Introduction
The India-Bangladesh relationship is entering a phase of renewed uncertainty. Political uncertainty and violence in Dhaka, the exile of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and rising acts of communal violence have unsettled a partnership built over decades of cooperation. As both countries navigate this period, India is balancing the tumultuous relationship, reaffirming its commitment to regional stability while signalling that human rights concerns and mutual respect remain essential pillars of the bilateral bond. The coming months will determine whether this critical relationship regains its strategic momentum or becomes weighed down by mistrust and shifting domestic politics.
A Historical Trajectory of Bilateral Engagement
India-Bangladesh relations have evolved through a close connected relationship that began with India’s direct involvement in Bangladesh liberation in 1971. India played a decisive role both on the battlefield in 1971 and in shaping the diplomatic foundation with the 1972 Treaty of Friendship, which maintained a period of trust and cooperation. This trust faded after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, when successive military governments leaned closer to Pakistan and exploited nationalist sentiments that distanced Dhaka from New Delhi. The return to multiparty democracy in the 1990s brought alternating foreign policy approaches with notable highs such as the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty under the Awami League, contrasted by renewed friction during the BNP’s tenure. A major reset took place from 2009 onward when Sheikh Hasina’s government prioritised counterterrorism cooperation, regional connectivity frameworks like The Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Initiative, cross-border electricity trade, and landmark agreements such as the 2015 settlement of the land boundary dispute, positioning bilateral ties at their most stable point in decades. Today, however, political upheaval since 2024, Hasina’s removal from power, and the growing aggression of Islamist radicals have once again pushed India to reassess its strategic engagement, marking the start of a more uncertain chapter in the relationship.
Shifts in Dhaka’s Political Landscape and Their Impact on Bilateral Engagement
It has been a difficult period for bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India, along with an increase in protests outside the diplomatic missions of both nations. The unrest is closely tied to the changing political situation in Bangladesh, especially the exile of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India and also rising mutual security concerns. India’s foreign policy approach has generally remained pragmatic and adaptive to shifts in Bangladesh’s political landscape. In the current context, New Delhi has refrained from making Hasina’s presence in India a central public issue. Dhaka, however, has periodically raised concerns regarding the former prime minister’s exile, which has contributed to friction between the two governments.
Following Sheikh Hasina’s exit from office, a political change has caused mistrust to reappear between New Delhi and Dhaka, straining a relationship that has traditionally relied on close cooperation. While India has maintained an approach of cautious engagement amid Bangladesh’s evolving domestic landscape, recurring references to Hasina’s exile have added strain to the dynamic. Prolonged tensions would be counterproductive for both countries, given their deep economic, cultural, and security interdependencies. The upcoming elections in Bangladesh now present an important window for both governments to reset the tone of their engagement, restore mutual confidence, and reaffirm shared regional priorities.
Due to protests outside their respective high commissions, both Bangladesh and India have summoned each other’s envoys in recent days, forcing the closure of visa offices in both nations. The Indian High Commission in New Delhi encountered strong opposition from many organizations, which protested the alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, while protests in Bangladesh saw police stop protesters marching toward the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.The political turmoil in Bangladesh has only made tensions worse, especially after the assasination of well-known student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The nation became much more unstable as a result of the tremendous violence that followed his assassination.
Another chain of communal violence began when co-workers confronted 27-year-old Hindu garment worker Dipu Chandra Das over comments made during a workplace discussion. Dipu Chandra Das was lynched by the factory mob after they accused him of blasphemy, though authorities have not confirmed what he said. What followed was an inhumane mob assault in which he was dragged onto the street by the mob, beaten to death, and his body tied to a tree and set on fire. Police have so far arrested 12 people, including the factory manager and supervisor. The incident comes amid political unrest and a leadership vacuum following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, with increased mob violence and attacks on minorities. Most of these attacks targeted Hindu minorities making their life worrisome and unstable in the country. Blasphemy has become the latest tool of persecution against the Hindu population. Human rights groups warn that extremist groups are exploiting the turmoil ahead of elections, raising fears for Bangladesh’s Hindu minority. The killing has also drawn concern from India, which sees it as part of a broader rise in religious intolerance in Bangladesh.
Evolving Challenges in a Historically Close Partnership
For India, Bangladesh remains a highly significant neighbour with immense strategic relevance. Geographically, it forms a key transit bridge to India’s Northeastern states, helping New Delhi reduce its heavy dependence on the narrow and vulnerable Siliguri Corridor, while also enabling deeper economic and infrastructural integration under the Act East Policy. The two countries share India’s longest international border that is stretching over 4,096 km, making Dhaka’s cooperation indispensable for tackling cross-border insurgent networks, curbing illegal migration, and ensuring overall border stability. Beyond the land frontier, Bangladesh’s coastline along the Bay of Bengal, positioned close to vital sea lanes, enhances India’s ability to secure maritime trade routes and monitor emerging security challenges in the wider Indian Ocean region. Additionally, Bangladesh acts as a linchpin for sub-regional groupings such as The Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Initiative and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation(BIMSTEC), where greater connectivity, energy exchange, and trade flow are central to New Delhi’s ambitions for regional integration and growth.
India’s dynamic regional diplomacy has fundamentally reshaped relations with Bangladesh over the past decade. India has improved its options for connectivity through major investments in land ports, revived railway corridors, enhanced waterways, and the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline. Through these efforts New Delhi has ensured that cross-border movement of goods, energy, and people is smoother for both the countries. These initiatives helped drive a 95% increase in bilateral trade between 2014 and 2024, making Bangladesh India’s largest trading partner in South Asia and a major contributor to India’s tourism inflow.
Even amid the recent political transition in Dhaka following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, India’s connectivity network proved its resilience. Disruptions were short-lived with key land routes such as the Petrapole–Benapole border crossing reopened within days, allowing trade to stabilise swiftly. Road networks, which carry the bulk of bilateral commerce, helped ensure minimal interruption to supply chains despite temporary railway suspensions.
Looking ahead, as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from LDC status in 2026, India remains its most reliable economic and strategic partner. Additionally there is a $7.9 billion Indian line of credit, continued infrastructure partnerships, and upcoming collaborations in digital systems, renewable energy, and climate resilience between both countries. All of these incentives position India at the centre of Bangladesh’s developmental trajectory.
The Way Forward for India-Bangladesh Relations
India’s message to Bangladesh has always been clear. India has always stressed regional stability and prosperity achieved through deeper integration, dependable partnerships, and shared progress. These principles India continues to uphold even during political uncertainty across its neighbourhood. This resilience cannot be mistaken for vulnerability. At the same time, India has also made it clear that partnership cannot come at the cost of fundamental rights. As witnessed in recent events, New Delhi has been raising strong concerns regarding the continuous violence and has responded with Proactive statements on the discrimination targeting Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, signalling that safeguarding human dignity and the attack on India’s sovereignty remains a non-negotiable element of its foreign policy.
India’s national security and connectivity priorities place significant focus on the Bangladesh frontier, particularly with respect to the Northeastern region and the Bay of Bengal maritime space. It therefore expects reciprocal sensitivity from Dhaka, acknowledging that mutual respect and reassurance are essential to maintaining the momentum of cooperation. In essence, India’s stance reflects a balanced mix of openness and assertiveness ready to support Bangladesh’s stability, but equally ready to defend shared values and vital interests that underpin the bilateral relationship.