Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​From hope to despair: On Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina

​From hope to despair: On Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina

Sheikh Hasina developed an authoritarian (तानाशाही, सत्तावादी) streak as she stayed on in power (सत्ता में, अधिकार में)

With her dramatic escape from Dhaka, just moments before mob (भीड़) arson and vandalism (बर्बरता, तोड़फोड़), ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will have time to pause and consider what led to this little-expected outcome (नतीजा, परिणाम). Once the hope of Bangladesh’s youth, in battles for democracy (लोकतंत्र), and a Prime Minister who breathed life into the Bangladeshi economy, Ms. Hasina was eventually (अंततः, आखिरकार) seen as the students’ greatest adversary (rival, enemy, nemesis, foe, opponent), held responsible for over 300 deaths in protests of the past two months. While she was admired for her crackdown (कड़ी कार्रवाई, दमन) on terrorist camps in 2009, handing over (सौंपना, हस्तांतरित करना) criminals to India, and her campaign (अभियान) against radicalisation (कट्टरपंथ), Ms. Hasina was recently more reviled (निंदा करना, आलोचना करना) for using the same strong-arm (aggressive, forceful, bullying, coercive, oppressive, threatening, intimidatory) tactics on her opponents (विरोधी, प्रतिद्वंद्वी). The student protests over the quotas (a policy of either limiting the number of students, employees, etc. of minority groups in a school or business, or of requiring a certain number or percentage to be hired or admitted) that began in July may have been the final straw; anger was building up over the past decade (दशक), with allegations (charge, accusation) of vote rigging (falsification, manipulation, misrepresentation, distortion, exploitation, deception, trickery) and the suppression (persecution, oppression, repression, abuse, ill treatment) of media, and sending leaders, journalists and activists (a person who supports a political or societal change/cause) to jail on trumped-up (relating to a wrong or incorrect accusation/allegation; fabricated, unproven, unconfirmed, deceitful, incorrect) charges (allegation, accusation). Even after winning elections in January for a fourth term (tenure, period of/in office; period, time, stint, spell), Ms. Hasina continued down that path, with cases and jail terms (period of imprisonment) against Nobel Laureate (a person who is honoured with an award for outstanding achievement) and Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus, now tipped (expect, think of, predict, recommend) to head (be the leader of, lead) the interim (provisional, temporary, short-term, transitional) government. Her actions, and refusal to give any space (scope, leeway, headroom, latitude, elbow room) for dissent (disagreement, lack of agreement, difference of opinion, protest, opposition, disapproval), have tarnished (damage, injure, mar, spoil, ruin, harm, stain, taint, defame) the legacy (something received from a predecessor or from the past) she holds most dear — that of her father, the much-beloved ((much) admired, adored, loved, cherished, worshipped, esteemed, favorite, hallowed) founder of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, whose statues now stand amidst (amid, in the middle of; during) the rubble (remains, ruins, wreckage; debris). There is no doubt that the extreme mob violence and protests had political support, and possibly (perhaps, may be, it may/could be, very likely) the encouragement of elements in Pakistan and the U.S., both of which had tense (uneasy, edgy, restless, uncomfortable, unsettling, fraught, distressful) ties (association, relationship, bond, connection) with the Awami League (one of the major political parties in Bangladesh. It is also one of the two most dominant parties in the country, along with its archrival Bangladesh Nationalist Party) government. More worrying is the underlying (fundamental, basic, key, central, intrinsic, concealed, undisclosed) involvement of Islamist groups that could affect the religious tolerance (forbearance, toleration, liberality, open-mindedness, lack of prejudice, broad-mindedness, liberalism) and secularism (the belief that religion should not have a strong influence in education or other public parts of society) that Ms. Hasina tried to usher in (start, begin, initiate, commence, introduce, propose (something new)) during her 15-year tenure (term, period of/in office; period, time, stint, spell).

For India, each of these outcomes must be cause for introspection (self-observation, self-analysis; contemplation). New Delhi was not just complicit (associated/partnered/involved with others, mostly in a wrongful activity (or illegal activity)) in Ms. Hasina’s actions against Bangladeshi opposition members by failing to advise her of the repercussions (consequence, outcome, end result, reverberation, aftermath, fallout, ramification, implication). It also failed to engage (become involved, intake part in, participate in, be associated with, partake in) them, losing goodwill (compassion; cooperation, collaboration, friendliness, mutual support) on Dhaka’s streets as well. The Modi government’s unalloyed (unconditional, unlimited, unrestricted, categorical, unequivocal, unambiguous) support for Ms. Hasina also ensured her uncritical (unreasoned, unconsidered, unthinking, unknowing, unsuspecting) support, forcing her to accept even unpopular (unfamous, disliked, disfavoured, hated, loathed) decisions such as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 seeks to grant citizenship to religious minorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, who had to flee their homeland facing persecution. The six minority groups that have been specifically identified are Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, and Parsis). While securing (protect, ensure, make safe, guarantee) Ms. Hasina’s safety and well-being (security, comfort, safety, protection, good health), in a manner accorded to a leader who has always upheld India’s interests (common concerns (in politics/business)), the government must not waste time in engaging with the next regime (government, administration) and work to assist a peaceful transition (change, transformation, adaptation) to a more inclusive (comprehensive, extensive, all-inclusive, all-encompassing, all-embracing, thorough, sweeping, far-reaching, widespread, broad-based) process for democracy in Bangladesh.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.despair (noun)

Hindi Meaning - निराशा, हताशा
English Meaning - hopelessness, desperation, depression, distress, anguish, pain, gloom.

2.authoritarian (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - तानाशाही, सत्तावादी
English Meaning - oppressive, draconian, undemocratic, dictatorial, totalitarian.

3.in power (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - सत्ता में, अधिकार में
English Meaning - in authority.

4.mob (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भीड़
English Meaning - a large, disorganized, and often violent crowd of people

5.vandalism (noun)

Hindi Meaning - बर्बरता, तोड़फोड़
English Meaning - an intentional destruction of public or private property; a premeditated or deliberate damage to public or private property.

6.outcome (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नतीजा, परिणाम
English Meaning - end result, implication, ramification, repercussion.

7.democracy (noun)

Hindi Meaning - लोकतंत्र
English Meaning - a system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through fairly & freely elected representatives.

8.eventually (adverb)

Hindi Meaning - अंततः, आखिरकार
English Meaning - ultimately, finally, at last, in the end.

9.crackdown (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कड़ी कार्रवाई, दमन
English Meaning - clampdown, getting tough/severe measures, suppression.

10.hand over (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - सौंपना, हस्तांतरित करना
English Meaning - surrender, transfer.

11.campaign (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अभियान
English Meaning - an organized effort that seeks to influence the decision-making progress within a specific group.

12.radicalisation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कट्टरपंथ
English Meaning - the process of causing someone to follow radical (extremist/fundamentalist) ways particularly in politics ( & society).

13.revile (verb)

Hindi Meaning - निंदा करना, आलोचना करना
English Meaning - criticize, censure, condemn, denounce, vilify, lambast, defame.

14.opponent (noun)

Hindi Meaning - विरोधी, प्रतिद्वंद्वी
English Meaning - rival, the opposition, dissident, nemesis, adversary.

15.decade (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दशक
English Meaning - a period of ten years.

16.streak (noun)

English Meaning - (a continuous) period, spell, run, time.

17.stay on (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - continue to be in a place, position, or situation.

18.arson (noun)

English Meaning - an act of setting fire intentionally to damage/destroy public properties, particularly buildings.

19.ousted (adjective)

English Meaning - removed, expelled, toppled, unseated, evicted, overthrown.

20.led to past & past participle of lead to (verb)

English Meaning - result in, cause, bring on, bring about, give rise to.

21.breathe (new) life into (phrase)

English Meaning - reinvigorate, revitalize, re-energize, renew, revive, resuscitate; strengthen/fortify.

22.adversary (noun)

English Meaning - rival, enemy, nemesis, foe, opponent.

23.hold responsible/accountable for (phrase)

English Meaning - to say that someone should accept the responsibility/accountability for something.

24.strong-arm (adjective)

English Meaning - aggressive, forceful, bullying, coercive, oppressive, threatening, intimidatory.

25.quota (noun)

English Meaning - a policy of either limiting the number of students, employees, etc. of minority groups in a school or business, or of requiring a certain number or percentage to be hired or admitted.

26.the last (or final) straw (phrase)

English Meaning - it means the last thing or event that caused the total collapse. When repeated problems/issues aren’t getting better, then the smallest thing happens, people finally lose their composure and explode

27.build up (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - intensify, increase, grow, escalate.

28.allegation (noun)

English Meaning - charge, accusation.

29.rigging (noun)

English Meaning - falsification, manipulation, misrepresentation, distortion, exploitation, deception, trickery.

30.suppression (noun)

English Meaning - persecution, oppression, repression, abuse, ill treatment.

31.activist (noun)

English Meaning - a person who supports a political or societal change/cause.

32.trumped-up (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to a wrong or incorrect accusation/allegation; fabricated, unproven, unconfirmed, deceitful, incorrect.

33.charge (noun)

English Meaning - allegation, accusation.

34.term (noun)

English Meaning - tenure, period of/in office; period, time, stint, spell.

35.(go) down the path (noun)

English Meaning - to decide to do something in a particular way; to go/move in a certain direction.

36.term (noun)

English Meaning - period of imprisonment.

37.laureate (noun)

English Meaning - a person who is honoured with an award for outstanding achievement.

38.tip (verb)

English Meaning - expect, think of, predict, recommend.

39.head (verb)

English Meaning - be the leader of, lead.

40.interim (adjective)

English Meaning - provisional, temporary, short-term, transitional.

41.space (noun)

English Meaning - scope, leeway, headroom, latitude, elbow room.

42.dissent (noun)

English Meaning - disagreement, lack of agreement, difference of opinion, protest, opposition, disapproval.

43.tarnish (verb)

English Meaning - damage, injure, mar, spoil, ruin, harm, stain, taint, defame.

44.legacy (noun)

English Meaning - something received from a predecessor or from the past.

45.hold (someone/something) dear (phrase)

English Meaning - to value/respect highly, to care very much about; be fond of, be attached to, revere, treasure, cherish

46.much-beloved (adjective)

English Meaning - (much) admired, adored, loved, cherished, worshipped, esteemed, favorite, hallowed.

47.amidst (preposition)

English Meaning - amid, in the middle of; during.

48.rubble (noun)

English Meaning - remains, ruins, wreckage; debris.

49.possibly (adverb)

English Meaning - perhaps, may be, it may/could be, very likely.

50.tense (adjective)

English Meaning - uneasy, edgy, restless, uncomfortable, unsettling, fraught, distressful.

51.ties (noun)

English Meaning - association, relationship, bond, connection.

52.Awami League (noun)

English Meaning - one of the major political parties in Bangladesh. It is also one of the two most dominant parties in the country, along with its archrival Bangladesh Nationalist Party.

53.underlying (adjective)

English Meaning - fundamental, basic, key, central, intrinsic, concealed, undisclosed.

54.tolerance (noun)

English Meaning - forbearance, toleration, liberality, open-mindedness, lack of prejudice, broad-mindedness, liberalism.

55.secularism (noun)

English Meaning - the belief that religion should not have a strong influence in education or other public parts of society.

56.usher in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - start, begin, initiate, commence, introduce, propose (something new).

57.tenure (noun)

English Meaning - term, period of/in office; period, time, stint, spell.

58.introspection (noun)

English Meaning - self-observation, self-analysis; contemplation.

59.complicit (adjective)

English Meaning - associated/partnered/involved with others, mostly in a wrongful activity (or illegal activity).

60.repercussion (noun)

English Meaning - consequence, outcome, end result, reverberation, aftermath, fallout, ramification, implication.

61.engage (verb)

English Meaning - become involved, intake part in, participate in, be associated with, partake in.

62.goodwill (noun)

English Meaning - compassion; cooperation, collaboration, friendliness, mutual support.

63.unalloyed (adjective)

English Meaning - unconditional, unlimited, unrestricted, categorical, unequivocal, unambiguous.

64.uncritical (adjective)

English Meaning - unreasoned, unconsidered, unthinking, unknowing, unsuspecting.

65.unpopular (adjective)

English Meaning - unfamous, disliked, disfavoured, hated, loathed.

66.Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) (noun)

English Meaning - The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 seeks to grant citizenship to religious minorities of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, who had to flee their homeland facing persecution. The six minority groups that have been specifically identified are Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians, and Parsis.

67.secure (verb)

English Meaning - protect, ensure, make safe, guarantee.

68.well-being (noun)

English Meaning - security, comfort, safety, protection, good health.

69.uphold (verb)

English Meaning - confirm, endorse/approve, vindicate/validate.

70.interest (noun)

English Meaning - common concerns (in politics/business).

71.waste no time (verb)

English Meaning - to begin or start an activity immediately/quickly; take the opportunity to do something immediately/quickly.

72.regime (noun)

English Meaning - government, administration.

73.transition (noun)

English Meaning - change, transformation, adaptation.

74.inclusive (adjective)

English Meaning - comprehensive, extensive, all-inclusive, all-encompassing, all-embracing, thorough, sweeping, far-reaching, widespread, broad-based.