Bangladesh and India now stand at the nadir of their bilateral relationship. The pretence of “historic ties” and “friendship” has collapsed under the weight of political interference, propaganda, and open hostility. India’s decision to harbour Sheikh Hasina — the disgraced former prime minister, condemned by millions as a mass killer and the embodiment of corruption — is not just an insult to the people of Bangladesh. It is a direct assault on our sovereignty.
Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the interim government, could not have been clearer. He has given a frank account of how New Delhi has chosen the wrong side of history. Rather than respecting the democratic aspirations of the Bangladeshi people, India has thrown its weight behind the very regime that brought untold misery, looted the state, and drowned opposition in blood.
By hosting Hasina and her cronies, India signals that it will shield those who stand accused of murder, corruption, and crimes against humanity. This alone has created severe tension between Dhaka and New Delhi. Worse still, the deliberate spread of disinformation by Indian media — branding our youth-led protest movements as “Islamist” or “extremist” — is an unforgivable act of narrative warfare. These movements were not born of religious radicalism. They were born of desperation, injustice, and a thirst for accountability after years of dictatorship masquerading as democracy.
India has long interfered in Bangladesh’s domestic affairs. From water-sharing disputes to trade barriers, from meddling in elections to controlling narratives through its media apparatus, New Delhi has consistently behaved like a regional hegemon, not a neighbour. The arrogance is breathtaking: India assumes that Bangladesh will remain a pliant client state, shackled to Delhi’s whims. That era is over.
The reality is that Bangladesh is no longer beholden to India. The world has changed. Dhaka has diversified its partnerships, building robust ties with China, the United States, Türkiye, Japan, and the Gulf states. Our armed forces are modernising. Our economy, despite shocks, is resilient and outward-looking. We do not need India to dictate our political choices. We certainly do not need India to provide sanctuary to criminals.
If India imagines that propping up Hasina will stabilise its eastern flank, it has gravely miscalculated. The people of Bangladesh will never forgive Delhi for siding with repression. Every act of Indian interference pushes Dhaka further into the arms of alternative partners. Every lie told in Indian media erodes whatever goodwill remains. Every day Hasina remains in India is a day relations sink lower into the abyss.
This is not about neighbourly disputes. This is about sovereignty. This is about dignity. India must decide whether it wishes to live beside a sovereign Bangladesh or a resentful adversary. The interim government has already filed cases against Hasina and her associates. If India refuses extradition, it will openly brand itself as a protector of fugitives. Such a stance will have long-term consequences.
Bangladesh has always sought relations based on equality, respect, and mutual benefit. But respect is a two-way street. India cannot claim to be a friend while sheltering the enemies of our people. It cannot demand cooperation while orchestrating propaganda against our movements for freedom and justice.
The time has come for Dhaka to chart a harder course. Relations with India must be recalibrated to reflect reality, not illusion. Trade policy, water negotiations, security arrangements, and regional forums must all be reassessed through the lens of Indian hostility. Bangladesh must build deeper ties with powers that respect our sovereignty and accelerate the diversification of our defence and economic partnerships.
New Delhi has burned the bridge of trust. If it wishes to rebuild, it must start with one simple act: expel Sheikh Hasina and her cronies, and stop meddling in Bangladesh’s affairs. Until then, bilateral relations will remain frozen at their lowest point in living memory — and India will have only itself to blame.
Ayesha Farid is a regional security specialist focusing on South Asia, with over a decade of experience analysing inter-state tensions, cross-border insurgency, and regional power dynamics. Holding a Master’s degree in International Relations and having worked with several policy think tanks and academic institutions, she offers nuanced insights into the security challenges shaping the subcontinent. Ayesha’s expertise lies in mapping military doctrines, border disputes, and regional cooperation frameworks, making her a key contributor to BDMilitary’s coverage of South Asian strategic affairs. She heads the Geopolitics & Diplomacy section at BDMilitary.
