Has 'Big Brother' India failed to perceive the people's voice?

M A Hossain

India and China, the two nuclear-armed Asian giants were in a significant escalation of a weeks-long standoff at Galwan valley in the western Himalayas. Nepalese people are becoming furious with India as regards transgression of borders demarcation. Pakistan has intensified border skirmishes along with Jammu and Kashmir border. Bangladesh has got duty-free access to 97 per cents of its exported products. More so, China becomes the strategic development partner of Bangladesh. Sri Lanka is already in the debt trap of China and becomes the strategic partner of defense, and economy now why the South Asian theatre is in turmoil and engaged with "rivalry neighborhoods" policy.

In South Asia, India is a big and strong, powerful nation. As a mighty nation, they have huge responsibilities for the neighbours, which will pave the way for peace and balance with this region. We heard about "neighbourhoods first" policy from Mr Norendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. But it is only a saying. India beleaguered Nepal for six days during the earth quack crisis in 2015. That blunder of India turned Nepalese people into foes from friends. All Power nations in the world are looking for opportunities to scramble for enlarging with new allies. China took the chance and bagged Nepal with its bloc. India should have been felt the pulse of the Nepalese. In my opinion, India ignored the people's voice in to Nepal and tried to tie up with political power only in the past.

Birth of India and Pakistan were nothing but a mockery. The only cause of the creation of the two nations was the eagerness of power of the leaders during that time. Neither Pakistan became an Islamic country with sharia law nor India became the only land for Hindus where India is a secular country. Indian politicians always undermined Pakistan Army and tried to develop a relationship of to between Pakistani politicians. But in reality, significant percent of Pakistani people are with their Army. That's why the Army has a strong influence on defense and foreign policy. Here also, India failed to listen to the people's voice. Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a sudden visit to ex-PM of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif on the eve of his birthday in a bid to cool down strain relations between two rivals. But that agitated Pakistan Army and rest we all know. From history, we can see leaders of both sides tried to exploit the people with communalism for their smooth stay in power. That's why Pakistan is now a failed state, and India, we will conclude from with the end of this article.

Government to government relations between India, and Bangladesh are at ever best. But people of Bangladesh need equal water sharing, restrained attitudes from BSF, equal trade opportunity, no stark meddling in national politics. We remember and recognize the contributions of India in 1971. But the post-71 generations also observed the way India walked out from Bangladesh bloc on Rohingya crisis with Myanmar. They also tally, how many Indians were killed by the Bangladeshi border guards last decades? Why our pharmaceutical products are barred from exporting to India by its government? During the crisis period of the onion(2019), rice(2008), fertilizer (2004), India always shown their noncooperation. Bangladesh has given everything that India needs, but peoples of Bangladesh are now checking their balance. They may think otherwise, India took an advantage in 1971 and flash their double-faced attitude afterward. Only two countries were restrained themselves from voting against Myanmar on the Rohingya crisis in the United Nations resolution. 

India must not ignore the voice to the people of Bangladesh who instated Bangladesh Awami League in power. Father of the nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman belongs to this party. He declared the foreign policy" friendship to all malice to none" that we still follow. But at the same time, we must remember his ideology-" I don't want prime ministership; I want to make my people smile". His party is in power, and his daughter is the present Prime Minister of Bangladesh, who always gives priority to the people's demands like her father.

From the Mohavarat or Ramayana, we learnt the strained relations between India and Sri Lanka. Two nations differed from their religious beliefs. Indian Hindus confess Ram as Lord where Sri Lankans profess Rabon. Over time, both the countries had chequered relations of between influence, economy. India's instigation on a bloody war between Tamil and Sinhalese tribes had scathed the heart of the SriLankans. Now China took the opportunity and became a reliable strategic partner.

Coronavirus pandemic has put super power's order at stake. Now China is emerging as a superpower contrasting with the United States. So this is the high time for China to constrain the US allies. As a non-aligned nation, India has always sought to balance the influence of superpowers. Still, now Delhi has built closer political, and defence ties with Washington and the US has become one of India's top arms suppliers. India also aligned it's interesting much more strongly with Japan, Australia and ASEAN. Indian alignment with anti-China blocs has stoked the deterioration of Sino-India relations. The convergence of Indian and American geopolitical interests has compelled China to be aggressive on India. Some ruling party leaders in India have called for a boycott of Chinese goods. This tactic was successful during 1947 against British occupants. Because that movement had a mission - freedom from the British colony, but what is the purpose this time against China. Maybe confused because at first ruling party leaders should ensure the supply of cheap rated products like China then calls for a boycott, and that would be meaningful. Despite the tensions, India received 750 million dollars from the China-led Asian Infrastructure Development Bank to cope with the effects of Covid-19 on the poor and vulnerable groups. India is the dependent on China regarding power sectors, electronic households, various raw materials. So here, bigwigs of the ruling party are missing the pulse of Indian people.

The conflict between China and India will not bring any benefit to their neighbors. Instead, both countries are not capable of engaging each other. War is nothing but destroying money and lives. So if they listen to their people, definitely they will be in the right track and settle all the problems diplomatically. Both sides must keep their demagogue's mouth shut. Asian regional leaders must come to a consensus for avoiding the next "water war" shortly.

This article published at:

1. The New Nation, Bangladesh :29 June 20

2. South Asia Journal, USA:30 June 20

3. Review Nepal, Nepal :30 June 20

4. The Seoul Times : South Korea :01 July 20

Traumatized next generation must now be given priority

 
M A Hossain


A prolonged lockdown due to Covid-19 has made our life confined within our rooms. Conscious people restricted their movement from outside in fear of getting infected from others. At present, Bangladesh becomes the new epicenter for spreading the deadly coronavirus in South Asia. So, people are very much worried and in anxiety about their mundane matters. But what about our innocent children. Do we really aware of providing healthy environment for children in our homes. Because, situation at present in Bangladesh no less than in comparison to Yemen, Syria — where a future generation are growing up with psychological disorders. 


All income classes are facing tremendous economic recession, monetary crisis, social insecurity, losing job, rise of daily commodity price which makes very difficult to feed family members. It causes psychological breakdown of family members and effected children with mal nutrition. That's why, attitude of our adults are becoming testy and impatient. Due to social isolation, we are losing control over our behavior day by day. As a result, we are ignoring to recognize and address our children's mental health. Many times, parents are engaged with a squabble and in that scenario our kids are feeling insecure, maybe our high-pitched altercation, make kids to hide behind the door or even under the bed which is a similar scenario in a war torn country when fighting aircraft drop bombs.


Even, if we are very much conscious about our children then how do we be taking care of them during lockdown. We don't allow them to go outside. We don't allow them to mix with others. They can't play outside which is very essential for them. We are not allowing them to go to school, and they miss their friends, teachers, playgrounds. And in confined life, when our children are feeling monotonous, we provide them tab, mobile, cartoon show, Internet to quell. We all do this in good faith but these restrictions and concessions are making them psychologically imbalance.


Our children behavioral patterns are changed. They become short tempered. They are not satisfied with anything. They shout and cry with loud voice for very tiny matter. Parents are also lost their patience by now and make the mistake by scolding or exercising corporal punishments. All the classes have lost their patience but suffer only the weaker.


There is a drastic change in our children's schedule. As the school is closed, so their social exposure is strongly hampered. Definitely they are frustrated and struggled with boredom but cannot make understand others. They are missing the story to tell their parents about school, friends, teachers. Akin guests are also not visiting our house which also creates anxiety and mental stress on them where they deprive of love and affections from others.


Now, if we talk about our adolescent children, they are prone to suffering tremendous mental stress during the pandemic. Browsing the internet is the only job which they spend most of the time during lockdown. Their physical exhaustion is heavily hampered. Their mental stress are increasing day by day because of missing -hobnobbing, sharing thoughts with friends. And in no way, face-to-face appearance can be substituted by digital communications. So social isolation and loneliness increased the risk of depression. Another thing, we have lost the tradition of joint family in Bangladesh. So in a single family, adolescent children meet their parents in dining time. Parents are also busy with chores, reading books, watching serials, news, talk shows or business matters. How much quality time do we spend with our adolescent children? The question remains!


Now some recommendations that I put for thought for the government as well as parents. First, government should take a crass program targeting our future generation. A healthy plan for school opening, means all on a sudden not to open school in a full scale. Gradually we should increase educational pressure keeping aside our tendency of covering the closure's gaps. TVC of psychological recovery should be featured in media targeting our children. A heavy and strong committee headed by the world renowned psychologist Saima Wazed Hossain (also advisor to Prime Minister) could be formed who will guide the government to discharge its duties related to our children. Secondly, parents should spend quality time with their children. Small scale of physical exercises like jogging on the rooftop, gardening could be encouraged to the family members together. Thirdly, family members are to be encouraged to perform religious rites and to learn religious knowledge. Parents should create innovative ideas and situations where minors will be engaged to keep them busy and thinking. Misinformation to the children about coronavirus must be avoided by the parents.


WHO and UNICEF should assist Bangladesh to guide and to run the nutrition program in schools. Last but not the list, our devastated economy would turn around and stand one day but our traumatized and mal nutrition prone future generation can never be competent to lead the country when their turn will come.

The article published at:
1. The New Nation, Bangladesh :23 june20

Options left for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

M A Hossain

Last couple of weeks, North Korea was showing an aggressive attitudes towards South Korea and finally on 16v June 2020, North has blown- up a liaison office set up as symbolic wage on South in Kaesong. Needless to say, this is a provocative activity to create pressure only on Mr. Moon Jae-in who is betting on Trump-Kim negotiations where sanctions on North Korea will be withdrawn by the US provided North must dismantles it's nuclear programs. To make the situation crystal clear, i need to recap the Trump-Kim saga.

After the Iran debacle, President Donald Trump most possibly  faced another challenge in the Korean Peninsula. There were two summits between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un where we found indications of disagreements between North Korea and the US. Before the summit, President Trump said in a statement "The Libyan model was a much different model. We decimated that country. We never said to Gaddafi, Oh, we are going to give you protection. We went in and decimated him, and we did the same thing with Iraq [Saddam Hussein]. That model would take place if we don't make a deal".

On the benefits of denuclearization, President Trump said,"A deal will make Kim[Kim Jong Un] very strong. He would be there[in power], he would be running the country, his country [North Korea] would be very rich".

From the statements and sentiment of the Trump administration, it was evidently clear that Kim Jong Un is going to face a very difficult time if he doesn't listen to Washington's dictation. But, in my opinion, Pyongyang long-time ally Beijing may not let their old friend Kim Jong Un be defeated by the US hostility. Because, Chinese policymakers know, fall of socialism in North Korea and Kim Jong Un having the 'similar fate of Gaddafi' may actually pave the highway for the US in ultimately starting another long-term game plan of destabilizing communist rule in China.

Those who are considering Kim Jong Un as a fool like or coward like Mikhail Gorbachev are certainly wrong. In my personal opinion, any tactic of threatening would be counter productive in case of Korean crisis.

But, what North would  get in exchange of its positive changes are not cleared by the US and South Korea. Still there is no commitments from the US President Donald Trump rather makes the situation fishy by not lifting sanctions on North Korea. At this moment, this peace process does not seem to be reciprocal from counter part of North Korea.

We must not forget, 23,000 US troops are stationed in South Korea to protect it from North. USA is selling billions dollars weapons to South Korea and Japan because of threat from North Korea. Moreover from South Korea US can keep its arch-foe China under surveillance. Now it is almost clear that Mr. Trump is not going to compromise with this present scenario and get his administration involved in the withdrawal proposal of the US troops from Korean Peninsula.

President Trump was unable to spend a single day at his office without chaos and controversy. Starting from Russia meddling, fake news, nuclear deal, impeachment, firing staffs from office, trade war, coronavirus, recent police brutalities and of course his unprecedented, impolitic, insane and inane rants to the media. So he some how managed Iran issue by neutralizing strategic high value target (HVT)(Quassem Solaymani) and put North Korea issue on his gamble table. It is clearly perceived that Mr.Trump is buying time for his second term presidential campaign on this issue.

Kim Jong Un needs to urgently create a strong media base similarly as he has successfully done in the case of developing nuclear technology. He needs to remember - a nation without media strength is certainly helpless and even isolated in the age of advance technology.

Till the next US presidential election, anti-US bloc will be more proactive and aggressive on the US allies. May be this is the appropriate time to change the world order.So, it is a very crucial time for Kim and his nation to take every step carefully and diplomatically. Kim Jong Un must senses the foreboding of every future consequence.

This  article published at:
1. The Arabian Post, UAE:17 June 20
2. Modern Ghana, Ghana :17 June 20

3. Review Nepal, Nepal :20 June 20
4. The Seoul Times, South Korea :22 June 20

5. Weekly blitz, Bangladesh : 25 June 20

6. The New Nation, Bangladesh :01 July 20

7. News Today, Bangladesh