Jaishankar’s Stern Message on India-Bangladesh Relations

International Desk

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has described the anti-India remarks by members of Bangladesh’s interim government as “ridiculous” and called for clarity on Bangladesh’s stance regarding India. He made these comments on Saturday while responding to a question at an event at Delhi University.

Jaishankar said, “We have sent a very clear message—you are our neighbor, we want the situation to remain peaceful, and we want trade, connectivity, and other issues to move forward. But if anti-India signals are continuously sent, it is not positive for us.”

Highlighting India’s long-standing historical ties with Bangladesh, he added, “We certainly want the well-being of all our neighbors. Our relationship with Bangladesh is special, dating back to 1971. However, some incidents last year have been concerning for us.”

He identified two issues in Bangladesh as particularly concerning for India. First, the continuous attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, which India views as significant and will remain vocal about. Second, India’s concerns regarding Bangladesh’s political situation and the interim government’s perspective.

He said, “They have their own political realities, but as a neighbor, they must decide what kind of relationship they want with us.”

Describing some remarks by members of Bangladesh’s interim government as “ridiculous,” Jaishankar said, “If someone makes anti-India remarks every day, it becomes difficult to maintain good relations. If I blame you every morning, you cannot unilaterally say, ‘I want good relations with you.’ The decision is theirs to make.”

The interim government has initiated legal proceedings against Sheikh Hasina, labeling her government’s actions during the movement as a “massacre” and issuing warrants in multiple cases. On December 23, Bangladesh sent a “note verbale” to India requesting her return, but India has yet to respond.

Since Sheikh Hasina’s departure, tensions have been brewing in India-Bangladesh relations. The interim government has accused India of attempting to destabilize Bangladesh from Delhi, while India has expressed concerns over the safety of minorities and urged Bangladesh to take action. Additionally, the Bangladeshi government has accused Indian media of spreading “falsehoods and propaganda.”

Recently, during a briefing at India’s Ministry of External Affairs, a journalist asked, “Advisers of Bangladesh’s interim government are making various anti-India statements, sometimes even inflammatory. Will these remarks affect India-Bangladesh relations?”

In response, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Yes, we have noticed such remarks, and they are in no way positive. Experts in the relevant field will analyze the impact of these statements on diplomatic relations.”

The future direction of India-Bangladesh relations in the current context will be determined by time.