NEW DELHI: The ISI and Jamaat-e-Islami have been pushing hard a propaganda campaign against India, whereby it is claimed that New Delhi is interfering with the electoral process in Bangladesh. While India has categorically rejected this claim, Intelligence agencies say that this propaganda would increase as the election date nears.
While the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and the subsequent selection of Muhammad Yunus as the caretaker of the interim government have given the ISI plenty of information, there are still others in Bangladesh who share pro-India sentiments.
Officials say that the common man in Bangladesh does not entirely have an anti-India sentiment. Students and even other citizens have relied on India for its education and medical facilities. Trade with India is also very important for many Bangladeshis, and hence the pro-India sentiment remained high.
The ISI wants to change this perception and realises that unless it has the people on its side, it cannot tinker with their emotions. Both the ISI and Jamaat realise the importance of the latter winning the elections. It also understands that for it to push its radical agenda, it has to create a situation in which the people are anti-India.