The discussion of India’s role in Sheikh Hasina’s rise and fall often overlooks a central truth: the India-Bangladesh relationship has always been strongest when it grew from the ground up. Bangladesh should use this moment to strengthen people-to-people ties, especially between Bangladeshis and the many millions of Bengalis in India who have long shared cultural, linguistic and historical bonds. These links have endured changes of government on both sides of the border and remain the most stable foundation for future cooperation.
This recalibration also requires a clear distinction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian people. The governance model practiced by Modi is highly centralized and increasingly illiberal, and it mirrors the same tendencies that caused Sheikh Hasina to lose public legitimacy in Bangladesh. Taking a firm position toward Modi’s administration is not anti-India. It is consistent with Bangladesh’s own democratic aspirations and with the principles behind the July 2024 civic awakening.
At the same time, firmness toward Modi does not require hostility toward India as a whole. Bangladesh can continue to advance cooperation in trade, transit, cultural exchange and energy projects that directly benefit ordinary Indians and Bangladeshis. Expanding student exchanges, cultural programs and cross-border commerce will strengthen constituencies that support stable and respectful relations.
Bangladesh’s best strategy is a dual-track approach: principled and clear in its dealings with an increasingly authoritarian government in New Delhi, but warm, open and pragmatic in its engagement with the Indian people, particularly the Bengali communities who share deep cultural ties. This approach prevents the relationship from being defined by any single leader and reinforces the broader connections that have carried the partnership through past periods of political turbulence.
This moment is not only about managing the aftermath of Sheikh Hasina’s exile. It is a chance to redefine the basis of Bangladesh-India relations through democratic values, mutual respect and the enduring bonds between Bengalis on both sides of the border.