2 weeks Ago By Firstpost
The ascension of Muhammad Yunus as the interim leader of Bangladesh has unfurled a tapestry of geopolitical concerns, particularly in India, where his recent rhetoric and policy inclinations are perceived as not just abrasive but as potentially perilous to the stability of South Asia. His overtures towards China, his veiled aspersions on India’s sovereignty, and his controversial domestic policies suggest an agenda that, if left unchecked, could alter the region’s balance of power in ways detrimental to Indian interests. Yunus’s tenure has been marked by a conspicuous shift in Bangladesh’s foreign policy, tilting towards China at the expense of its historically robust ties with India.
This pivot became glaringly evident during his visit to Beijing in March 2025, where he extolled the virtues of deeper Sino-Bangladeshi economic ties while making a brazen assertion regarding India’s northeastern states. By suggesting that the so-called ‘Seven Sisters’ are landlocked and would benefit from Bangladesh’s geographic positioning, he audaciously positioned his nation as the “only guardian of the ocean” in the region. This assertion is not merely an economic proposition; it is a strategic gambit with deeply troubling implications for India’s territorial integrity and regional dominance.
The subtext of Yunus’s remark is clear: he envisions Bangladesh as the principal conduit for connectivity to India’s northeastern region, thereby implying a quasi-veto power over India’s access to its own territories. Such a stance, coming from an interim leader, raises concerns about the long-term strategic direction of Bangladesh under his stewardship. Predictably, Indian officials did not take this lightly.
Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, condemned the statement as “offensive and strongly condemnable,” highlighting the urgency of fortifying India’s northeastern corridor against potential geopolitical encroachments. Cartographic Aggression: A Disturbing Precedent Further exacerbating tensions was the incendiary social media post by Mahfuj Alam, a close aide to Yunus, which depicted a map incorporating West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura into Bangladesh. The fact that this irredentist fantasy was even entertained at the governmental level is a chilling indicator of the ideological underpinnings of Yunus’s administration.
Although the post was swiftly deleted after a torrent of backlash, the damage was done. India lodged a formal diplomatic protest, emphasising the gravity of such reckless provocations. Cartographic aggression is not a new tactic in regional conflicts; it has been wielded by expansionist states to normalise claims over foreign territories.
That Yunus’s close aide saw fit to indulge in this exercise is not an isolated misstep but rather a symptom of the broader revisionist narrative being cultivated under his administration. This underscores the need for India to remain vigilant against any attempts to undermine its sovereignty through soft power tactics masquerading as economic diplomacy. The China Factor: A Faustian Bargain Beyond rhetorical provocations, Yunus’s growing coziness with China poses a tangible strategic challenge for India.
His government has facilitated deeper economic entanglements with Beijing, creating conditions reminiscent of China’s ‘debt-trap diplomacy’ that has ensnared multiple nations across Asia and Africa. Beijing’s commitment to lowering interest rates on loans to Bangladesh, coupled with increased investments in infrastructure and energy projects, suggests a concerted effort to expand its foothold in the region. For India, this is a harbinger of strategic encirclement.
China has already entrenched itself in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, leveraging economic dependency to exert geopolitical influence. Yunus’s eagerness to align Bangladesh with this paradigm not only exacerbates India’s security concerns but also portends a reconfiguration of South Asia’s power dynamics in China’s favour. The timing of this pivot, coinciding with India’s decision to curtail medical visas for Bangladeshi citizens in response to security threats, only underscores the fraught nature of bilateral relations under Yunus’s administration.
Compounding these geopolitical tensions is Yunus’s revisionist approach to Bangladesh’s historical narrative. Under his leadership, there has been a systematic attempt to downplay the seminal role of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Bangladesh’s independence, in the country’s liberation movement. More insidiously, Yunus has sought to minimise India’s invaluable assistance during the 1971 war, effectively rewriting history to suit his political objectives.
This historical whitewashing is not a mere academic exercise; it is a calculated move to redefine Bangladesh’s national identity in a manner that marginalises its deep-rooted ties with India. Such distortions serve to stoke nationalist fervor, potentially fueling anti-India sentiments that could have long-term ramifications for bilateral relations. The erasure of historical truths is often the precursor to policy shifts that seek to sever old alliances in favor of new alignments—alignments that, in this case, appear increasingly oriented towards Beijing and, alarmingly, Islamist elements within Bangladesh’s political landscape.
A Dangerous Tilt towards Islamist Politics Beyond external realignments, Yunus’s domestic policies have sparked serious concerns regarding the safety and rights of Bangladesh’s minority communities. Reports of escalating attacks on Hindus and other religious minorities have surfaced under his watch, leading to accusations of state complicity or, at the very least, willful negligence. Yunus’s dismissive response—branding these incidents as politically motivated rather than communal—has been met with skepticism both domestically and internationally.
The implications of this trend are dire. A Bangladesh that harbours Islamist extremism not only threatens its own social fabric but also has spillover effects on India’s border states, where communal harmony is already a delicate equilibrium. If left unchecked, this ideological shift could embolden radical elements and contribute to the further destabilisation of the region.
India, therefore, must adopt a proactive stance, ensuring that any tacit or overt state support for extremist forces in Bangladesh is met with firm diplomatic and, if necessary, strategic countermeasures. Yunus’s tenure has already set off alarm bells in New Delhi, and for good reason. His economic realignments, historical revisionism, and apparent flirtation with Islamist politics make him a figure whose policies could destabilize South Asia in ways that are deeply inimical to India’s security and strategic interests.
As Bangladesh drifts further into China’s orbit and distances itself from its historical ally, India must recalibrate its diplomatic approach to counter these developments effectively. One immediate priority should be reinforcing infrastructure projects that enhance connectivity between India’s northeastern states and the mainland, reducing any dependency on Bangladesh for transit access. Simultaneously, India should intensify its engagement with Bangladesh’s political opposition and civil society actors who remain committed to maintaining a balanced foreign policy.
Furthermore, New Delhi must leverage its international alliances to expose and counter the growing Chinese influence in Bangladesh, ensuring that Dhaka does not become another pawn in Beijing’s South Asian strategy. Diplomatic pressure, coupled with strategic economic investments, can serve as potent tools to mitigate the risks posed by Yunus’s administration. Thus, Muhammad Yunus’s rise to power represents not just a shift in Bangladesh’s internal politics but a broader geopolitical recalibration with potentially severe consequences for India.
His overtures towards China, his subtle challenges to India’s sovereignty, and his regressive domestic policies paint a picture of a leader whose agenda warrants rigorous scrutiny and decisive counteraction. India must remain steadfast, ensuring that its strategic interests in the region are not undermined by the ambitions of a transient yet dangerous leadership in Dhaka. Tehmeena Rizvi is a Senior Fellow at Bluekraft Digital Foundation and is pursuing PhD from Bennett University.
Her areas of work include Women, Peace, and Security (South-Asia), focusing on the intersection of Gender, Conflict and Religion. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.
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