Deepening diplomatic row

Bangladesh is once again on the edge after an assassin's bullet felled one of the leaders of the student uprising that deposed its long-time authoritarian leader, Sheikh Hasina, while another narrowly escaped after being shot through the ear. Political parties associated with the victims were quick to blame India, which is currently harbouring Hasina, the fugitive former PM. In fact, even the prime suspect in the last week's killing of student leader, Sharif Osman Hadi, allegedly fled across the border to India, where no serious attempt is being made to make an arrest. Contrarily, a protest was staged outside the Bangladesh High Commission where anti-Bangladesh slogans were raised and threats issued against the high commissioner.

The attack on the Bangladesh High Commission has deepened the diplomatic strain between Dhaka and Delhi, with Bangladesh authorities summoning the Indian high commissioner to protest "violent incidents targeting its diplomatic facilities in India", besides halting all consular and visa services at its High Commission in New Delhi. The two sides have already been going through the lowest ebb in their diplomatic history since the dismissal of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, with the interim government of Bangladesh having repeatedly expressed outrage over New Delhi's decision to provide refuge to Hasina and several members of her regime who were also accused of corruption and human rights abuses.

Meanwhile, India's track record of interfering in other countries' affairs, including assassinating critics, is well established. Even in this instance, New Delhi appears to be betting on Hasina to ride out the wave and somehow return to influence, if not power. But at 78, the odds are against her, and even India may be best served by treating the new Bangladesh as an equal partner, rather than a client state. Indeed, despite broad anti-India sentiment at street level, the only anti-India language from actual government officials relates to setting Bangladesh on its own path to success, rather than living in India's shadow.