Excellent news14 Jan 2019 20:28
https://dailyasianage.com/news/158841/is-new-bd-cabinet-leaning-towards-china
Is new BD cabinet leaning towards China?
Irtiza Nasim Ali
Is new BD cabinet leaning towards China?Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Awami League and its allies won 288 seats in the eleventh parliamentary election in Bangladesh which was held on 30th December 2018. A new cabinet has been in the meantime constituted. The new cabinet has come to many people as a big surprise. Most of the senior Awami League leaders are absent in the new cabinet. Out of the total 47 ministers, 31 are new faces. Even there is no minister from Awami League's partners in Grand Alliance.
Political analysts could not make any prediction about such a cabinet before it was formed. It is often said that India holds much influence on Bangladesh due to its cooperation with Bangladesh during the Liberation War of 1971. India is one of the closest countries to the ruling party Awami League. However, a lot of changes have come about due to the appearance of China as a superpower which is recently exercising its geopolitical gambits on Bangladesh government.
Political connoisseurs have stated that there is a precise reflection of China's desire in the new cabinet of Bangladesh government. Senior Awami League leaders like Tofail Ahmed and Amir Hossain Amu kept up amity with India who are absent in the new cabinet. Prominent leaders like Rashed Khan Menon and Hasanul Haq Inu also had affiliations with Indian administrative and security establishments.
These two leaders are absent in the new cabinet too. These leaders had close relations with former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee and some more senior Indian politicians. Some other Awami League leaders like Asim Kumar Ukil, Mrinal Kanti Das and Shafi Ahmed also had intimacy with India. These leaders have also apparently fallen from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's grace. Awami League's Secretary General Obaidul Quader and Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni are now the only two leaders who have had good ties with Delhi.
It is often commented that India most of the time takes care of its interest with Bangladesh through leaders like Tofail Ahmed and Amir Hossain Amu. But they are no longer ministers. Now India will have to look after its interest keeping up its direct attachments with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was against India in the past. But in recent times BNP is also rushing towards New Delhi. BNP has always been an ally to China.
Some political observers may view the new cabinet as Sheikh Hasina's endeavor to put forward her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy in Bangladesh's politics. Some geopolitical experts hold the opinion that Sheikh Hasina has set up the new cabinet in such a style which can enable Sajeeb Wazed Joy to take over important responsibilities in days to come.
If India can be tactfully pushed slightly away from Bangladesh, it would be a privilege for China