There is considerable similarity again in their personal lives and careers. Each has achieved major success as a political leader, but has had to pay a heavy price. Sheikh Hasina lost nearly all her family, including her iconic father, because of her political opponents. Mamata Banerjee’s uncompromising battle against the CPI(M) at a time when other opposition leaders were too busy making deals with the Left establishment, nearly cost her own life. Even their worst critics cannot deny that the power they enjoy today is merely the fruit of their own hard labour. Both share middle class roots and are not really comfortable with the English language.

However, far more than their similarities, it is the stark contrast between their political outlook, policies and approach to issues that are shaping the very different destinies of West Bengal (along with those of the northeastern states and other parts of East India) and Bangladesh. Ironically, the two parts of a truncated Bengal are currently being pulled in opposite directions in terms of their social and economic development and political culture. In the process, the formerly more developed Western part of Bengal is falling behind, while the earlier less developed East, now Bangladesh, is fast progressing to modernity.

Hasina, for all her alleged faults as a leader intolerant of the opposition and her headstrong ways — witness her hostility to Nobel-winning economist Dr. Mohammed Yunus — is fully conscious of her status as the Prime Minister of an independent sovereign Bangladesh. Against formidable odds, fighting the crippling effects of the economic recession in the EU and the US, in addition to the disruptive impact of a tumultuous Arab Spring in West and North Africa, the Bangladesh government has tried hard to maintain the foreign exchange inflow from nearly six million migrant workers. After Libya and Iraq were devastated, Bangladeshis have been finding work in former CIS republics where new exploration and other projects are coming up. Their remittances constitute 12 percent of the annual GDP, while countries like Pakistan (6 percent) and India are less affected. Whenever foreign dignitaries visit Dhaka, the Prime Minister effectively makes a point of requesting them to accept manpower expert from Bangladesh.

She is also driven by the millennial vision of making Bangladesh a middle-income country by 2020-25. In addition to being a world force in the garments exporting sector, Bangladesh is already a major hub for ship breaking and ship building industry. Already in human development indices, in areas like female literacy, empowerment, infant health and employment, Bangladesh compares favourably vis-à-vis India, let alone Pakistan. This is not to suggest that the country does not face formidable problems of resources, environment, shrinking land space, low wages and pollution.

Above all, Hasina is committed to ensuring economic development. Bangladesh has just approved a $2.7 billion elevated metro railway project for Dhaka area, after Japanese development agencies approved a soft loan of $2.1 billion. Dhaka-based media report that this will be the country’s second biggest infrastructural project after the new multi purpose bridge to be built over the Padma River. The bridge will improve Dhaka’s connectivity with the western districts, while the metro project, involving construction of 20.1 kilometres of elevated tracks, will bring down traveling time from around two hours to cover 15-20 kilometres by road to around 20-30 minutes only.

And this is precisely, in terms of her vision and ability, where she leaves India’s Mamata Banerjee miles behind. Hasina heads a small country determined to take its place in the sun by hard work. Banerjee on the other hand, having inherited a state with a considerable industrial base, expertise and the best educational and health facilities in the region, is determined to take it back to the stone ages. Where Hasina thinks like a world leader with her eye on the future, Banerjee thinks like a small time suburban leader with no other desire than to get re-elected, by hook or crook. Where Hasina builds painstakingly and sincerely, Banerjee destroys, with a grim single-minded determination, brooking no criticism.

Hasina managed to revive the impressive Padma Bridge project after international investors had backed off, convincing them of its necessity. Banerjee has not only driven away the Tata Nano car project from West Bengal, but has made sure that Infosys does not invest here, has opposed the NTPC power project at Katwa, opposed the proposed nuclear power generation plant in Midnapore (Bangladesh is getting two from Russia!), is opposed to a chemical complex at Nayachar. She is also opposed to FDI in retail trade, is against land requisition for industry. Now out of the Railway Ministry, she is deliberately putting up obstacles to delay proposed Metro projects because she thinks she will not get the credit. Her idea is to encourage “small industries” by which she means making handcrafts, pickles, stitching clothes and singing folk songs — she has herself explained this concept in many of her speeches!

Hasina realises that if she fails in her job to modernise and take Bangladesh forward, there is no one to point the finger at, or to blame. Banerjee, having fought off the mighty CPI(M) after 34 years, and with virtually no opposition in Bengal, now tilts somewhat quixotically, at a fancied enemy — because she must find someone to fight and attack — that is, the Cong(I) at the centre. “Stand up you minorities, women, students, workers, against the centre, which is robbing us of our dues,” is her latest war cry. The reason: the state has to repay the ”villain” centre its large economic debt, with interest!

At the same time, Banerjee has refused to make any efforts to raise Bengal’s internal revenues. While teachers and transport workers in government schools or organisations do not get regular salaries or pensions, students receive their stipends fitfully, the old go without their allowances for months, the Trinamool Congress spends Rs 60 crore by way of financial help for youth clubs listed by party circles, some of them having only a paper existence! The non-plan expenditure for the Minorities department, incurred by way of functions and ceremonies, exceeds what is allotted for planned expenditure, involving curtailment or delay in implementing official projects announced earlier.

Given this background, it is no surprise that Hasina would run into a Chinese wall of resistance in the shape of Banerjee on the critical question of India and Bangladesh sharing the Teesta waters. With her penchant for opposing every proposal, Banerjee has not shied away from embarrassing India’s Prime Minister over the issue and giving short shrift to Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, who tried to broach the subject. Her fear is that it would not serve West Bengal’s interest, although she is not exactly known for her expertise in water sharing and related matters.

Unfortunately for the more positive and dynamic Sheikh Hasina, time is running out, and national elections are just round the corner. For the palpably obstructive and unhelpful Mamata Banerjee, there is no such compulsion. So the drama of the two women leaders in the subcontinent will continue for some more time until it becomes clear, who survives to stay on course for longer. (IPA Service)