There indeed is widespread anti-India sentiment playing up in Bangladesh right now. Hindus are selectively being targeted, persecuted and lynched. This is orchestrated by the Jamaat-e-Islami, which is backed by Pakistan. Jamat was always opposed to Bangladesh’s independence. It had committed innumerable atrocities on Bangla people prior to 1971. Several Jamat leaders were tried, convicted and sentenced to death till the recent past for their crimes during Bangladesh's freedom struggle. The Jamat is now seeking vengeance against India through a well-orchestrated campaign, using the public anger against Sheikh Hasina. Given the majority sentiment prevailing across the country against the deposed leader, who has been provided shelter in India, has further fuelled the anti-India sentiment. The Jamaat remained banned from 2013 and 2025 and was not allowed to participate in elections. The ban was removed in June last year.
The immediate repercussion was the Kolkata Knight Riders team, owned by Shah Rukh Khan, being forced to cancel the contract of Bangladesh cricketer Mustafizur Rahman for the Indian Premier League (IPL). Given the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, there was genuine anger across India. Unfortunately, Shah Rukh Khan was trolled just because the KKR, the team he owns, had hired a Bangladesh cricketer.
It is highly unlikely that the owner of the team will be directly involved in buying/ hiring a team member. In all likelihood, Khan may not even be aware of the names and credentials of all the players in his team. Given the surcharged polarised atmosphere provoked by the anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh, Khan was made a target. This is not only unfortunate, but unacceptable as well.
Sacking of Rahman has led to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) deciding that the national team will not travel to India for the 2026 T-20 World Cup. It has sought third country venues, preferably Sri Lanka, citing security concerns. Pakistan will be playing its matches in Sri Lanka. India had also refused to play any matches in Pakistan during the 2025 Champions’ Trophy. India and Pakistan matches were played in the UAE.
This is an unprecedented and unfortunate situation. Given the security atmosphere prevailing in Pakistan, particularly the rogue army headed by an anti-India psychopath who suffers from pathological hatred for India, Indian concerns about the players’ security there are genuine. There could be a risk that the Pakistan army would harm the Indian players or may be, abduct them and seek release of some dreaded terrorists or something else in bargain.
Unlike Bangladesh, Pakistan has a stated “official” policy towards India, which is to be treated as “enemy number one”. No matter which regime comes to power in Pakistan, anti-India theme remains constant and consistent. Change of regimes does not make any difference to how to deal with India. Pakistan’s only policy is to try to “bleed India with a thousand cuts”.
Bangladesh does not have any stated national policy against India. It also does not consider India as its enemy. There are groups and parties, like the Jamaat-e-Islami, which have been and will always be hostile towards India, but these groups have always remained on the margins, at least till now. These groups will always try to rake up anti-India sentiments as they are trying to do now, but these are only momentary phases.
Also read: Bangladesh bans IPL broadcast after Mustafizur Rahman controversy
There is always some variation in diplomatic relations between different countries depending on which party is in power at that particular time. Earlier, during the regime of Sheikh Hasina, India and Bangladesh enjoyed very cordial relations, irrespective of the regime in India. The fact that she opted for India to take asylum speaks a lot about her trust and confidence in the country. After all, she is also a popular leader with a lot of supporters across Bangladesh. Her supporters are currently being targeted and treated no differently than the Hindus by those who are in control of the situation in the country.
To assume and suggest that entire Bangladesh and everyone in that country is against India will be a gross misunderstanding of the situation. This will only serve the purpose of Pakistan, which is sponsoring the anti-India hate campaign in Bangladesh and wants to take the country away from India.
Like in India, cricket is the second religion in every country in the subcontinent. By getting Mustafizur Rahman removed from the KKR, the BCCI has not taken a wise decision. There was indeed a massive campaign against his hiring in the backdrop of the anti-India and anti-Hindu hate campaign in Bangladesh but the BCCI should have exercised restraint and not gotten carried away by social media trolling.
India-Bangladesh relations are passing through a very critical stage right now. Bangladesh is without a functional government. The person in charge of the country does not have any stakes. India’s responses must not be based on his actions and inactions. The best thing for the country is to “wait and watch” and not act in any hurry till a new government is elected and takes office.
For that matter, the Government of India is maintaining a perfect balance. While it has provided shelter to Sheikh Hasina, it remains engaged with the transitional regime headed by Mohamad Yunus despite the fact that nothing much is expected of him. The Indian government is also engaging with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which was till the recent past headed by Begum Khalida Zia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered to arrange special medical treatment for her during her serious illness. After her exiled son Tarique Rehman returned to the country, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar personally went to meet him, besides attending the funeral of his mother. These are indeed the right and the wise moves.
Bangladesh cannot be treated on a par with Pakistan. For, Pakistan remains a perennially and perpetually rogue nation and hostile towards India, while Bangladesh is like any other neighbour, which can be, and in fact has been, a friend rather than an enemy. India will have to be careful not to let it fall in the enemy’s hands.
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