‘Dhaka must be prepared to deal with Assam crisis diplomatically’

Bangladesh must be prepared beforehand to deal with it diplomatically if those who were excluded from citizen list in Assam are deported to Bangladesh, said Taslima Yasmin, a law professor of University of Dhaka.

Talking to The Business Standard, Prof Taslima however said Bangladesh should not worry about Assam issue now. “It’s a part of political game by BJP in which 19 lakh people are scrapped of citizenship and excluded from the NRC list.”

She said majority of the excluded people are Muslims but there is a little chance that they will be forcibly displaced from Assam now.

The Assam authority may give them chance to live there for more 10 to 15 years deprived of citizenship and political rights, she said.

There are options for the excluded people to appeal for citizenship in stages. Bangladesh has to wait till then.

She further said Bangladesh is not sure if the excluded community will be sent to Bangladesh like the Rohingyas  were, but Bangladesh must closely observe the issue to tackle the situation.

She stated “Though India claims that it is their internal matter, since the majority are Muslims, it will have a global impact.”