India’s call for renewed “neighborliness” in South Asia has taken on added urgency as diplomatic frictions with Bangladesh unfold against a backdrop of political violence, contested elections, and shifting regional alignments. Speaking on January 2, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar emphasized that India’s economic growth and regional stability are inseparable, arguing that prosperity in New Delhi will inevitably spill over to its neighbors. His remarks, however, come at a time when relations with Dhaka are under strain, raising questions about how India’s neighborhood-first rhetoric translates into practice amid crisis.

S Jaishankar’s comments were made as Bangladesh prepares for a pivotal national election scheduled for February 12, an event already overshadowed by unrest, political exclusions, and unresolved grievances stemming from the 2024 uprising that ended the long rule of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. While India has publicly wished Bangladesh well ahead of the vote, the broader diplomatic environment suggests a relationship navigating deep uncertainty.

“If India grows, all our neighbors will grow with us. They will have many more opportunities,” S Jaishankar said, framing India’s development as a regional public good rather than a zero-sum pursuit. He added that this message was conveyed directly to Bangladeshi leaders during his recent visit to Dhaka, expressing hope that “as things settle down, this sense of neighborliness in this region will grow.”

S Jaishankar’s trip to Dhaka earlier this week carried both symbolic and political weight. He traveled to Bangladesh to pay homage to former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who passed away on December 30, a gesture widely interpreted as an attempt to signal respect for Bangladesh’s political plurality at a time of intense polarization. Yet the visit also unfolded amid renewed violence that has shaken the country and complicated India’s diplomatic calculus.

Bangladesh has witnessed a wave of protests and unrest following the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the 2024 uprising. Shot by masked assailants in Dhaka earlier this month, Hadi’s death reignited long-simmering anger over accountability, political repression, and perceived foreign interference. Demonstrations spread across major cities, with protestors demanding swift arrests while chanting anti-India slogans, underscoring how India has become a focal point in Bangladesh’s internal political narrative.

Riots accompanying the protests led to attacks on property, including the offices of two prominent newspapers, raising alarms about press freedom and civil order. Mobs have also been accused of targeting Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, a development that has drawn regional and international concern. India, which has historically positioned itself as a stakeholder in minority protection in South Asia, condemned the violence and stressed that maintaining law and order is the responsibility of Bangladesh’s interim authorities.

The upcoming February election is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in Bangladesh’s recent history, not only because of the unrest but also due to the absence of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, which has been barred from participating. The party had governed Bangladesh for 15 consecutive years before being ousted during the 2024 uprising, a movement marked by mass protests and a violent crackdown.

Hasina herself now lives in exile in India after being sentenced to death by a Bangladeshi court in a crimes against humanity case related to the suppression of protestors. Her presence in India has become one of the most contentious issues in bilateral relations. Dhaka has repeatedly demanded her extradition, accusing New Delhi of sheltering a leader responsible for grave abuses and of backing forces hostile to Bangladesh’s sovereignty.

India has firmly rejected these accusations, maintaining that it has never allowed its territory to be used for activities against its eastern neighbor. New Delhi’s position reflects both legal caution and strategic restraint, as extraditing Hasina could set a precedent with far-reaching implications for political asylum and regional stability.

The tensions between India and Bangladesh are unfolding within a broader South Asian context marked by fragile governance, economic pressures, and geopolitical competition. India has long promoted a “neighborhood first” policy, arguing that regional integration and cooperation are essential for growth, security, and connectivity. Bangladesh, one of India’s most economically dynamic neighbors, has been central to this vision, particularly in areas such as trade, energy, and transit.

Yet the current crisis exposes the limits of economic interdependence when political legitimacy and internal cohesion are in question. Anti-India sentiment voiced during protests reflects not only domestic grievances but also a wider perception among some Bangladeshi groups that New Delhi has wielded disproportionate influence over the country’s political trajectory in recent years.

For India, the challenge lies in balancing non-interference with the protection of its strategic interests. Instability in Bangladesh carries direct consequences for India’s northeastern states, border security, refugee flows, and regional connectivity projects. At the same time, overt involvement risks reinforcing narratives of Indian dominance that fuel further backlash.

Jaishankar’s appeal for neighborliness is thus both aspirational and pragmatic. It signals India’s desire to be seen as a stabilizing force rather than a partisan actor, even as circumstances complicate that image. Whether this message resonates in Bangladesh may depend less on rhetoric and more on how India navigates the sensitive issues of extradition, minority protection, and post-election engagement.

As South Asia enters a period of political flux, the India-Bangladesh relationship stands as a bellwether for the region’s future. If managed carefully, it could reaffirm the idea that growth and stability are shared endeavors. If mishandled, it risks deepening mistrust at a time when regional cooperation is increasingly vital.

For now, India’s call for neighborliness remains a stated goal, tested by events on the ground and by the enduring question of whether economic promise can overcome political fracture in one of South Asia’s most pivotal relationships.

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Source: Weekly Blitz :: Writings