According to Indian government statistics, 449,570 medical tourists from Bangladesh visited India in 2023. During this period, 1,432 people from Sri Lanka, 3,19 from Myanmar, and only 76 from Pakistan came to India on medical visas. (TBS Report on July 3, 2024). The mercury of India-Bangladesh relations has been low since August 5 as a result of the student-public movement against discrimination. The continuous propaganda of 49 Indian media outlets about Bangladesh, the BJP’s vote-getting politics of rumors and lies, the BJP-dependent Indian government’s one-eyed policy on the Bangladesh issue, and the united stand of the Bangladeshi people to boycott India to stop Indian hegemony and aggression are straining the relations between the two countries. Attacks on the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Agartala, insults to the Bengali national flag in Kolkata, or the insults of the Indian flag have also been isolated in Bangladesh in protest of the aggressive propaganda of Suvendu Adhikari.
However, the minorities that India is instigating itself by spreading rumors of minority oppression in Bangladesh are safe. The conspiracy is now so naked that the extremist Hindus of India are trying to become the cause of harm to the non-communal consciousness of the Hindu community of this country! In the middle, after the arrest of Chinmoy Das Prabhu, the country has witnessed hellish acts like the murder of lawyer Alif by ISKCON-supported terrorists. The commendable patience that Bangladeshis have shown without losing their way like the Indian extremists will be a unique document of communal harmony. They wanted the people of Bangladesh to fall into their trap, but the sincerity of the scholars and ulama of this country, wise patriots, media propaganda and the government’s appeal have passed the test of infinite patience of the people. The communal harmony that has lasted for thousands of years has not been defeated by the conspiracy.
Due to Bangladesh’s deteriorating relations with India, the import-dependent daily necessities and food market may be somewhat unstable. But it is temporary. Because the government and businessmen have already continued to communicate with alternative sources. In the face of India’s open hostility, there has been unity among political parties on the issue of the country’s interests and the call to protect sovereignty. There has been consensus among the leaders of different religions to ensure that the situation in the country remains stable. In addition, due to India’s selfish policy, the people of Bangladesh have repeatedly announced boycotts of Indian products, ignoring the bloodshed of the then Bangladesh government in the past.
It is necessary to have a clear idea in this regard that there is no ambivalence between ordinary Bangladeshis and the common people of India. All opposition is against the hegemonic attitude of the Indian government and their self-interested foreign policy.
Maintaining good relations with neighboring countries is also a lesson of Islam. Just as Bangladesh is a profitable market for India, due to its proximity, Bangladesh, which is largely dependent on imports, saves time with India and reduces the cost of transporting goods. The biggest reason for keeping relations with India more spiritual than usual is that many of them speak Bengali. They are also close to Bangladeshi culture. They are also geographically close. It was desired for Bangladesh and its people to have good relations with a country that played an immense role in the independence struggle and birth of Bangladesh, but due to its one-sided policy with a specific party in India, relations are now more fragile than ever. The Indian government has ignored civilized foreign policy, ignored the opinions of the majority of the people of Bangladesh, and wanted to have relations with only one party, or rather, one person! In the eyes of analysts, this was not a wise move by the Indian government.
Bangladeshi patients who used to go to India for treatment have been somewhat disturbed. A significant number of Bangladeshis who used to go to India on medical visas used to travel around with a latent desire to visit India and would come back as doctors’ chambers! However, that is a different debate. However, a section of those who actually travel to India for medical purposes have already started migrating to other countries. Nothing is ever left empty. No one waits for anyone forever. The huge difference in medical treatment between Bangladesh and India cannot be said. However, the medical system in India is organized and harassment is less in many cases. It is admitted that there is extreme mismanagement in the medical system in Bangladesh. Hospitals and clinics are infrastructurally and environmentally unhealthy, nurses and doctors misbehave and patients are being strangled in the name of treatment – these news are often reported in the media with a sense of humor. Giving unnecessary tests to patients, prescribing low-quality medicines and writing more than necessary medicines in collusion with pharmaceutical companies – these are traditional characters.
This is the best time to stop India’s bigotry. Doctors and hospital-clinic authorities should wake up to the mantra of patriotism. A clear announcement should be made that India’s equivalent treatment will be ensured in Bangladesh as well. Bangladeshi specialist doctors are undoubtedly of international standard. It is possible to provide the best treatment in the world in Bangladesh. It is not impossible if we follow the motto on which the foundation of treatment is built and make a firm commitment to reduce the suffering of patients. You may remember that once, a few days before the Qurbani, India banned the export of cows. There was some suffering in collecting animals for the Qurbani. After that, small, big, marginal farmers in Bangladesh raised so many cows that they are now surplus for us. If uneducated, semi-educated farmers can change the face of animal husbandry in Bangladesh, can’t the most talented, highly educated doctors in our country radically change the current state of medical services in the country? It is possible with a patriotic mentality, not hope but faith. It is possible and I believe it will be implemented soon.
Bangladeshi patients also have some whims. The whims are mainly born from the extra money in their pockets! Some have to go to India for treatment even for colds and fevers! Even though so many famous and expensive brands are in Bangladesh, they have to cross the border to shop. Those who believe that all happiness is on the other side are actually suffering from mental illness. Despite having so many beautiful tourist spots in the country, some people cannot digest their stomachs without seeing foreign countries. But they have not seen anything from this country yet. There are allegations that there is unlimited chaos in all areas of the country. As true as this is, it is also true that we silently accept suffering when we go abroad! Because it is abroad! But while we endure the same suffering at home, we repeatedly blame the country and abuse the system.
We need to awaken patriotism. There are also various hateful conspiracies, both domestic and foreign, to keep Bangladesh’s medical and tourism sectors backward. Many of those involved in business syndicates in Cox’s Bazar, the world’s longest sea beach, or Sagarkanya Kuakata, are also involved in the business of tour travel agencies for foreign trips. When considering business financially, which one is more profitable? Moreover, the xenophobia of many in the ruling class, especially the pro-India sentiment, has held back the overall development of this country. India is the destination for money laundering by a section of people in Bangladesh. All in all, there were various conspiracies to prevent the country from becoming self-reliant and self-reliant. The idea of any other reason behind the backwardness of Bangladesh’s medical services, lack of trust in Bangladesh’s medical treatment, or indifference to domestic tourism is not unreasonable. The nation must be careful.
It is the duty of every patriotic citizen to protect self-respect. A huge opportunity has come before us to decorate the country with the mantra of patriotism. Reducing dependency and becoming self-reliant is part of self-respect. Joint government-private initiatives are necessary to standardize the country’s medical and education sectors. Collective goodwill is enough to give Bangladesh’s medical system international standards. To make the tourism sector attractive, it is the duty of the state to develop the communication system, prevent harassment and ensure security. The main condition for living with self-respect is to be self-reliant and not dependent on others. Keep creating alternatives for everyone. When someone realizes that you have no other option but him, be it your dearest person or a neighboring country, then he will twist your nose. India has been doing this since the past and is threatening to do it more now. Why are people not able to get the services that people cross the border to get here? Is this the reason we are looking for? The iron has to be bent while it is hot. Now is the right time for that. Only those who put the interests of the country above everything else will get the opportunity to lead the people of Bangladesh. The sooner the government and patriotic countrymen can understand this truth and consciousness, the sooner the welfare of the country and the nation will be achieved. The promise to protect self-respect is worship. May we not be led astray from the path of patriotism by any temptation.
