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For a brief period, it appeared that relations between Bangladesh and India were finally on the path to recovery. Following the popular uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh established a relatively conventional political order. At the same time, geography, trade, and regional security interests encouraged both governments to adopt a forward-looking approach. However, that progress now appears to be at risk, according an editorial published in the Pakistan-based English daily-The Nation.
The decision to allow Sheikh Hasina to deliver a virtual address from New Delhi on the anniversary of the uprising that removed her from power will inevitably be viewed in Dhaka as a hostile political act. Although the event is not being organized by the Indian government, New Delhi cannot claim that political activities conducted by Bangladesh’s ousted leader from Indian territory carry no diplomatic consequences.
Sheikh Hasina is not merely another politician in exile. She faces serious allegations in Bangladesh, has been convicted over the deadly crackdown during the 2024 uprising, and Bangladesh has formally requested her extradition. India’s continued decision to provide her with shelter has become the single biggest obstacle to any meaningful improvement in bilateral relations.
If mishandled, the consequences will extend beyond Bangladesh-India ties. Bangladesh has already been strengthening its relationship with China, while signs of improving relations with Pakistan—a country with which it has historically had a complex relationship—are also emerging. Any move by India that is perceived as interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs is likely to push Dhaka even closer to Beijing and Islamabad.
India may believe that by hosting Sheikh Hasina, it can retain influence over Bangladesh’s future political landscape. In reality, however, the opposite may happen. Such a policy could intensify anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh and drive the country into closer alignment with China and Pakistan.