February 18th 2025.
Many people in India were filled with a sense of joy when US President Donald Trump made a statement during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that he was leaving the current state of affairs in India to be dealt with by the latter. However, this joy may be short-lived as Trump's right-hand man, Elon Musk, has shown great interest in investing in Bangladesh's Starlink project after being invited by the chief advisor of Bangladesh's caretaker government, Mohammad Yunus.
Despite Trump's statement, it is clear that the US is not entirely hands-off when it comes to the turmoil in Bangladesh and the oppression of minorities. During the press conference, Trump was asked about his administration's stance on these issues, to which he responded by stating that the US "deep state" was not interfering in Bangladesh's affairs. However, this statement may not hold much weight as it simply reiterates the US's policy of non-intervention.
Musk's interest in bringing Starlink to Bangladesh is seen as a strategic move to gain support from the US for their interim government. As Trump's right-hand man, Musk has a significant presence in the White House and has been known to blur the lines between his official role and his business interests. During a video call with Yunus, they discussed how bringing Starlink to Bangladesh would benefit the country's youth, women in rural areas, and remote communities.
The unrest in Bangladesh and the attacks on minority groups were also discussed by Modi and Trump during their meeting. However, at the press conference, Trump carefully chose his words to avoid any indication of US involvement in the political landscape of Bangladesh. It is likely that he was leaving the decision of how to handle the situation to Modi, as he does not want to get involved himself. This issue was also not mentioned in the joint statement, indicating that Trump has no intention of taking a strong stance against Bangladesh's interim government, which aligns with Musk's enthusiasm for investing in the country.
Yunus and his colleagues have a challenging task ahead of them as they need to reach a consensus on a reform package and the timing of elections. The recent release of a UN report highlighting the suppression of the opposition in Bangladesh has put the country in a tough spot. Modi also avoided addressing this issue, likely due to Trump's desire to stay out of it. The once-friendly relationship between Trump and Modi seems to have faded in Trump's current version as president.
Six months after the fall of the Hasina government, Bangladesh still lacks a stable political order. The lawlessness in the country was evident when a mob destroyed the residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on February 5th, which is also the day that Hasina, who is in exile in India, planned to give a speech. The attackers posted their plans online and used heavy machinery to damage the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, where the father of the nation was assassinated in 1975. The involvement of the caretaker government in this act of vandalism is apparent.
One possible reason for the caretaker government's confidence in getting away with their failures to control fundamentalists in Bangladesh is the support they receive from the US, despite Trump's denial. If the future of Bangladesh becomes even more uncertain, it will serve as a reminder of India's foreign policy failures and pose a constant threat to security.
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