India bashing or defending Bangladesh?
I sometimes wonder about the letter writers such as Syeda Sultana (DS, October 11) and Shejuti Khan (DS , September 15). Are they really Bangladeshis? In her letter Sultana takes to task our foreign minister, The Daily Star's "soaring columnists" and "a lot of readers" for expressing "discontent" over Indian actions. She says that India has donated one hundred crore rupees for Bangladesh's flood victims, and very patronisingly asks The Daily Star readers, "Are you still not happy?" Does it occur to Sultana that the Bangladesh foreign minister's outburst against India's unfair trade practices, echoed by "soaring articles against the 'big brother' by 'intellectual columnists'" and disgruntled Daily Star readers may have had something to do with India's sudden generosity?
Before going overboard with praise for "elder brother" India, Sultana should read Mr. Ekram Kabir's letter published in The Daily Star (October 11) that states that according to a report in the "Times of India," Delhi was considering a trade embargo against Bangladesh "for harbouring anti-India insurgents." No, Sultana, trade embargo by India against Bangladesh does not make Bangladeshis "happy"!
Sultana and Khan need to understand Bangladeshis better. Patriotic Bangladeshis are always grateful to India when India helps them, such as it did during the liberation war. Patriotic Bangladeshis are critical of India only when India indulges in unfair trade practices, unequal water-sharing and Bangladeshi land stealing.
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