Opposition figures in Bangladesh sought to stoke anti-India sentiments, particularly as Sheikh Hasina secured her fourth consecutive term in office, bolstering her close ties with India. After months of silence, Prime Minister Hasina has launched a full-scale offensive against the opposition's "Boycott India" campaign. Known for her fondness for traditional attire like the sari, Hasina utilised this cultural symbol to confront her political adversaries.
#Bangladesh #SheikhHasina #OppositionBNP #BoycottIndia #IndiaOut #BNP #Campaign #HasinaVsBNP #Dhaka #PoliticalTensions
~HT.97~PR.152~ED.103~
#Bangladesh #SheikhHasina #OppositionBNP #BoycottIndia #IndiaOut #BNP #Campaign #HasinaVsBNP #Dhaka #PoliticalTensions
~HT.97~PR.152~ED.103~
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Opposition figures in Bangladesh sought to stoke anti-India sentiments, particularly
00:06 as Sheikh Hasina secured her fourth consecutive term in office, bolstering her close ties
00:11 with India.
00:12 After months of silence, Prime Minister Hasina has launched a full-scale offensive against
00:16 the opposition's Boycott India campaign.
00:18 Known for her fondness for traditional attire like the saree, Hasina utilised this cultural
00:23 symbol to confront her political adversaries.
00:26 Members of Hasina and her Awami League party have tried to brand her pro-India and claimed
00:31 India helped her win the January elections.
00:34 They started a campaign appealing to the people of Bangladesh to boycott Indian products.
00:38 After remaining silent for months, as the issue simmered, Hasina hit out at leaders
00:42 of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Bangladesh's principal opposition party,
00:47 and flipped the script of the Boycott India campaign.
00:50 After securing a sweeping victory in the January elections from which the BNP boycotted, Hasina
00:55 employed the symbolism of the humble saree to educate BNP leaders who had been advocating
01:00 for a Boycott India campaign on social media.
01:03 Hasina, who has consistently praised India as a great friend, posed a pointed question
01:07 last week, "How many Indian sarees do their wives own?"
01:11 This remark, delivered with a touch of humour, drew a few chuckles at the Awami League office
01:15 in Dhaka.
01:16 Hasina, who herself is known for her love for sarees and gifting them to Indian leaders,
01:21 then put forward a saree test for the opposition leaders.
01:23 "When they burn their wives' Indian sarees in front of their party office, only then
01:27 will it be proven that they are truly committed to boycotting Indian products," she said
01:31 as she launched the saree attack.
01:33 Not just the saree test, the Bangladesh Prime Minister also alleged that the BNP leaders
01:37 and their wives used to buy sarees from India and sell them in Bangladesh.
01:41 "When the BNP was in power, I had seen wives of their leaders flying to India in groups
01:46 to buy Indian sarees.
01:47 They would sell the sarees in Bangladesh," alleged Hasina.
01:50 It was not just the Indian saree that Sheikh Hasina referred to.
01:53 She sprinkled a handful of Indian spices in the pot too.
01:56 "I have one more question.
01:57 We are importing garam masala, onion, garlic, ginger and many other items from India.
02:02 Why don't the BNP leaders cook without Indian spices?
02:05 They must cook and eat food made without these spices," said Sheikh Hasina.
02:09 The uproar surrounding the Boycott India campaign escalated online, reminiscent of similar movements
02:13 like the India Out trend in the Maldives.
02:15 In the aftermath of Hasina's triumph, there were instances of resistance to Indian goods
02:20 and commodities reported in February.
02:23 Markets in Dhaka, typically abundant with Indian products, declined to accept fresh
02:26 deliveries.
02:27 Sales of Indian items such as cooking oil, processed foods, toiletries, cosmetics and
02:31 clothing experienced a notable decline.
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02:36 (dramatic music)
02:39 (upbeat music)