Indiens Schicksale verändern sich in Bangladesch

In a striking shift, Bangladesh’s foreign-policy outlook appears to be undergoing realignment following the departure of Sheikh Hasina, who had fostered close ties with India for over 15 years. As Nobel laureate Mohammed Yunus leads the interim government, Dhaka has made notable overtures toward Pakistan, including welcoming a Pakistani cargo ship to Chittagong and loosening customs inspections. Sumit Ganguly, writing for Foreign Policy, argues that India, blindsided by Hasina’s exit, now finds itself with few allies in Bangladesh. While Yunus has expressed a desire to maintain bilateral relations, India remains wary of Dhaka’s evolving stance, particularly as Islamist forces and anti-India factions gain momentum.

The growing strain is exacerbated by unresolved issues like immigration, religious tensions, and the long-standing Teesta River water-sharing dispute. Ganguly highlights how domestic political dynamics—especially the rise of Islamist militancy—could complicate matters further, both within Bangladesh and across the border in India. New Delhi’s reliance on Hasina’s Awami League while sidelining other stakeholders has weakened its leverage, leaving it poorly positioned to navigate the emerging landscape. Should the Bangladesh Nationalist Party align with Islamist groups like Jamaat-i-Islami, Ganguly warns that India could face an increasingly hostile neighbor, with limited tools to counter the shift.