Opinion Dhaka must heed India’s call on minorities

Ever since Sheikh Hasina was overthrown in Dhaka, India has raised its concerns with Bangladesh about the safety of minorities in that country. Hasina fled to India on the evening of August 5 last year, and the following day, in an all-party meeting, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar flagged the issue. Delhi has continued to express concern over instability in Bangladesh, and in particular, the toll it takes on the safety of minorities. During a recent meeting on the sidelines of BIMSTEC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the Chief Advisor to the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, to ensure that the state addresses the issue with urgency. Despite assurances, however, Dhaka has been prone to dismissing the incidents of the Hindu minority being targeted as isolated manifestations of public anger against the previous regime. Following the kidnapping and killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader, however, the Yunus government cannot continue to be in denial. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh told Parliament in February, “Since August, reports have cited the deaths of 23 Hindus and 152 incidents of attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh.” The interim government must acknowledge the insecurity faced by Bangladeshi Hindus and take immediate steps to ensure their safety. A culture of impunity will only exacerbate the situation and also contribute to tensions between Dhaka and Delhi.

India has been a friend to Bangladesh since the Liberation War of 1971. However, the interim government’s foreign policy has sent mixed signals. Yunus’ recent visit to China, during which he made a provocative statement about India’s Northeast region, and the high-level diplomacy over the weekend between Bangladesh and Pakistan, signal Dhaka’s attempts to align with Delhi’s regional rivals. Despite Bangladesh’s demand for reparations and a public apology from Pakistan for the atrocities committed by the Yahya Khan regime during the 1971 Liberation War, both countries appear to be on the path towards rapprochement — a significant reversal of Hasina’s foreign policy.

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Bangladesh must recognise that Dhaka’s long-term interests are better served if it acknowledges the regional realities and understands what Delhi can offer: A stable economic and defence partnership. In turn, India should remain resolute in its demands for the protection of minorities in Bangladesh, while keeping the door open for talks with the interim government on issues ranging from border security to trade, connectivity and counter-terrorism. Delhi must also broaden its outreach. Given Bangladesh’s uncertain domestic situation and the impending elections, Delhi must engage a broader swathe of forces and institutions in the country to get a deeper understanding of its changing domestic dynamics and to guard against any nasty surprises ahead.