Bangladesh's Extremist Shift: Rising Anti-India Sentiments
Bangladesh's interim Prime Minister Mohammad Yunus and his ministers have been expressing hostility towards India, and now extremist groups are increasingly spreading animosity against India. Sarjis Alam, the leader of the newly established National Citizen Party of Bangladesh and a pro-Pakistan youth figure, declared at a rally that foreign supporters should have no place in the country, emphasizing the need to resist India's dominance. Students played a significant role in the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh, making student organizations crucial players. Bangladesh is currently influenced by extremist forces, with Pakistan, China, and Turkey actively or passively encouraging Bangladeshi youth and students to adopt fundamentalist ideologies. Two months ago, a Turkey-supported Islamic group, Sultanate-e-Bangla, published a contentious map depicting Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and all northeastern states of India as part of Greater Bangladesh.
Earlier, experts associated with the interim government of Mohammad Yunus believe that this campaign is a well-planned attempt to turn the new generation of Bangladesh in a radical direction. Earlier also, some people associated with the interim government of Mohammad Yunus had claimed the northeastern states of India. After the formation of Mohammad Yunus's government in Bangladesh in 2024, relations between Turkey and Bangladesh have suddenly accelerated. Turkey has proposed to supply military equipment to Bangladesh and many Islamic NGOs associated with Turkey's ruling party AKP have become active there. Pakistan is believed to be acting as a major link in this strategic proximity. The concept of Greater Bangladesh reflects a radical expansionist thinking, which dreams of merging Bengali-speaking areas into one nation. It includes India's West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and Myanmar's Arakan region.
Although this idea is not acceptable in the mainstream of Bangladesh, it also keeps emerging from time to time on Islamic groups and social media. Last year in December 2024, Mahfuz Alam, a close aide of Yunus Sarkar, shared a similar map on social media in which Indian states were shown as part of Bangladesh. India had strongly objected to this and lodged a strong protest with Dhaka. Now when anti-India activities are increasing on Bangladeshi soil with the connivance of countries like Turkey and Pakistan, Indian security agencies have started taking this development seriously. For India, the security of sensitive places like 'Chicken Neck' i.e. Siliguri Corridor has become more important.
During Operation Sindoor, China and Turkey were in the role of direct enemies of India, while China helped Pakistan in every possible way and provided intelligence information through satellite and other means about where and how India's military preparations are. Now it is clear that the triangle of Bangladesh, Pakistan and China is creating new challenges for India. This means that in future India may have to fight all three. China is selling its weapons to Pakistan. Turkey has given Pakistan the most modern drones. Last month on 19th June, a meeting was held between the representatives of Bangladesh, China and Pakistan in which the formation of an organization like SAARC was also discussed. Pakistan is already in debt to China and China's influence is increasing in Bangladesh. Looking at all these circumstances, the top commanders of the Indian Army have termed the alliance of these three as dangerous for India. The World Bank estimates that it may take more than 40 years for Pakistan to repay China's debt. China wants to increase its dominance in South Asia by taking advantage of this situation.
Bangladesh is also getting trapped in China's debt trap. The 15 years of Sheikh Hasina's tenure were golden years for Bangladesh's economy. For a long time, Bangladesh was considered a great example of economic progress in South Asia. It made its mark in the world in the fields of readymade garments, remittance, poverty alleviation, human resources, development and infrastructure, but now the situation is such that Bangladesh's economy has collapsed. Trade has been affected. The rate of banks and financial account holders is also decreasing rapidly. Mohammad Yunus is trying to improve Bangladesh's situation by building relations with China and Pakistan. Experts say that Bangladesh's efforts to form an alliance with China and Pakistan will not be successful. Because none of the three share borders with each other.
Actually, the real challenge before Bangladesh is not in adopting this initiative or withdrawing from it, but in handling its adverse effects. Even if future governments decide to distance themselves, the diplomatic damage may be difficult to repair, especially with China. This reveals a worrying lack of clarity in Bangladesh's foreign policy direction. Relations with India have strengthened over the past 15 years, but the imbalance is not without cost. A shift to a more balanced strategy is long overdue but should be done with foresight, not in haste under an interim government with limited powers. It seems that the interim government with limited powers is in a hurry. Striking a balance with both China and India is a matter of diplomatic skill. Bangladesh will not become strong by demolishing Satyajit Ray's ancestral home or by opposing India.
The flames of the fire that started in Bangladesh have now spread far and wide. Protests are also being held against providing protection to terrorists and increasing violence in Bangladesh. India is vigilant and strengthening its defense preparations to face any challenge and is also looking for new diplomatic options. Bangladesh will have the same fate as Sri Lanka, Maldives and Pakistan which are trapped in China's debt trap. India is moving ahead with strategic skills and anarchy is spreading in Bangladesh. This anarchy will destroy it.