The dramatic turn of events leading to the ousting of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has placed India in an extremely complex situation. Last night, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting of the cabinet committee on security to discuss the situation in Bangladesh. The developments in Bangladesh are expected to have significant strategic implications for Delhi.
On Tuesday (August 6), Indian media outlet NDTV reported that the Indian central government has not yet publicly disclosed how it will handle this neighboring crisis.
The report stated that it is also unclear what kind of plans the central government is formulating in such a crisis. However, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar briefed parliamentarians in an all-party meeting today.
Why the Situation in Bangladesh is Difficult for India
After fleeing from the unrest in Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina landed at Delhi’s Hindon Airbase and is expected to fly to the UK today to seek political asylum. However, there is no confirmation on whether the UK has granted her asylum, so it is unclear what will happen if the UK does not give her the green light.
In response to the situation in Bangladesh, London has only called for a UN-led investigation but has not issued any statement regarding asylum. The question now is whether Sheikh Hasina will stay in India or look for another destination.
India is now facing a diplomatic dilemma. It does not want to be seen openly supporting the ousted leader, as this could complicate its relationship with the new regime in Bangladesh. The history of Sheikh Hasina’s relationship with India is also significant.
Before she became Prime Minister, during the 1975 turmoil in Bangladesh, the Indira Gandhi government gave her asylum after her father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and her entire family were killed. Therefore, abandoning her now will not be an easy decision.
Fear of Refugee Influx
With reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh, a major concern for India is the large influx of refugees fleeing the brutality. India shares a 4,096-kilometer border with Bangladesh. The arrival of Bangladeshi refugees, especially in India’s northeastern states and West Bengal, has become a key issue.
Following the events in Bangladesh yesterday, the Border Security Force (BSF) has issued high alerts on the international border. Tripura’s Tipra Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma said he spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and was assured that no infiltration would be allowed.
