Opinion Bangladesh and Pakistan are finding new areas of convergence

Indian Express

21-04-2025

The abduction and killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu leader in Dinajpur near Dhaka, marks the latest in a growing series of violent incidents targeting minorities in Bangladesh. These attacks have surged since August 2024, when Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power. The minorities issue has further strained India–Bangladesh relations, already tense due to the rhetoric and foreign policy choices of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Dhaka's criticism of violence in West Bengal has prompted another sharp exchange of words between the two neighbours.
As India and Bangladesh drift apart, the Yunus-led interim government has reached out to other regional powers, with the most notable pivot being towards Pakistan. This growing proximity is a significant shift from historical precedent and reflects the changing political landscape in South Asia. While some may question the durability of this renewed engagement, there is little doubt that Islamabad will make every effort to deepen ties with Dhaka. Bangladesh, for its part, appears willing to reciprocate — though it must also contend with bitter memories of the past.
The first breakthrough came when Yunus met Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the D-8 Summit in Egypt in December 2024. Yunus's recent visit to China and the reported Chinese plans to construct an air base at Lalmonirhat, near India's Northeast, were met with concern in New Delhi.
Historically, Sheikh Hasina, upholding the legacy of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, saw little reason to engage with Pakistan. Yet, even when formal political ties were limited, some military links reportedly endured. Under the new dispensation in Dhaka, the Director General of Bangladesh's Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) visited Islamabad — a move swiftly reciprocated by a high-level delegation from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to Dhaka earlier this year.
Unusually for intelligence exchanges, these visits were accompanied by extensive publicity and photo opportunities, seemingly intended to convey a political message. The first ISI visit marked a gap of nearly 35 years and was soon followed by a second delegation, which also toured the Chittagong region, indicating a further desire to engage. Still, this budding friendship remains fraught with uncertainties.
Understandably, the post-Hasina political environment in Bangladesh reflects a new mood, but this does not mean that the country's youth and civil society have forgotten the trauma of the past. Despite public anger towards the legacy of Mujibur Rahman and his family, the genocide and mass rape of Bangladeshis during the 1971 war remain deeply etched in national memory.
These unresolved historical wounds resurfaced during the Sixth Round of Foreign Secretary-Level Bilateral Consultations, held in Dhaka on April 17, after a gap of 15 years. Bangladesh demanded compensation of $4.52 billion from Pakistan, covering foreign aid, unpaid provident funds, savings instruments, and $200 million originally pledged by international donors for the victims of the 1970 cyclone. Bangladesh also reiterated its longstanding demand for a formal apology from Pakistan — something successive governments in Islamabad have avoided, with former President Pervez Musharraf offering only a vague 'regret'. These demands were also raised by previous Awami League administrations, including calls for the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis.
In the current phase, military ties are also strengthening. Bangladesh recently participated in Pakistan's multilateral naval exercise, AMAN-25, and, according to media reports, has expressed interest in acquiring the JF-17 fighter aircraft. While Bangladesh has long relied on China for defence procurement, it now seeks to diversify its options. Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman recently visited Russia as well, at a time when three Russian warships were docked at Chittagong. Bangladesh's strategic calculus also shifted with the appointment of Khalilur Rahman — previously the Chief Advisor's High Representative on the Rohingya issue — as National Security Adviser, amid reports of growing US pressure on Dhaka to align more closely with American policies in Myanmar.
Economic ties between Dhaka and Islamabad are also expanding. A cargo vessel from Karachi recently docked at Chittagong Port, and Bangladesh purchased 50,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan. These developments point to new areas of convergence. Both countries also share a growing unease about Delhi's posture in the region.
While Bangladesh's youth and general public have rejected the Awami League's undemocratic and corrupt practices, they remain committed to the core values of the 1971 Liberation War — equality, freedom, justice, and democracy. The changes India wishes to see in Bangladesh cannot be achieved through cursory meetings. A sincere and meaningful dialogue remains essential.