When actress Janhvi Kapoor described the situation in Bangladesh as “barbarism and genocide,” Manoj Joshi spoke of the “killing of Hindus,” Jaya Prada raised concerns over the “destruction of our temples,” and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan declared that he “cannot and will not remain silent,” it became evident that the issue had struck a deep chord. What began as expressions of concern from celebrities and political figures soon evolved into a broader moral and national reckoning. Outrage spread over reports of the isolation, targeting, and killing of Hindus in Bangladesh—an erstwhile ally whose liberation India had decisively supported.
That chapter, however, belongs to history—authored by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, revered as ‘Bangabandhu’ and the founding father of Bangladesh, and shaped significantly by then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Over time, an alternative narrative took hold, suggesting that India’s support for Bangladesh’s independence was driven largely by strategic calculations aimed at weakening Pakistan. Even during the liberation struggle, dissenting voices existed. Much has changed since then.
Today, the situation is marked by bloodshed and violence, with India–Bangladesh relations at their lowest ebb. A noticeable shift in policy has followed the rise of the new regime led by Nobel laureate and current Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus. India’s decision to grant asylum to the deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emerged as a significant factor contributing to the present strain in bilateral ties.
This tension escalated further when a Bangladeshi court sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death, while India was accused of supporting Hasina and being an “interfering and bullying neighbor.” Anti-India sentiment intensified after the killing of student leader Sharif Usman Hadi, who died on December 18 in a Singapore hospital where he was receiving treatment. A week ago, a masked man riding on the back of a motorcycle shot him in the head in Dhaka. Following Hadi’s death, his supporters took to the streets, leading to incidents of arson, buildings being set on fire, and media outlets being targeted.
It is noteworthy that Hadi was a vocal critic of India and its close ties with Sheikh Hasina. Following his assassination, anti-India protests intensified, particularly after claims that the gunmen who shot Hadi had found refuge in India. According to Bangladeshi media reports, “the suspects, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh, entered India’s Meghalaya state with the help of local collaborators. They crossed into India via the Haluaghat border and were then taken to Tura town in Meghalaya.” Naturally and justifiably, India categorically denied these allegations. While anti-India protests were escalating in Bangladesh, a Hindu man named Dipu Das was beaten to death by an angry mob.
Several prominent Hindu organizations in India held protests demanding justice for Dipu Das. Protesters carried placards and banners with slogans such as, “India will not tolerate atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.” Given the growing concerns about the safety of minorities and the tense situation, both the New Delhi and Dhaka governments mutually decided to suspend visa services. This decision affected thousands of Bangladeshi citizens who traveled to India for medical treatment, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Notably, India issued approximately 1,500 visas daily, with medical and emergency visas given priority.
On another level, protesters marched towards the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, raising serious security concerns. India responded with a strong statement, saying, “The continued hostility by extremists against minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists in Bangladesh, is a matter of grave concern. We condemn the recent brutal killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect that the perpetrators of this crime will be brought to justice.” Experts have described these escalating tensions as reaching a “dangerous level.” However, there is a broad consensus in India that the only way out of this crisis is political stability in Bangladesh. General elections in Bangladesh are scheduled for February 2026.
This is where Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, enters the picture. Having returned home after 17 years in exile, Rahman appears poised to emerge as the country’s next prime minister. The enthusiastic and massive crowds that greeted his “homecoming,” along with several opinion polls, suggest that a BNP victory in the upcoming elections is almost certain.
For his part, Tarique Rahman removed his shoes and stepped barefoot onto his homeland’s soil, a symbolic gesture of reverence for a land one holds dear and sacred. “We will build the Bangladesh that a mother dreams of,” he declared, and called upon Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians to join him in building an inclusive nation. “I have a plan. For the people of my country, for my country,” Rahman said. But with Rahman considered the frontrunner for the prime ministership, the question arises: where and in what form does India fit into this “plan,” or does it fit in at all? What are the warning signs for India? Or what dangers exist for minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus?
Undoubtedly, Rahman’s call for “the right to security” for all resonates positively in New Delhi and is somewhat reassuring, but does it guarantee a safe environment for Hindus? Will they truly be safe in Bangladesh? If the BNP comes to power, how will India’s close relationship with Sheikh Hasina affect bilateral ties? It would be premature to answer these questions at this point. But one thing is clear: the shadow of Sheikh Hasina and the extra mile India has gone in providing her refuge will certainly influence and jeopardize Bangladesh’s India policy if an anti-India, anti-Hasina government assumes power, especially at a time when this neighboring country is already grappling with serious turmoil.
