By Professor Dr. Sheikh Akram Ali
The ugly face of India, many in Bangladesh argue, now stands fully exposed before the nation. India was never truly a benevolent friend, despite decades of presenting itself as Bangladesh’s closest ally. A section of Bangladeshi society continues to believe that India’s support played a decisive role in the country’s emergence in 1971, and therefore sees permanent gratitude towards New Delhi as a political and moral obligation. Yet this perspective, critics contend, overlooks India’s controversial and self-interested role at critical moments in the region’s history. According to this view, India supported Bangladesh during the Liberation War not purely out of humanitarian concern, but to fulfil its long-standing strategic objective of weakening Pakistan and creating a compliant neighbouring state.
For many nationalists in Bangladesh, the roots of this distrust stretch back to the British colonial era. They argue that Hindu-majority India and the Muslim population of the subcontinent followed increasingly divergent political paths during the final decades of British rule. While many Muslims believed coexistence remained possible, Muslim political leaders under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah came to view the Indian National Congress as unwilling to accommodate Muslim political aspirations fairly. The eventual creation of Pakistan in 1947, therefore, was seen not simply as a territorial division, but as a political necessity to protect Muslim identity and autonomy.
Following the deaths of prominent Bengali leaders such as A. K. Fazlul Huq and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, nationalist critics argue that India found opportunities to influence emerging political currents in East Pakistan. Under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bengali nationalism developed into a powerful political movement that critics claim received covert Indian encouragement. The Agartala Conspiracy Case remains central to this narrative, viewed by many as evidence of secret coordination between Indian authorities and elements within the Awami League.
In retrospect, many Pakistanis and Bangladeshi nationalists believe that the political and military leadership of the time failed catastrophically to address the growing crisis. India, under the leadership of Indira Gandhi, demonstrated considerable diplomatic and strategic skill during the events leading up to the war of 1971. Backed by the Soviet Union, India succeeded in reshaping the political map of South Asia within a matter of months.
The argument advanced by critics of India is that economic grievances in East Pakistan were exaggerated and transformed into an effective political narrative. They maintain that the Ayub Khan era witnessed significant infrastructural development in East Pakistan, despite claims of systematic neglect. Yet Pakistan’s ruling establishment, they argue, failed to counter the political momentum created by Bengali nationalism and the Awami League’s campaign.
For those who subscribe to this interpretation, the separation of East Pakistan was not simply the product of internal discontent, but the culmination of a carefully executed geopolitical strategy. In the years following Bangladesh’s independence, many nationalists argue that India’s influence over Bangladeshi affairs became increasingly visible.
It was during the presidency of Ziaur Rahman that Bangladesh, according to his supporters, attempted to establish a more independent foreign policy. Ziaur Rahman sought to redefine Bangladeshi nationalism and reduce reliance on India, while introducing significant constitutional and political reforms. His assassination in 1981 continues to fuel speculation and political controversy among his followers, many of whom believe external interests played a role in destabilising his government.
Subsequent governments, including that of Hussain Muhammad Ershad, frequently struggled with what critics describe as India’s “big brother” approach towards Bangladesh. Although Khaleda Zia attempted to maintain balanced relations with New Delhi, her supporters argue that she too became a target of Indian political hostility.
According to this nationalist narrative, the political transition overseen by the Moinuddin-Fakhruddin caretaker government further expanded Indian influence within Bangladesh and paved the way for Sheikh Hasina to consolidate power. Critics allege that over the past sixteen years Bangladesh increasingly drifted into political dependency, with India exercising overwhelming influence over the country’s internal affairs.
The political upheaval described by supporters as the July Revolution of 2024 is therefore viewed by many as a turning point in Bangladesh’s modern history. They argue that the removal of Sheikh Hasina’s government weakened India’s influence and triggered increasingly hostile reactions from New Delhi, including visa restrictions, diplomatic pressure and media campaigns against Bangladesh’s interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.
Recent tensions along the Bangladesh-India border have further intensified anxieties. Allegations of military build-ups, infiltration attempts and political interference have fuelled fears of renewed instability. The killing of Osman Hadi has particularly deepened concerns among nationalist circles, who view it as evidence of a dangerous escalation.
Against this backdrop, many believe the Bangladeshi government must remain vigilant and pursue a foreign policy rooted firmly in national sovereignty. The present administration has been praised by supporters for adopting a more assertive diplomatic posture, while Bangladesh’s growing international engagement is viewed as essential to preserving strategic autonomy.
There is also a growing belief among sections of Bangladeshi society that stronger ties with countries such as Turkey and Pakistan could provide greater diplomatic balance in South Asia. Ultimately, those advancing this argument insist that national unity remains Bangladesh’s greatest strength. In their view, only a united and politically conscious population can resist external pressure and safeguard the country’s sovereignty in an increasingly volatile regional environment.
(The writer is an academic and political commentator in Bangladesh and can be reached at news@metro-morning.com)
