New Delhi: Amid the current political turmoil in Bangladesh, an old video by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has resurfaced and gone viral. The video, which was originally uploaded in 2020, praised Bangladesh’s development and its high rankings on various international indices. In the wake of the recent unrest in the neighboring country, the video has sparked widespread debate and criticism, particularly from Indian political figures and netizens.
Dhruv Rathee’s video, titled “Bangladesh’s Growth Story,” was aimed at highlighting the economic progress and social improvements Bangladesh had achieved compared to its neighbors. The video lauded Bangladesh for its advancements in various sectors and its high scores on the Happiness Index. However, with Bangladesh now embroiled in a severe political crisis, the video has been brought back into the spotlight, with critics using it to taunt Rathee for his previous praise.
Shehzad Poonawalla vs Dhruv Rathee
The video’s resurgence has prompted a significant reaction from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shehzad Poonawalla. Poonawalla took to social media to criticize Rathee, calling him the “joker of the century” and questioning his credibility. He expressed his discontent over the YouTuber’s portrayal of Bangladesh as a model of development, which, according to Poonawalla, has since failed to live up to its promises.
In response to Poonawalla’s tweet, Rathee defended his video, stating, “This is a 4-year-old video. Everything said in this video was accurate back then based on the latest data. You are only proving your own stupidity by sharing it out of context and trying to mislead your followers.” Rathee emphasized that his analysis was based on the information available at the time and that the current crisis in Bangladesh does not negate the past achievements highlighted in his video.
Poonawalla continued his critique, questioning the motive behind Rathee’s praise of Bangladesh’s model. “So you hailed a model of Bangladesh that failed in just 4 years and ended up making a more sustainable Bharatiya model look bad? Either you are stupid or you did it because you have an axe to grind with Modi or both? You do a YouTube video and explain that to your dumb followers,” Poonawalla tweeted.
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Bangladesh Crisis
The backdrop of this debate is the severe political unrest currently unfolding in Bangladesh. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country amid escalating protests. Hasina’s departure came after widespread demonstrations that began last month. The protests initially focused on ending the quota system that reserved 30 percent of government jobs for the families of veterans from Bangladesh’s war of independence against Pakistan. However, the movement quickly escalated into broader anti-government demonstrations.
Sheikh Hasina arrived at India’s Hindon Airbase on Monday evening after her resignation. The protests have highlighted deep-seated frustrations with the current government and have brought significant international attention to the political situation in Bangladesh.
The resurgence of Dhruv Rathee’s video amid this crisis has fueled a heated debate on social media, with critics and supporters alike weighing in on the accuracy and relevance of his earlier analysis. While some use the video to criticize Rathee for what they see as misplaced praise, others argue that it should not overshadow the broader context of Bangladesh’s development and the current political upheaval.
As the situation in Bangladesh continues to evolve, the discussion surrounding Rathee’s video underscores the complexities of evaluating a country’s progress amid changing political dynamics. The video’s renewed attention serves as a reminder of how past analyses can be interpreted differently in light of new developments and the ongoing debates surrounding national and international affairs.
