Indian Information Warfare Against Bangladesh: Tactics, Trends, and Countermeasures

Reading Time: 8 minutes In the evolving landscape of regional geopolitics, the use of information warfare (IW) has emerged as a potent instrument of statecraft. Unlike traditional military confrontations, IW operates primarily in the cognitive domain—shaping perceptions, influencing public opinion, and undermining adversaries through strategic narrative manipulation and cyber operations. For Bangladesh, a nation positioned at the geopolitical crossroads of South and Southeast Asia, the challenge posed by such non-kinetic threats is particularly acute. India, as Bangladesh’s immediate and dominant neighbour, pursues complex strategic objectives that extend beyond conventional diplomacy and military posture. While bilateral ties encompass cooperation and interdependence, New Delhi also employs sophisticated IW tactics aimed at maintaining regional primacy. This has manifested in a multifaceted campaign targeting Bangladesh’s political stability, economic development, and international standing. These operations seek to exploit Bangladesh’s vulnerabilities while constraining its sovereign decision-making, especially in the context of its expanding partnerships beyond the