Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina Sheikh Hasina is the only hope against fundamentalism : India Today
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, Sept 30: An article in India's widely circulated English-language weekly India Today criticized the opposition for making political gains from tragic events like the August 15, 1975 massacre, referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the "only hope" to uphold Bangladesh's founding principle of secularism.
"Victims of terror like the Bangabandhu family can always be counted on to fight against extremist forces," the article said, pointing to Sheikh Hasina's tough politics.
The article criticizes the BNP-Jamaat alliance, noting a strong link between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the murderers of the Bangabandhu family under the political patronage of post-'75 governments including Begum Zia.
India Today's Digital Executive Editor Deep Halder wrote in this article describing his recent visit to Bangladesh that 'Sheikh Hasina is the only hope' for the country's Hindus.
The article, published on Wednesday wishing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her birthday, said that the author's discussions with Hindus at the grassroots level made this point more elaborate and clear.
Referring to his visit to Bangabandhu's residence at 32 Dhanmondi, he wrote: "I am comforted by the fact that Bangladesh envisioned and built by your father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had no place for the radicals who ran riot last year."
"I remember how your family paid so much to try to keep the country secular and how you, Madam Prime Minister, survived 19 assassination attempts in four decades."
