Jaishankar Criticizes Bangladesh’s Interim Government for ‘Ridiculous’ Allegations

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly criticized Bangladesh’s interim government for repeatedly blaming India for its internal issues. He called the allegations “absolutely ridiculous” and questioned how Bangladesh could claim to seek good relations while constantly accusing India. “You cannot, on the one hand, say that ‘I would now like to have good relations with you,’ but I wake up every morning and blame you for everything that goes wrong,” Jaishankar said at a public event in New Delhi.

India’s Deep Ties with Bangladesh

Jaishankar highlighted India’s historic bond with Bangladesh, which dates back to 1971 when the Indian Army helped liberate East Pakistan. He urged Bangladesh’s leadership to “make up their minds” about the kind of relationship they want with India.

Rising Attacks on Minorities in Bangladesh

The minister pointed out two major concerns affecting India-Bangladesh relations. The first issue is the recent wave of attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindu minority. “What is very concerning for us is the spate of attacks on the minorities. It obviously is something that impacts our thinking. It is something we have to speak up about, which we have done,” he said. These attacks intensified after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in August 2024 following public protests against her government.

While India has repeatedly raised concerns, Bangladesh has downplayed the violence. Instead, Dhaka has demanded Hasina’s extradition, accusing her of committing “mass genocide” against protestors and running an “authoritarian” and “India-leaning” regime.

Political Tensions and India’s Stance

Jaishankar also spoke about Bangladesh’s internal politics, calling it a matter of agreement or disagreement. He stressed that India wants stability in the region but does not appreciate the interim government’s hostile remarks. “New Delhi has sent a clear message that we want things to calm down. But we don’t appreciate their constant hostile messaging towards India,” he said.

High-Level Talks Amid Strained Relations

Jaishankar’s remarks come days after his meeting with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Touhid Hossain in Oman. Their discussion followed a previous meeting in September 2024 at the UN General Assembly in New York, marking the first high-level talks since Hasina’s exit. Despite ongoing diplomatic engagement, tensions between the two nations remain high.