Discussion on the Developing Situation in Bangladesh

On 13 September, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized a discussion on the “Developing Situations in Bangladesh.” Dr Arvind Gupta, Director VIF, delivered the opening remarks, followed by brief observations from Amb Veena Sikri, Former Indian High commissioner to Bangladesh; Amb Kanwal Sibal; Amb Pankaj Saran, Former Indian High commissioner to Bangladesh; and Lt Gen (Dr) PC Nair about the current situation in Bangladesh. This was accompanied by an interactive question-and-answer session.

In recent months, Bangladesh has been grappling with a political crisis that led to the resignation and ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was compelled to leave the country on 5 August 2024. This upheaval also prompted the establishment of an interim government led by the Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus who was sworn in on August 8. In addition to Yunus, the interim government initially included 17 advisers and later expanded to 21, including civil society members, a former governor of the Reserve Bank of Bangladesh, several legal experts, a retired army Brigadier, a retired Lt General, a former foreign secretary, women’s and Indigenous rights activists, bankers, academics, a medical practitioner, an Islamic studies expert, and two student leaders from the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement. However, what is concerning after the fall of the Hasina government is the resurgence of political violence and vendettas targeting Awami League members/supporters, perpetrated by various groups including BNP supporters and other Islamic fundamentalist factions. Minorities have also faced attacks on several occasions since then.

In this backdrop, the discussion highlighted the evolving internal political dynamics within the country and its implications for India. The role of the involvement of different state and non-state actors in the current political uprising was also analysed by the panellists. The discussion also underscored the present economic situation in Bangladesh and its repercussions for India.

As a neighbouring country, India is deeply invested in Bangladesh's stability due to shared economic, strategic, and cultural ties. It was further maintained that increased instability could lead to cross-border security issues, including potential rises in illegal activities that might spill over into the Indian Territory. Furthermore, unrest in Bangladesh could disrupt regional trade and economic collaborations vital to both the country's national interests. Therefore, India's concerns are rooted in preserving peace, security, and regional stability.

Consequently, it was stressed that India is strongly supporting peace and stability in Bangladesh, recognizing that a stable Bangladesh is crucial for regional peace, security, and prosperity.