War crimes execution: India may back Bangladesh if issue raised at global forum

New Delhi: India is likely to back Bangladesh if the issue of execution of two influential Opposition leaders for war crimes during the country's 1971 independence struggle against Pakistan was taken to any multilateral or international forum.

As per government's assessment here, fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami has been trying to whip up tension in Bangladesh after hanging of the two leaders and there was no basis to conclude that terror outfit Islamic State was present in that country though it is witnessing rising violent acts.

India was supportive of Bangladesh government's decision to bring to justice to those allegedly involved in war crimes and will throw its weight behind Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina if any country takes the matter to any international forum, sources said.

On November 22, Bangladesh had executed Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary-General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury for war crimes during the 1971 war of independence, which had triggered sporadic violence.

Pakistan was severely critical of Bangladesh for executing the two leaders. Hasina had dismissed Pakistan's criticism as "unacceptable".

The view here is that Hasina has shown courage in pursuing the cases of war crimes and she is being supported by common people in that country. An International Crimes Tribunal, set up by the Bangladesh government, had convicted Mujahid and Chowdhury and the Supreme Court had upheld their sentences.

The sources said the assessment here is that home-grown militancy was rising and there were stepped-up efforts to radicalise youths in Bangladesh which are matters of serious concern.

Bangladesh has witnessed increasing incidents of violence in the last couple of months including deadly shooting of an Italian aid worker on the streets of Dhaka. A Japanese man was killed last week by gunmen in Rangpur district, raising concerns among the country's foreign community.

A number of critics of religious militancy were hacked to death in Bangladesh over the past year.

Though there were reports about IS trying to gain foothold in Bangladesh, the assessment here is that such reports have no basis and it was Jamaat which is stepping up its activities.

India feels Bangladesh followed the due process of law in punishing those involved in alleged war crimes.

The assessment is that the strong reaction by Jamaat will not impact movement of people from enclaves on both sides of the Indo-Bangla border as per the land swapping agreement though it is known to have some influence in certain areas.

The Bangladeshi government has made adequate security arrangement and the entire process of movement of people was likely to be completed by end of this month.