Bangladesh's soil will never be used against India, says Dhaka's new envoy in Delhi

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The remarks come amid growing concerns about reports of the growth of Islamist groups in Bangladesh well as Dhaka's growing diplomatic engagement with China and Pakistan.
'Bangladeshi soil will never be used against Indian interests by anyone,' Hamidullah told ThePrint.
New Delhi: Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, has reassured India that Bangladeshi territory will not serve as a base for anti-India activity, dismissing any concerns about Pakistani or Chinese influence. In an interaction with ThePrint, Hamidullah described India-Bangladesh ties as a decades-old relationship founded on mutual trust, shared economic interests and deep cultural connections.
The diplomat also charted out a vision for the bilateral relationship that emphasised continuity, cultural kinship and long-term strategic convergence. 'India and Bangladesh have an opportunity to collaborate on learning and skill-building, not just to strengthen ties, but to create lasting value for both societies. The real challenge is this: can we shape our economic interests in a way that de-securitises the relationship?'
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India-Bangladesh relations
Hamidullah expressed concern over the erosion of people-to-people ties, particularly after India suspended medical visas and other cross-border exchanges. 'People were hurt. The cultural affinity with India is real, but you can't neglect it and expect it to endure.'
He offered the example of DPS Dhaka, an Indian school operating seamlessly in Bangladesh for over 20 years. 'Students there don't care if it's an Indian school or if the teachers are Hindu. Bring 10 more like it, and people will welcome them. That's who we are.'
Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, Bangladesh's Hindu minority—seen as aligned with her secular Awami League—came under increasing threat. The perception that India supported Hasina's rule has fuelled anti-India sentiment, placing Hindus in a vulnerable position.
With restrictions lifted on opposition groups like the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, violence has surged. In 2024, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported over 2,000 incidents of communal violence between 4 and 20 August 4, including nine Hindu deaths and dozens of attacks on temples.
However, investigations by independent media later suggested that the killings were politically or personally motivated, rather than driven by religious hatred.
Rather than force a 'grand design' on bilateral ties, Hamidullah suggested a slower, more organic approach. 'Borders won't soften overnight. Let things settle, like sediment after a tide. It's not an obstacle but a fertile layer. That is when it flourishes. That's how relationships grow, organically.'
On isolated instances of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, he cautioned against sweeping generalisations. 'There are over 30,000 puja mandaps across the country. Communities live in harmony. A few cases of vandalism don't define our society.'
He said that narratives of the rise of Islamism in Bangladesh are selective, emphasising that the country has always been driven more by cultural identities rather than religious identities.
On 5 August, Bangladesh's then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina abruptly fled Dhaka aboard a military aircraft to India, ending her 15-year tenure amid a mass uprising against her increasingly authoritarian regime. The interim government, headed by Muhammad Yunus, was put in place to stabilise the country, implement reforms, and pave the way for free elections in 2026.
Pakistan, China and regional blocs
Hamidullah rejected the notion that Bangladesh's dealings with Pakistan or China reflect an ideological shift.
In April, Pakistan's foreign secretary, Amna Baloch, visited Dhaka, marking the first high-level diplomatic contact between the two countries in 15 years. A planned visit by Pakistan's foreign minister, postponed due to India-Pakistan tensions, would have been the first since 2012.
Since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, Bangladesh has adopted a more neutral stance in regional affairs. With Hasina's close ties to India now a point of public resentment, anti-India sentiment has grown, creating diplomatic space for improved relations with Pakistan, including resumed trade, military dialogue, and eased visa restrictions.
In January, a Bangladeshi military delegation held rare talks with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, reportedly expressing interest in acquiring JF-17 fighter jets jointly developed by Pakistan and China.
Any potential arms deal could deepen Bangladesh-Pakistan ties and open the door to a trilateral alignment with China, raising alarm in New Delhi. For India, stronger military cooperation between its western rival and eastern neighbor, coupled with China's growing regional influence, presents a serious strategic concern.
However, according to the envoy, there is no reason to worry.
'Even during Hasina's time, there was defence-level interaction with Pakistan. But that's not strategic realignment. Bangladesh won't allow its territory to be used for hostile purposes by anyone.'
On China, he was frank: economic necessity drives engagement, not cultural affinity. 'We are an import-dependent economy. We source from where it's competitive.'
He was also optimistic about the future of SAARC, often dismissed as defunct. 'SAARC isn't dead. The Development Fund is still active, and regional projects are quietly moving forward. The institutions are working, even if the politics aren't.'
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A post-Hasina Bangladesh
A recurring theme in Hamidullah's remarks was Bangladesh's youth. With a median age of 25 and over two million new entrants to the labour market each year, the country's younger generation, he noted, is focused on aspiration rather than allegiance. 'This is a new demography. They care about who will serve their future.'
Many of these young people look toward India for opportunities in education, healthcare and work. According to Hamidullah, this creates a powerful potential for collaborative human development if India is willing to engage meaningfully.
Beyond transactional diplomacy
Hamidullah noted that despite political noise, core economic ties remain uninterrupted. Bilateral trade now stands at $13 billion, and total economic interaction, including medical tourism, remittances, and informal trade, is close to $30 billion. Indian exports to Bangladesh are growing at more than 11 percent annually.
He sees particular potential in agro-ecological cooperation, especially across eastern India, northeast India and Bangladesh, which share similar environmental and farming conditions. 'None of us have truly understood how much potential lies here. If we get this right, it could transform livelihoods.'
He also called for greater Indian investment, but more importantly, for a socially rooted relationship that moves beyond transactional diplomacy. 'Any lasting relationship must rest on trust, mutual respect, and shared benefit. Yes, India should invest more, but more than that, we need to start talking about society. That's where the real connection lies.'
'India-Bangladesh relationship has evolved organically, rooted in shared history and cultural ties. But in recent times, it has begun to lose momentum. We cannot allow this decline to continue. Too much has been achieved between our two nations to let it slip away,' Hamidullah told ThePrint.
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
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