The political unrest in Bangladesh in the wake of the murder of a popular and powerful youth leader and the lynching of a young Hindu man has turned the country into a powder keg. The response of the interim government to both incidents is indicative of the regime striving to balance domestic political compulsions and foreign policy requirements. Yunus has not only condemned the brutal lynching of the Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das and followed it up with swift arrests, but also appealed for restraint and peace. Regarding the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, he linked the demand for restraint, responsibility, and a firm commitment to reject hatred with “honouring his (Hadi’s) sacrifice.” Hadi, a spokesperson for the Inquilab Mancha, or Platform for Revolution, and a prominent leader of the 2024 uprising that led to the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government, was going to fight elections as an independent candidate.
The turmoil is complicating the prevailing fluid situation as Bangladesh hopes to conduct general elections in a couple of months. Predictably, the journey from overthrowing the government to announcing the date for general elections has been fraught with confusion and uncertainty. From banning the Sheikh Hasina-led party from participating in elections to the emergence of a fledgling party spawned by a popular protest movement, to the jitteriness of mainstream parties such as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, these are challenges that are not easy for the country to grapple with. Adding to the grim scenario are the radical Islamic forces lurking in the shadows.
The protests in the wake of Hadi’s assassination not only turned violent but also led to an outburst of anti-India sentiment. The simmering discontent against India, perceived to be shielding Sheikh Hasina and consequently entangled in the country’s domestic politics, soon deteriorated into raging anti-India sentiment bordering on hatred. This unseemly turn of events should be a major cause of concern for New Delhi. India has its reasons to stonewall Dhaka’s demand for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina, who has been convicted of the so-called “crimes against humanity,” but it cannot afford to be seen as “playing partisan politics,” especially by people vulnerable to being swayed by emotions and orchestrated campaigns by anti-India elements.
Part of the trouble lies with India as well. The government turned a blind eye and did not rein in the pro-government media, which is whipping up unwarranted passions through provocative debates, while the party and its supporters are trying to fish in troubled waters for narrow electoral gains in West Bengal. The media’s embarrassing misinformation propaganda during Operation Sindoor and jingoistic rhetoric in the right-wing ecosystem have been counterproductive, and the government does not seem to have learned lessons from them.
Keeping an eye on the ball by India will not be enough. Firstly, in the larger national interest, the government should rein in those whipping up hysterical sentiments. Secondly, political parties should refrain from using the situation for narrow electoral gains. Thirdly, for the demand to protect Hindu minorities in Bangladesh to be effective and morally persuasive and to counter unwarranted finger-pointing, India should, in the long run, set the example concerning the treatment and safety of its own minorities. Lastly, given the geopolitical dynamics and power play in the region involving Pakistan and China, the country’s foreign policy prowess will be put to the test, and New Delhi has to act swiftly to protect its interests