Rising Tensions Between India and Bangladesh Risk Violent Escalation

As accusations of persecution against Bangladeshi Hindus escalate, so do fears of retaliatory violence between communities in India and Bangladesh, leading to severe ramifications for diplomatic relations and internal stability in the region.

Relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated significantly as a recent diplomatic dispute has put the spotlight on the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh. Accusations from Indian politicians and Hindu nationalist groups assert that the Bangladeshi government is complicit in the persecution of its Hindu minority. This surge of tensions comes in the wake of Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus—an acclaimed Nobel laureate—attempting to stabilize the nation after a popular uprising ousted authoritarian Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this year.

The climate has become dangerously inflamed as accusations fly between both nations, with Bangladesh asserting that India is exaggerating incidents to promote its own Hindu-nationalist narrative. Social media has played a pivotal role in amplifying these inflammatory statements, further igniting public sentiment on both sides. “This needs to be addressed by the governments and is not conducive to long-term bilateral relations,” remarked Smruti Pattanaik, a research fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses.

With Muslims comprising over 90 percent of Bangladesh’s population, there is growing apprehension about potential tit-for-tat violence as communal relations deteriorate. Reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh by Muslim groups have circulated, with claims suggesting a disproportionate impact on Hindus during recent unrest. The ramifications of these events threaten not only Bangladesh’s internal stability but could also pose a serious challenge to longstanding diplomatic relations with its neighbor, India.