Bangladesh and India share a common history, language, and people. Whether we like it or not, our fates are intertwined and it need not be antagonistic because of the border that divides us.
Our common history is illustrious: Greater Bengal thrived at various times as part of larger Indian empires, including the Mauryan, Gupta, and Mughal dynasties, fostering shared cultural and religious traditions. British colonial rule further intertwined our histories, culminating in the partition of Bengal in 1947.
Today, India surrounds Bangladesh on three sides, sharing a 4,096km-long border. The two countries share dozens of transboundary rivers, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna, which are vital for irrigation, transportation, and the livelihoods of millions.
Yet, this relationship has often been overshadowed by perceptions of India's "big brother" stance towards Bangladesh, including in massive economic imbalance.
Recent political upheaval in Bangladesh has added a new dimension to this dynamic. The brutal crackdown on unarmed protesters by the Sheikh Hasina government, that left an estimated 1,500 dead and over 20,000 injured, has largely been ignored by the Indian media. This silence has been interpreted by many as a reflection of India’s antipathy toward Bangladesh’s democratic aspirations.
Instead of addressing the nationwide movement for democracy, Indian coverage focused on isolated incidents of retaliation against cadres of the former regime during the brief power vacuum following its sudden collapse. Driven primarily by concerns for Bangladeshi Hindus, much of this coverage had distorted facts, with some outlets propagating baseless theories about foreign conspiracies -- or mischaracterizing the change in Bangladesh as an “Islamist takeover.”
These narratives not only misrepresent the reality but also expose a troubling lack of understanding, or perhaps a deliberate disregard, for the sociopolitical and religious fabric of Bangladesh.
India’s religious tensions
India’s democratic reputation has long been tarnished by numerous incidents of prejudice and violence against its Muslim citizens since gaining independence in 1947. In 1992, the demolition of the Babri Mosque by a right-wing Hindutva mob -- brick by brick and in full view of cameras -- triggered widespread anti-Muslim violence across India. Over 900 people were killed, and Muslim properties were looted and set ablaze in the aftermath.
A decade later, the 2002 Gujarat riots unfolded under the watch of then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi, resulting in the deaths of approximately 2,000 Muslims. Modi’s controversial role in the riots led to his temporary ban from entering both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Under Modi’s leadership since 2014, anti-Muslim sentiment has taken on troubling dimensions. The rise of “cow vigilantism” has seen numerous cases of mob lynchings targeting Muslims, ostensibly in the name of protecting cows. In February 2020, protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) led to violent attacks on Muslim homes, businesses and places of worship in Delhi, leaving over 50 people dead, the majority of them Muslims.
India’s “anti-conversion laws” -- apparently designed to restrict religious conversions -- have often been weaponized against Christians and Muslims, fuelling further communal tensions. While civil society voices have criticized these patterns of discrimination, policies like the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) are seen as mechanisms for marginalizing Muslims.
Historically, India has been a melting pot where people of diverse faiths, cultures and ethnicities co-existed in relative harmony for millennia. Sadly, post-colonial India has often treated its Muslims citizens as unequal “others.” This stands in stark contrast to Bangladesh, where Hindus have been constitutionally recognized and treated as equal citizens.
Ordinary Bangladeshis and Indians share a genuine desire to live in peace and harmony as neighbours
Undermining Bangladeshi sovereignty
For better or worse, India’s external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has long been accused of clandestine involvement and interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.
RAW is allegedly working to advance India’s political, economic, cultural, and security interests at Bangladesh’s expense -- exceeding the bounds of a traditional foreign intelligence operation.
There are widespread allegations that RAW has invested heavily in cultivating pro-Indian elements within Bangladesh, thereby deepening divisions and sowing seeds of discord. One area of particular concern is the southeastern region of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where many suspect RAW’s involvement in fostering discontent and unrest.
RAW’s influence is believed to permeate Bangladesh’s politics and civic life and has been described as multifaceted, multilayered and often to the detriment of Bangladesh and its people. Critics argue that its grip on the previous regime, the Awami League, and various state institutions has undermined Bangladesh’s sovereignty and democratic processes. This perception has fuelled resentment among the Bangladeshi populace, leading to a significant erosion of trust in India itself.
In the wake of Bangladesh’s recent shifting political landscape, spurred by the student-led uprisings of August, RAW is increasingly viewed as a destabilizing force. For the relationship between the two countries to stabilize, mutual respect for sovereignty, alongside collaborative efforts grounded in equality, is critical to fostering long-term trust and stability between Bangladesh and India.
Can India be a good neighbour?
The stated objectives of the Bangladesh-India relationship centre on fostering mutual trust, promoting economic and social development, enhancing regional stability, and addressing shared challenges. These objectives are formalized through bilateral agreements, joint declarations and multilateral cooperation frameworks.
Despite these formal commitments, the relationship has remained asymmetrical and skewed in India’s favour since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 -- an imbalance exacerbated by Indian chauvinism and the subservient posture of the recent Sheikh Hasina regime. The student-led uprising in Bangladesh underscored the people’s demand for accountable governance, a rejection of autocracy and a firm stance against any hegemony.
To build a genuinely respectful and mutually beneficial relationship, India must prioritize basic principles of non-interference. Meddling -- whether overt or covert -- in Bangladesh’s domestic affairs erodes trust and fosters anti-India sentiment. Indian media also must adopt an objective and balanced approach, avoiding narratives that delegitimize Bangladesh’s democratic agency.
Both India and Bangladesh face shared challenges, including poverty, healthcare and gender equality. Both countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change which threatens their agriculture, infrastructure, and human displacement. Enhanced collaboration on disaster preparedness, early warning systems, renewable energy adoption, and shared resources can make a significant impact on this front.
With mutual collaboration on all these fronts, both countries could uplift their citizens. Strengthened regional cooperation through platforms such as The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and other multilateral initiatives can further solidify peace, stability and development across South Asia.
By aligning their objectives through robust diplomacy, mutual respect and a commitment to non-interference, both Bangladesh and India can forge a better partnership, not only to strengthen bilateral relations but also contribute to regional and global cooperation.
Ordinary Bangladeshis and Indians share a genuine desire to live in peace and harmony as neighbours -- bound by mutual respect and dignity. To realize this vision, the two countries must address their existing power asymmetries and work collaboratively on issues of common interest.
India, as the larger partner, must take meaningful steps to ensure that all bilateral policies are fair and equitable. Achieving them requires India to embrace a partnership of equals, one that respects Bangladeshi people’s agency and supports their democratic aspirations.
At the same time, Bangladesh must assert itself with confidence in pursuing constructive and pragmatic engagement with India. By fostering open dialogue, the two nations can navigate their differences and forge a relationship grounded in trust, equality and shared prosperity.
Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari is an educationalist and author.
