Relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated sharply following a wave of violent protests in Bangladesh and a lynching that has inflamed public opinion on both sides of the border, raising concerns that a once close bilateral relationship is entering a prolonged period of mistrust.
The immediate trigger has been the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu garment worker in northern Bangladesh, who was beaten to death by a mob after allegations of blasphemy, the BBC reports. His death came amid wider unrest sparked by the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader, in Dhaka. Together, the two incidents have intensified communal tensions inside Bangladesh while fuelling political anger in India.
In India, Hindu nationalist groups have already staged protests condemning violence against Bangladesh’s Hindu minority. Across the border in Bangladesh, meanwhile, suspicions that a key suspect in Hadi’s killing may have fled to India have only served to reinforce long-standing narratives of Indian interference the BBC continues. While there has been no police confirmation to this end it has served to deepen anti-India sentiment in the Muslim-majority country.
The diplomatic fallout has been swift. Both the Bangladesh and Indian governments have suspended visa services in a number of cities. Both have also accused the other of a failure to protect diplomatic premises. Demonstrations outside missions in Delhi, Dhaka and Chittagong have prompted formal protests, with both sides summoning senior envoys to convey their concerns.
Underlying the latest crisis, however, are longer and much deeper-running grievances. Many Bangladeshis have resented India’s influence during the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed in August 2024, and is currently living in India – in the eyes of many in Bangladesh, protected by New Delhi. As a result, India’s refusal so far to return her, despite repeated requests from Dhaka, has become a focal point for political mobilisation and street protests.
Security forces in Bangladesh meanwhile have struggled to contain demonstrations targeting Indian diplomatic sites, while stone-throwing attacks and attempted marches have heightened tensions. In India, counter-rallies outside Bangladeshi missions have drawn sharp objections from Dhaka, adding to the sense of mutual suspicion.
The lynching of Das has thus further strained relations, particularly after graphic footage circulated widely online. Bangladesh’s interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has pledged accountability and confirmed multiple arrests. Yet analysts say the killing has renewed fears about the safety of minorities and civil society figures in a more permissive environment for religious hardliners since Hasina’s removal.
In recent months, radical Islamist groups have become more visible on the streets of Bangladesh, with reports of attacks on Hindu communities as well as vandalism of Sufi shrines, restrictions on women’s participation in sport and pressure on cultural activities. Media outlets and cultural institutions accused of being sympathetic towards or in some way linked to India have also been targeted, amplifying concerns about freedom of expression.
The BBC adds that human rights organisations have warned of a rise in mob violence over the past year, while critics argue that the interim government has struggled half-heartedly at times, to assert authority and maintain public order amid political uncertainty.
For India, the stakes are multiple in nature. Parliamentary assessments in Delhi have described developments in Bangladesh as the most serious challenge to Indian security interests since the 1971 war of independence, particularly given the importance of stability for India’s north-eastern states.
In Bangladesh, authorities are moving towards elections on February 12 , with Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League barred from contesting and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party expected to perform strongly. However, Islamist parties could complicate the political landscape, and there are fears that anti-India sentiment may be exploited in the run-up to the vote, risking further unrest.
Until then, both governments face pressure to prevent street-level anger from hardening into lasting hostility.
No comments:
Post a Comment