Amid rising anti-India rhetoric, Bangladesh has recently witnessed fresh turmoil following the death of a young radical leader, Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. As the situation gradually returns to a semblance of normalcy, the South Asian nation is preparing for its next general election, scheduled for 12 February 2026. These highly anticipated polls, coming in the aftermath of the student-led mass uprising of July–August 2024 that culminated in the overthrow of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, will notably exclude her party, the Awami League, which had ruled the Muslim-majority country of nearly 170 million people for years.
The ousted premier, along with thousands of her party colleagues, continues to stay in neighbouring India, even after a Bangladeshi court sentenced her to death for crimes against humanity linked to last year’s rebellion, which reportedly claimed more than 1,400 lives, including minors. Ignoring repeated official communiqués from the current interim regime led by Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka, New Delhi has remained non-committal on her repatriation. This stance has strained diplomatic relations between Dhaka and New Delhi, with bilateral ties deteriorating steadily in recent months.
Many anti-Hasina campaigners have alleged that Hadi’s killers crossed into Indian territory soon after the shooting attack in Dhaka on 12 December. The Inqilab Mancha leader was later flown to Singapore for advanced treatment but succumbed to his injuries on the evening of 18 December. The prime accused, Faisal Karim Masud, allegedly associated with the Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League, remains untraceable. A section of Bangladeshi public opinion—without substantiated evidence—believes that he has been receiving support and hospitality from New Delhi. This perception fuelled public fury against India, with motivated elements intensifying attacks on Hindu families in different parts of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the horrific mob killings of Deepu Chandra Das, 27, a garment worker from Bhaluka in Mymensingh, on 18 December, and Uttam Kumar Barman, 45, a grocery shop owner from Rangpur, on 13 December—both accused of making unverified derogatory remarks against Islam—sparked widespread protests in India. Demonstrators gathered outside Bangladeshi diplomatic missions, demanding justice for the victims and greater security for non-Muslims in Bangladesh. The interim government in Dhaka described the killing of the Mymensingh worker as a heinous criminal act with no justification. Education adviser Prof C R Abrar visited Deepu’s family to convey the government’s sympathy and assured them of support, reiterating the authorities’ commitment to the rule of law. More than ten people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the crime.
A recent report by the Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) observed that Hasina’s presence in India has been a major factor behind the simmering tensions between the two neighbours. Soon after taking office, the interim government sought her extradition under a 2013 treaty, but Indian officials were never likely to agree, the report noted. New Delhi, it suggested, did not wish to appear “an unreliable ally to other governments in the region” and therefore continued to support Hasina. Dr Yunus personally urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restrain the disgraced leader from making political statements while in India, warning that her interventions in Bangladeshi politics were being perceived as unfriendly acts. These remarks were reportedly not well received in New Delhi. Dhaka has also expressed resentment over the alleged political activities of thousands of Awami League activists operating from Kolkata and New Delhi, according to the conflict-prevention organisation.
More recently, Hasina issued a sharp critique of the ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh, accusing the Yunus-led interim government of failure. She described the recent killings as evidence of rampant lawlessness, claiming that the authorities either deny the problem or lack the capacity to address it. Alleging that “extremists” have been placed in key positions, convicted terrorists released from prison, and international militants allowed a role in public life, she also blamed the interim regime for the deterioration of relations with India.
Hasina has rejected calls to return to Bangladesh, claiming she fears “political assassination” until a legitimate government that upholds an independent judiciary is installed in Dhaka. She has repeatedly thanked New Delhi for its hospitality since her departure last year. India, for its part, has justified her stay as being guided by its civilisational ethos and humanitarian tradition of offering refuge to individuals facing grave distress or existential threats. At the same time, New Delhi has expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh, particularly its impact on religious minorities, and has demanded justice for victims such as Deepu.
Yet a fundamental question remains: why should Hasina not tender an apology to the Sanatani Hindu community, given that she too failed to protect Hindus and other minorities during her long tenure as prime minister? Initially, she was reported to be seeking relocation to a third country, but so far no nation has offered her asylum. Nor has she publicly acknowledged India’s role in rescuing her from a potentially fatal situation at Ganabhaban on 5 August 2024. Compelled to remain in a Hindu-majority country for over a year, with no other nation extending support during her time of distress, should it not be her first priority to seek forgiveness from the Hindus of India?
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*Senior journalist based in Guwahati
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