A news item published in an Indian Newspaper has created sensation in some quarters in Bangladesh. This news item was circulated in Bangladesh by an online news media. It claimed the source of the news was Indian intelligence officials. This news revealed a US funded move to topple Sheikh Hasina Government in Bangladesh and weaken the left-regime of Tipara in India. Of course the US Embassy in Dhaka has denied the allegation and said their government is not involved in any conspiracy against Hasina government. If this news has some truth in it then government should be cautious about it. If not, then also government should make an inquiry why this type of news is spreading in the subcontinent and with what motive? There may not be any such conspiracy but invention of this type of theory has been used sometimes in the past to destabilize certain governments.

I will not be surprised if this news was circulated to panic the Hasina government and to provoke them to run after a shadow enemy. On the other hand, the motive of this news may be to shake the belief of the people of Bangladesh that Hasina government will complete its present tenure because of the superpower's hostility towards present Dhaka government. Recently the outgoing US Ambassador Dan Mozena has changed his tune in praise of Hasina government. This indicates that Washington has somewhat changed its policy towards this Asian country and wants to improve mutual relationship.
It is unthinkable that to confront China's expansionism in Asia America will now return to the old Kissinger plan to destabilize Asian countries. India is no longer in the opposition camp against America and Hasina government of Bangladesh is also accommodating American wishes. Though Sheikh Hasina established a strong economic link with China, she remains very cautious not to disturb Delhi or Washington. Her government has taken a go-slow policy to deal with China about the proposed Sonadia deep sea port and giving more stress on the economic tie with China than the military one.

Delhi and Washington both know that Hasina government is not tilting towards a certain power but maintaining a balance of power in their international policy. If BNP comes to power in Bangladesh, though they are now giving all the indication that they will give Delhi and Washington more military facilities than Awami League including a promise to allow Washington to establish a military-base in the Bay of Bengal possibly at Saint Martin's Island, that promise may not be materialised.

Because of BNP's strong anti-Indian politics and its strong tie with Pakistan-a country still engaged in conflict with India, the BNP government, even if they come to power in future, will not be able to come out from the grip of Pakistan easily. Also for BNP's association with Jamaat, the Jihadist groups will get a chance to raise their head and their activities would threaten both Delhi and Washington's interest.
So there is no earthly reason why America would try to oust Hasina from power when her government's policy is not against America and Bangladesh is enjoying a relatively calm and cool situation under the present government. Of course it is true that America was never a true friend of the democratic forces in Bangladesh. From the Pakistan period they sided with the autocratic and anti-democratic regimes.
In the 50s of the last century the American Ambassador Hildreth in Pakistan directly became involved in the military coup of Mirza-Ayub. The role of American reporter Calahan to overthrow the United Front Government in 1954 in the-then East Pakistan is well-known. In independent Bangladesh the role of American Ambassadors from Boster to Mozena has not been very helpful for the young democracy of Bangladesh. In the most recent election of the country the role and utterances of the American Ambassador were controversial.

But the situation has changed now. For economic and other reasons Obama administration wants an honourable disengagement in Middle-East. They now have to engage in the conflict in Ukraine with Russia and could not extricate themselves from Iraq and Syria. The recent Gaza crisis put America in a more uncomfortable position. So, Obama administration in the last-leg of their tenure will be eager to engage themselves in new conflicts in new areas, is not convincing.

To make this report believable it included news of romance between Pakistani leader Imran Khan and Indian actress Munmun Sen. Few days ago, a Kolkata Daily published a news that Mamata Banerjee is hostile to Hasina government and her party is funding Jamaat and BNP to oust Hasina government. It is true that Mamata Banerjee is a politician without any principle. She lost her popularity within a year of coming to power. She is desperately trying to secure the Urdu Speaking Muslim votes of West Bengal and portrays herself as the sole custodian of the interest of West Bengal.

That is why she allowed the Urdu speaking Muslims living there to protest against Hasina government on the issue of 71 war criminals' trial. Her government is also trying to block the treaties with Dhaka including Tipaimukh and Teesta. But why her party would be interested to destabilize Hasina government is a question. If BNP comes to power what benefit Mamata government will gain except catching a few more votes from Urdu-speaking Bengalis? For her anti-Bangladesh activities will cause more loss of her popularity and ultimately would not help her win the next election of West Bengal. BJP is now waiting in the wing for an opportune moment.

The news circulated by online news media of Dhaka mentioned a few names like Ahmed Hasan Imran, Moulana Asif Khan, who are alleged to be associated with different terrorist groups and helping them. They should be exposed and India and Bangladesh government both should take measures against them. Attaching more importance to them than necessary did not make the report more believable. The prominent Muslim journalist in India, M. J. Akbar, who recently joined BJP leaving Congress has visited Bangladesh unannounced.

He was not supported by neither Indian High Commission in Dhaka nor by any Indian newspaper. He is a renowned journalist and secularist. There is no proof, however, that he has come to Dhaka to liaise between BNP and BJP. Why a prominent editor of India would take a stand against Hasina government and play the role of a secret spy was not explained in the report. He may visit Bangladesh unannounced but that does not prove that he has come with a hidden agenda.

I would not say that Hasina government should ignore this report outright. There are conspiracies against this government from different quarters. The government should be alert and active to thwart these conspiracies. But they should not run after the shadow of a ghost. A British political thinker said, "conspiracy theories are sometimes used as political weapons to destabilize a stable country.

The main aim is to create panic among the government and the public and to weaken the confidence of the public on the government about its stability". In my humble opinion, the government has done the right thing by not giving this report any importance. But they should inquire what was the source of this report and what was the motive behind its circulation. (The Independent)