TOPICS TO BE COVERED
• S JAISHANKAR’S ADDRESS TO THE PARLIAMENT ON THE SITUATION IN BANGLADESH
• VINESH PHOGAT DISQUALIFICATION
• MCQs
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S JAISHANKAR’S ADDRESS TO THE PARLIAMENT ON THE SITUATION IN BANGLADESH
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s statement in Parliament on August 6 was the first detailed articulation of India’s position on the situation in Bangladesh. India had thus far insisted that the crisis that had engulfed that country for months was their “internal matter”.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
(1) Jaishankar underlined that ties between India and Bangladesh had developed over the decades, and had been nurtured by successive governments from the Congress to the BJP, and the coalitions of the late 90s.
“India-Bangladesh relations have been exceptionally close for many decades over many governments. Concern about recent violence and instability…is shared across the political spectrum,” he said.
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The minister was clearly seeking to generate a broad, non partisan political consensus in India on the situation in Bangladesh.
(2) For the first time, India flagged the “tension” and “polarisation” created by this January’s election that brought Sheikh Hasina to power for the fourth time since 2008, and which were widely seen as rigged.
The election result formed the base of the discontent that erupted in the students’ protests and street violence after the High Court on June 5 restored a 30% quota in government jobs that has historically benefited supporters of Hasina’s Awami League.
“Since the election in January 2024, there has been considerable tensions, deep divides and growing polarisation in Bangladesh politics. This underlying foundation aggravated a student agitation that started in June this year. There was growing violence, including attacks on public buildings and infrastructure, as well as traffic and rail obstructions. The violence continued through the month of July,”
(3) Jaishankar revealed that the Indian government had offered counsel and advice to the Hasina government over the last seven months “in private”.
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The West, including the United States, had been extremely vocal about Hasina’s authoritarian style of governance.
“Throughout this period, we repeatedly counselled restraint and urged that the situation be defused through dialogue,” Jaishankar said.
(4) The minister told Parliament that India had also been in touch with political parties opposed to Hasina. This means that New Delhi has had conversations with former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s BNP and other political outfits who will now be in power this is important because of concerns that India had over the years put all its eggs in the Awami League basket.
“Similar urgings [for restraint] were made to various political forces with whom we were in touch,” the minister told Parliament.
(5) Jaishankar provided an account of the final two weeks of protests that ended with Hasina’s fall. He revealed that Hasina had finally resigned after she was nudged by the security establishment the Bangladesh Army and police brass who met her on Monday morning.
The events of the dramatic last hours of the Hasina government had made it clear that her resignation was the result of a last-minute decision. Jaishankar confirmed it through his statement.
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“Despite a [Bangladesh] Supreme Court judgment on 21 July (scaling back the freedom fighters’ quota to 5% and leaving 93% seats unreserved), there was no let-up in the public agitation. Various decisions and actions taken thereafter only exacerbated the situation. The agitation at this stage coalesced around a one-point agenda, that is that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down,”
(6) Jaishankar underlined the critical importance of the role of the Bangladesh Army chief, which is key to what happens next in that country. This is an important assessment — and New Delhi will be watching this aspect closely.
“The situation in Bangladesh is still evolving. The Army Chief, General Waker-uzZaman, addressed the nation on 5th August. He spoke about assuming responsibility and constituting an interim government,”
(7) The Indian government has put the onus of keeping safe and secure India’s diplomatic facilities and its citizens in Bangladesh on the new establishment in Dhaka.
“We are in close and continuous touch with the Indian community in Bangladesh through our diplomatic missions. There are an estimated 19,000 Indian nationals there, of which about 9,000 are students. The bulk of the students have already
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returned to India in the month of July on the advice of the High Commission,”
Jaishankar said.
“In terms of our diplomatic presence, in addition to the High Commission in Dhaka, we have Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet.
It is our expectation that the host government will provide the required security protection for these establishments. We look forward to their normal functioning once the situation stabilises,”
(8) The statement raised the issue of Hindus in Bangladesh, which is especially important to the BJP-led government in New Delhi. It acknowledged ongoing efforts by some groups in Bangladesh to take care of minorities, but stressed that the BSF is on alert for any eventuality.
“We are also monitoring the situation with regard to the status of minorities,”
Jaishankar said.
“There are reports of initiatives by various groups and organisations to ensure their protection and well-being. We welcome that, but will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored. Our border guarding forces have also been instructed to be exceptionally alert in view of this complex situation,”
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(9) Jaishankar called for a continuation of the “strong national consensus” on how to deal with the situation in the important neighbouring country.
“In the last 24 hours, we have also been in regular touch with the authorities in Dhaka. This is the situation as of now. I seek the understanding and support of the House in regard to sensitive issues regarding an important neighbour on which there has always been strong national consensus,”
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VINESH PHOGAT DISQUALIFICATION
Wrestler Vinesh Phogat was disqualified after the official weigh-in on Wednesday morning, ahead of her scheduled gold medal bout in the evening. While she had cleared the weigh-in on Tuesday, Vinesh was found to be “a few grams over 50 kg” on Wednesday morning’s weigh-in.
It is reported that she was reportedly 2 kilos overweight on Tuesday night — weight she tried her best to shed overnight but couldn’t.
WHY DOES THE WEIGHT MATTER?
Combat sports wrestling, boxing, judo, mixed martial arts (MMA), etc. are organised according to weight classes. This is to facilitate fair and competitive matches. Fighters of similar weight (and thus, size) are more likely to have similar physical attributes, making for a more even playing field. Without weight classes, larger and bulkier athletes would have a natural advantage over smaller ones, even if they are not as technically gifted.
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WHAT ARE WEIGH INS?
Athletes in a particular weight class (say 50 kg) have to weigh equal to, or less than, the stipulated weight. However, one’s weight is never static. It constantly fluctuates within a certain range depending on a number of factors like:
• how much you eat and drink,
• how much you sweat, and
• other bodily functions.
IS THE WEIGHT CONSTANTLY MEASURED?
Moreover, it is impractical to constantly monitor an athlete’s weight throughout a competition.
Thus, combat sports use a system of weigh-ins. There are designated times before (and in some competitions, after) when an athlete has to be weighed, and meet the requirements of their weight class.
WEIGH IN RULES FOR WRESTLING
According to United World Wrestling’s (UWW) Olympics weigh-in rules, wrestlers are weighed on the morning of their competition, while wearing their singlet.
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WEIGH INS IN OLYMPICS:
Since the Olympics competition goes on for two days, there are two weigh-ins — there is a 30 minute period on Day 1, and a 15 minute period on Day 2.
SIGNIFICANCE:
Other sports or competitions may have different rules regarding weigh-ins. In fact, weighins are a key part of the spectacle ahead of a fight in professional combat sports such as pro boxing or MMA, with thousands of viewers tuning in to see athletes strip down, get weighed, talk some smack, and perhaps even engage in a simulated stand-off with their opponent.
WHAT IS WEIGHT CUTTING?
In simple words, weight cutting involves athletes drastically reducing their weight in a short period of time. This is done by athletes to make the stipulated weight in time for weigh-ins.
Many, if not most, combat sports athletes believe that cutting weight before a bout can provide them with an edge over their opponent in the ring, mainly by quickly rebounding in weight and thus weighing more than what their weight class stipulates. This is because
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weight cuts primarily involve ridding the body of any accumulated water this is the “easiest” weight to shed.
Athletes do not drink water, carry out intense exercise, use saunas, wear heavy clothing, etc. to lose this water weight through sweat. They also do not eat anything ahead of weigh-ins.
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MCQs
Which of the following has been a reason highlighted by GoI for the situation in Bangladesh?
1. Unfair Elections of 2024.
2. Reimposing of quota for freedom fighters.
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 1 & 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (C)
2. Where in Bangladesh is India’s Assistant High Commission located?
(A) Mongla
(B) Dhaka
(C) Sylhet
(D) None of the above
Ans. (C)
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3 In which of the following sports does a weigh-in take place?
(A) Swimming
(B) Boxing
(C) Hockey
(D) Archery
Ans. (B)
4 Recently, a term weight cut was in news. It refers to?
(A) The reduced weight of packaged processed goods without reducing the prices.
(B) The reduced amount of quota allocation for freedom fighters in Bangladesh.
(C) Reducing the weight of athletes to make them more agile & fit over a period of time.
(D) None of the above.
Ans. (D)