental difference between Ershad's visit to Awami League or BNP leaders. The Awami League leaders came to Delhi in April on the ruling party's BJP party. And at the beginning of last month, three leaders of BNP, who came to Delhi in their own capacity, met with various politicians and think-tanks.
Ershad's visit to Delhi at that place but totally on the invitation of the Indian government. Last week, Indian High Commissioner Harsavardhana Sringala, who was in Dhaka, went to Ershad's residence and handed over his official invitation to the Indian government.
In Delhi, the Jatiya Party's other leaders, including the Ershad in the capital's elite area, have been taken to Taj Manasingh Hotel, also the Government of India's hospitality.
Within a few hours of his stay in Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had earmarked Ershad at a dinner on Sunday night. The meeting between Rajnath Singh's official residence in Delhi (17 Akbar Road) is scheduled for the dinner.
Today, the ex-military ruler of Bangladesh Ershad talks with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday afternoon. In the South Block Sushma Swaraj, the meeting lasted about 40 minutes.
Even before returning to Dhaka on Thursday (July 26th), there is also a fixed schedule for Ershad to meet some of the important leaders and ministers of India. He is also scheduled to meet with state minister of state for external affairs MJ Akbar.
But when there is only a few months left in the next general election in Bangladesh, then what exactly is the talk about the policymakers of India, Ershad?
The Joint Secretary-level official of the Indian government told the Bengali Tribune on condition of anonymity, "Actually, in the politics of Bangladesh, the Jatiya Party may not come into the main parties, but they always have a different importance. The Jatiya Party played a special role in not being able to come to the BNP in the last elections. Before the next election, how they are analyzing the political scenario of that country, we want to hear it from the mouth of the Jatiya Party. '
It should be noted here that on January 5, 2014, only a few days before the election in Bangladesh, India's Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh visited Dhaka and met with Jatiya Party leadership, along with many others, including Raushan Ershad.
There were allegations from different parties that the election can be given a legitimacy or acceptance by the national party, and the Indian government is trying to influence it.
This year, the political perspective of Bangladesh before the election is quite different. Although there is some uncertainty about whether the BNP will go to the polls to keep Khaleda Zia in jail, there is no doubt about joining Jatiya Party.
"But Jatiya Party's contributions to upholding the democracy of Bangladesh, how will they evaluate or do our biggest neighbors?" Ershad would definitely ask for the leadership of Delhi, "On condition of anonymity, on condition of anonymity, the Jatiya Party sources said.
The Jatiya Party led by General Ershad is in Delhi, among others, Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader, Presidium Member Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, Sunil Shuvo Roy and Major (Retd) Khaled Akhter.