bangladesh political unrest: India, show goodwill towards Bangladesh

Like nature, Bangladesh abhors a vacuum. Following escalation in violence and protests demanding her ouster, Sheikh Hasina stepped down as PM on Monday, bringing to an end 15 years of Awami League’s power grip on the country. Recognising the wave of sheer popular anger against her, Hasina promptly left Bangladesh. Army chief Waker-Uz-Zaman announced that an interim government would be in place by nightfall. Bangladesh’s position remains precarious, its trajectory uncertain. New Delhi needs to lean on to the new dispensation-in-the-making and ensure that, despite finding an ally all this while in Hasina, it sincerely wants what’s best for the Bangladeshi people.

Considerable economic difficulties, which also contributed to the growing anti-Hasina sentiment, will remain a challenge for Bangladesh and its citizenry. India has been a reliable partner for post-pandemic Bangladesh as well as after the energy crisis resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine. New Delhi must convey to the post-Hasina administration, and others in the political-military establishment, that India’s support will continue. As the major power in the region, it mustn’t be shy about this. India should also leverage its relations with other global powers to help bring stability to Bangladesh.

China will be pleased to see the back of Hasina and her Awami League for its friendly relations with India. It may try to harness prevailing anti-India sentiment. With opposition leader Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the radical Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami known to be inimical to India – they had reportedly piggybacked the last phase of anti-Hasina protests – New Delhi will need to act fast. Above all, it’ll have to demonstrate goodwill to Bangladesh’s people.