Dhaka, Sep 29 (V7N): India recently hosted a confidential meeting to discuss strategies for rehabilitating the Awami League, following its ouster after a mass uprising. Held on September 20, the meeting was organized by India’s Ministry of External Affairs and included participants from diverse sectors, such as journalists, bureaucrats, retired diplomats, academics, and representatives from think tanks like the Observer Research Foundation, Vivekananda Foundation, and the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis, according to a report by Mirror Asia.

The Dhaka Tribune, however, could not independently verify the report's claims.

The primary focus of the meeting was to ensure the continuity of Indian projects in Bangladesh. There was also a discussion on Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed between former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and India, with recommendations made to the current interim government to honor these agreements.

As the meeting progressed, the conversation turned toward the potential “resettlement” of the Awami League. According to the minutes obtained by Mirror Asia, concerns were raised about the possibility of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) coming to power if elections were held in the next two to three years. Some participants speculated that the BNP could lose popularity within five years, paving the way for an Awami League resurgence, similar to its landslide victory in 2009.

India’s role in Bangladesh’s political landscape was also examined, with suggestions to include the Awami League in future reforms and elections. A think tank representative recommended India consult its "non-political friends" in Bangladesh before making any strategic decisions about the party’s return.

During the meeting, an intelligence officer disclosed that numerous Awami League leaders, from both the central and grassroots levels, have sought refuge in Indian cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala, seeking India’s assistance in resuming their political activities in Bangladesh. However, formal approval from India’s All-Party Parliamentary Committee would be required for the Awami League to operate politically from Indian soil.

Some participants drew comparisons to the Awami League's activities during the 1971 Liberation War, when the party operated from India, conducting meetings in cities like Kolkata and Agartala.

A retired diplomat advised that the Awami League’s political operations in India should remain secret to avoid tensions with Bangladesh’s interim government. He also suggested that Awami League leaders should be cautious in their remarks, as some had previously claimed India kept Sheikh Hasina in power since 2014, despite India’s denials of such involvement.

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