Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh delivered a scathing rebuke to the country's opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), for spearheading a campaign against Indian products.
In a recent address, Hasina, known for her strong rapport with New Delhi, condemned the BNP's stance and questioned the authenticity of their boycott of Indian goods.
She challenged BNP leaders to demonstrate their commitment by burning their wives' Indian sarees, highlighting the prevalence of Indian products in Bangladeshi households.
"They must answer if they can eat without Indian spices. I want to know if they have truly boycotted Indian products," Hasina said.
"The BNP leaders are advocating for boycotting Indian products. My question is – how many Indian sarees do the boycott campaigners' wives possess? Why don't they take the sarees from their wives and burn them?" she said.
Responding to Hasina's remarks, a senior joint secretary general of the BNP stated that BNP leaders typically refrain from purchasing Indian sarees. He cited a personal anecdote where his wife received an Indian saree as a gift from a maternal uncle during a visit to India.
The 'Boycott Indian Products' campaign gained momentum on social media earlier this year, fueled by allegations of India's interference in Bangladesh's internal affairs.
Hasina's administration has enjoyed robust ties with India, while the BNP's decision to boycott the recent general elections facilitated Hasina's re-election for a fourth consecutive term.
An analysis revealed a surge in the hashtag #BoycottIndianProducts following coordinated efforts by influential accounts associated with the BNP.
The campaign gained traction after the BNP's media cell claimed increasing opposition to India within Bangladesh, citing alleged interference in Bangladeshi politics.
However, criticism against the 'Boycott India' movement has emerged, with concerns raised about potential religious and nationalistic tensions between Bangladesh and India.
In a tweet, Riaz Osmani, a prominent social media figure, expressed concerns regarding the 'Boycott India' campaign led by some supporters of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Osmani highlighted the potential for the campaign to escalate religious and nationalistic tensions between Bangladesh and India.
"This is NOT desirable. Grievances against Indian govt's meddling in our politics should be addressed differently," Osmani stated, advocating for a more nuanced approach to addressing concerns about Indian government interference in Bangladeshi politics.
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