Transition Point In Indo-Bangladesh Relationship: Harsh Shringla | Exclusive

New Delhi: As Bangladesh remains on the boil due to students protests against govt jobs quota in the country, former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla spoke exclusively with Republic Media Network over the nature of the protests and the transition point In Indo-Bangladesh relationship.

While talking about India-Bangladesh ties, Harsh Vardhan Shringla said that India has always supported Bangladesh in its development and people of both the nation have benefitted greatly.

“We have looked to every way of supporting Bangladesh in its developmental journey and from that perspective, I think the two countries have come a long way and the people of both the countries have benefitted greatly but that is a relationship which is unique and we don't want great power interest to come in,” said Shringla, adding “We have always pursued a policy that is based on mutual respect for their sovereignty... Whatever we do has to benefit both Bangladesh  and India and vice versa. That policy over the last 15 years has held us in a very good state. Over the last 10 years, think we have achieved more with Bangladesh than we have achieved in the last 35 years.”

“Bangladesh has to be a partner country with whom we have strong people to people connect. We certainly want Bangladesh to be peaceful and stable neighbour and we don't want to see great power rivalry in Bangladesh.”

Sharing insights on the current situation in the violence hit-Bangladesh, former foreign secretary emphasised on the significance of students in shaping the country and how they acted as a barometer of public opinion from the early days.

"Quota issue is something that a lot of young people in sovereignty are concerned about because quotas were instituted in 1972 after sovereignty gained its independence, essentially to provide for the descendants of freedom fighters, something similar to hat we did after 1947," he said.

Explaining why people are now opposing the quota system, he said “But 53 years after Bangladesh's independence, a lot of young people are saying is it necessary to have such high levels of reservations for govt jobs especially at a time when the economy is not doing so well. There are underlying factors to all of this,” he added.

He further said that Bangladesh reserves 56 per cent of all seats in govt sector for various categories (30% for descendants of freedom fighters, 10% for backward districts, 10% for women and 5% for ethnic minorities and 1% for physically challenged.)

“So from that perspective students are now saying that they want a level-playing fieild and this quota system has to be done away with.”

He said that the movement has taken a political turn as BNP got involved in this business. Notably, BNP was not a part of last two general elections in the country.