India urged to recalibrate ties with Bangladesh post-Hasina ouster

India is being urged recalibrate its relations with Bangladesh to reflect the desires of the Bangladeshi people, rather than relying on any specific party or leader. This sentiment follows the student-led uprising that led to the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government. Since Hasina resigned and fled to India on 5 August, the Indian government has faced criticism for focusing its bilateral ties solely on the Awami League leader and neglecting relations with other political entities and civil society.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who heads the interim government, labelled Hasina’s regime a “dictatorship”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed India’s intent to collaborate with the caretaker administration. Humayun Kabir, president of the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI), suggested India should maintain good relations with all stakeholders. Kabir, formerly a diplomat in Kolkata, noted the uprising was led by youth advocating for democracy, equity, justice, and transparency, echoing the 1971 war of independence spirit.

Kabir remarked that some Indian observers felt uneasy due to their narrow perspective on recent Bangladeshi events. They overlooked diverse opinions, especially those of the youth, who felt deprived of democratic rights and opportunities. During Yunus’s first phone call with Modi on 16 August, Modi reaffirmed support for a democratic, stable, and progressive Bangladesh, stressing the safety of Hindus and minorities.

Debapriya Bhattacharya, a fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in Dhaka, highlighted India’s “unconditional and exclusive support” to Hasina’s regime. The change in government sparked public outrage towards India. Bhattacharya emphasised the need for a balanced agenda of bilateral interests and mutual respect in India-Bangladesh relations. He hoped India would not tie its relationship to one political party and that Bangladesh would develop a national consensus on its India approach.

Bhattacharya criticised the Indian media’s narrative post-Hasina’s ouster as “ill-informed and not helpful”. Early signs of renewed relations include Modi and Yunus’s phone call and Yunus’s participation in the Voice of Global South Summit hosted by India. As the interim government stabilises, more opportunities for a mutually beneficial relationship should arise.

Shafqat Munir of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies pointed out the perception among Bangladeshis that India supports one leader and party. He stressed the importance of India signalling its support for the Bangladeshi people and their aspirations. Munir called for a constructive and productive relationship, acknowledging the new reality in Bangladesh and suggesting a reset in relations.

Munir proposed India send a special envoy to Bangladesh with a message of goodwill to recognise the people’s revolution. Kabir, who had two diplomatic postings in India, mentioned the rapid events had confused the Indian side. He urged India to appreciate the people’s aspirations for democracy, justice, and equity, fostering a climate of understanding and mutual respect.