Why Many Bangladeshis Support Pakistan Against Indian Aggression: The Case of Operation Sindoor

Reading Time: 4 minutes The recent escalation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, marked by India’s launch of Operation Sindoor, has revived complex geopolitical conversations across South Asia. While official Bangladeshi foreign policy remains neutral, many in Bangladesh have expressed sympathy for Pakistan’s position in the conflict. This support is not rooted in historical revisionism or simplistic regional loyalties but in a deeper, multidimensional set of strategic, emotional, and ideological considerations. Historical Experience and Opposition to Hegemony Despite the painful rupture between Bangladesh and Pakistan in 1971, today’s regional context reveals evolving perceptions of India’s role in South Asia. Many Bangladeshis now view India not as a benign regional power but as a hegemonic actor that often disregards the sovereignty and interests of its smaller neighbours. From persistent disputes over the Teesta water-sharing agreement to the killing of unarmed civilians along the Bangladesh–India border by the Border Security Force (BSF),