India’s top diplomat made headlines this week by declaring that no other nation “wishes Bangladesh well” more than India does. Yet, within days of that heartfelt sentiment, New Delhi pulled the plug on a critical transshipment facility — one that supported Bangladesh’s struggling export economy.
At the Rising Bharat Summit, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar doubled down on India’s historic bonds with its eastern neighbor, calling the ties “people-driven” and expressing concern about “radicalizing tendencies” and attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. He reiterated India’s hope for a democratic and inclusive Bangladesh — a message Prime Minister Narendra Modi also conveyed in a meeting with Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus just days earlier.
But even as India claimed to be looking out for Bangladesh’s stability and success, its customs department abruptly rescinded a 2020 order that had allowed Bangladeshi export cargo to use Indian land borders for transshipment to third countries. The justification? According to Indian officials, the practice was causing delays and logistical bottlenecks for India’s own exports.
It’s a contradiction too glaring to ignore.
India’s decision comes at a time when Bangladesh is already grappling with a wave of economic challenges, including new 37% tariffs imposed by the United States. Removing this transshipment route not only burdens Bangladesh’s exporters with higher logistical costs but also threatens to cut off vital trade channels with countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. Experts warn the move could hinder regional trade growth — something India itself has long championed.
For a country that proclaims itself Bangladesh’s greatest supporter, India’s actions seem to tell a different story.
Yes, India has valid concerns about political rhetoric and regional stability. But diplomacy isn’t only about words — it’s about building mutual trust through consistent action. By removing a key logistical support system at a time when Dhaka needs it most, India risks undermining its own stated objectives of fostering peace, stability and economic progress in South Asia.
Good intentions, however well-articulated, must be backed by tangible support. Otherwise, they ring hollow — especially to neighbors facing crises not of their own making.