Following the Maldives, a “India Out” movement is already roiling Bangladesh, offering hints that the long-suppressed anti-Delhi feeling is finally surfacing and taking over the nation.
This campaign, which seems to be the result of the opposition’s charges that India is interfering in national affairs, especially in light of the most recent elections in which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid was re-elected, is becoming increasingly vocal.
The nation of Southern Asia has long harbored anti-India sentiment, which has intensified over the last ten years and reached a breaking point when thousands flocked to Dhaka’s streets to celebrate India’s 2023 World Cup loss.
The “India Out” movement experienced an exponential increase in activity during the recent elections in Bangladesh, when Hasina was elected to a fourth term amid widespread demonstrations by the opposition.
In support of this effort, the opposition parties and the Bangladeshi diaspora have been fervently urging people to boycott Indian products.
This campaign closely resembles a daring move made by President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives, who used anti-Indian fervor to seize power.
According to The Mihaaru newspaper, India began removing its military personnel and surveillance planes from the Maldives last month after new President Muizzu gave the order to do so.
Following his oath of office in October 2023, President Muizzu declared he would “India Out” and expel Indian military stationed in the Maldives to monitor its vast waterways. By May 10, India has committed to removing its 89 soldiers and support personnel from the Maldives.
This campaign has taken place in Dhaka against the background of India’s tense relations with the opposition and its traditionally close connections to Hasina’s administration. Many have concluded as a result of this that India “likes” the current political system in Dhaka.
Analysts estimate that $16.16 billion in imports from India will be a major source of income for Bangladesh in the fiscal year 2022. Food, gasoline, fertilizer, and industrial raw materials are among these imports; should there be a boycott or a decline in Indian imports, Bangladesh could be forced to turn to China for its domestic business requirements.
Uncertainty surrounds the extent of this effort, but it is undeniable that Bangladesh is currently poised for a political shift that would expose India’s flagrant manipulation of regional governance for its own benefit.
I am a dedicated student currently in my seventh semester, pursuing a degree in International Relations. Alongside my academic pursuits, I am actively engaged in the professional field as a content writer at the Rangeinn website.