Bangladesh: Hardliners Lead Anti-India Rally In Dhaka; Protest Against BJP Govt In West Bengal

Dhaka: Ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari came to power in West Bengal, anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiments have been on the rise in Bangladesh. An anti-India procession was held in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, on Friday. The procession took place following the Friday prayers and was led by Islamic fundamentalist organizations and right-wing political parties.

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Dhaka, raising anti-India slogans and leveling various allegations. Participants in the procession claimed that Muslims in West Bengal are being subjected to atrocities; consequently, they have taken to the streets to register their protest.

Salahuddin Shoaib Choudhury, a prominent Bangladeshi journalist, stated that the anti-India procession held in Dhaka on Friday was a protest against "atrocities committed against Muslims following the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in the West Bengal elections." Choudhury noted that the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamic organizations have historically supported Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress party in West Bengal. A video shared by Shoaib Choudhury shows hundreds of people waving posters and chanting slogans.

Has Anti-India Sentiment in Bangladesh Increased?

In Bangladesh, several factions—including the main opposition party, Jamaat-e-Islami—have consistently engaged in anti-India politics. This opposition intensified significantly during the interim administration of Muhammad Yunus. During Yunus's tenure, there was a continuous spate of anti-India protests and statements. Furthermore, such elements appeared to receive consistent patronage from Muhammad Yunus.

After Tariq Rahman assumed the premiership, Bangladesh endeavored to improve its relations with India, leading to a decline in such protests. Since Tariq became Prime Minister, anti-India demonstrators had not taken to the streets of Dhaka; however, this trend was broken on Friday. Consequently, it remains to be seen how Tariq Rahman's government will address this situation.

What is Effect of West Bengal Election Results in Bangladesh?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a major victory in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections. The BJP wrested power by defeating Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC). The BJP's victory has elicited a continuous stream of reactions from Bangladesh. Statements regarding the outcome have been issued by various political parties and leaders, including Bangladeshi politician Nahid Islam.

These statements suggest that this political shift could potentially have repercussions for them. Dhaka-based writer and journalist Jannatul Naim has claimed that incidents of violence following the election results in West Bengal have sparked unease in Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh share a border approximately 2,200 kilometers in length, which adjoins West Bengal. Consequently, many experts believe that developments occurring on one side could have repercussions on the other.