India’s statement over elections: How Bangladesh’s ‘internal affairs’ became India's own after Hasina’s fall
The same Jaiswal who was hesitant to comment on Bangladesh’s national elections boycotted by main opposition parties in January 2024 dubbing it the country’s “internal affairs,” now calls for ‘inclusive and participatory elections’ in Bangladesh
For the last seven months, India has been unusually 'concerned' about Bangladesh. Issues like the dying democracy in Bangladesh, which were once dismissed as Dhaka's 'internal affairs' are now of deep Indian interest.
Ever since the fall of Sheikh Hasina.
On 7 March, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India wants 'inclusive and participatory elections' in Bangladesh. "We support a stable, peaceful, inclusive, and progressive Bangladesh… We have 'repeatedly' underlined that it is the responsibility of the interim government to protect Hindus and other minorities," he said.
But rewind to January 2024, and the same Jaiswal was hesitant to comment on Bangladesh's "internal affairs". At the time, Sheikh Hasina was tightening her grip on power, preparing for yet another one-sided, rigged election on 7 January – boycotted by the opposition. While the world called for participatory elections, the MEA spokesperson, on 5 January, maintained, "We have been 'very consistently' saying that the election in Bangladesh is a domestic affair of Bangladesh."
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Why the sudden shift? What changed that India is now commenting on Bangladesh's 'internal affairs'—something it had always avoided?
Because Sheikh Hasina, once obedient to India, was ousted by a mass uprising.
Now, India shelters the deposed leader who spent years dismantling Bangladesh's democracy and was responsible for mass killings in July while she still continues to make speeches on social media.
And suddenly, India has 'concerns' about Bangladesh.
The Indian affairs in Bangladeshi politics
During Awami League's 16-year rule, marked by rigged elections and human rights abuses—India stood firmly behind Hasina.
In August 2023, as the Hasina government faced mounting pressure from opposition protests demanding free and fair elections under a neutral caretaker government, the Indian daily Anandabazar reported that New Delhi had sent a message to Washington: weakening Sheikh Hasina's government would not be in the best interests of either India or the United States.
The United States was increasing pressure on enablers of the Awami League regime within law enforcement, citing corruption and human rights violations. Following sanctions on the RAB, the US Department of State announced plans to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals involved in undermining the country's democratic election process.
The Anandabazar report also mentioned that India objected to the US announcing a separate visa policy for Bangladesh. While opposition leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir criticised "Indian interference in Bangladesh's internal political affairs," Washington ultimately eased its stance on the one-sided election.
Indian 'engagement' in Bangladesh affairs came in many shades over the years.
In 2014, when most political parties, including HM Ershad's Jatiya Party, boycotted the elections, then-Indian Foreign Secretary Sujata Singh visited Dhaka to persuade Ershad to participate. Despite Ershad refusing and even threatening suicide if forced, his party eventually joined the sham election under Raushan Ershad.
Eventually, Bangladesh was trapped in the dark cycle of a one-party state under the autocracy of Sheikh Hasina for the next ten years.
The Indian mood swings
On 19 February 2022, then-Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswamy said the Indian government would not interfere in Bangladesh's 'national affairs', including its elections.
"Bangladesh is an independent sovereign state. They will make the right decisions regarding their internal matters, including elections. There is no need for the Indian government to interfere," Doraiswamy said.
Once again, Doraiswamy's remarks came just as global pressure was mounting on the Awami League to ensure free, fair, and participatory elections.
For years, India stuck to its stance of not interfering in 'Bangladesh's internal affairs'—until Hasina's downfall.
The brutal crackdown carried out by Hasina, her party, and the police since 16 July prompted Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar to say on 19 July that India was 'closely' monitoring the situation in Bangladesh. Yet, just days later, Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the police crackdown—which left hundreds dead—as merely an 'internal matter.' "As you are aware, there are ongoing protests in Bangladesh. We see this as an internal matter of the country," he stated.
And then, everything changed.
On one hand, Indian border guards continue killing Bangladeshis along the border, while on the other, India shelters the perpetrators of the July massacre, wanted for trial in Bangladesh. Yet, India continues to have a lot of concerns about Bangladesh, which is slowly healing from the wounds inflicted by Sheikh Hasina.
The moment Hasina fled to India on 5 August, Bangladesh's affairs suddenly became India's concern.
Narendra Modi was quick to post on X, voicing concerns about the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. While real threats did exist, Indian media wasted no time in flooding the airwaves with exaggerated reports, misinformation and disinformation—twisting the narrative to fit their own agenda.
On India's Independence Day, 15 August, Modi again raised the "concerns of 140 crore countrymen" to ensure the safety of Hindus and minorities in Bangladesh. In a call to Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus, Modi stressed the need for a 'democratic' Bangladesh.
From that point on, nothing in Bangladesh remained its internal affair. The South Block had a say in everything that happened in Bangladesh – except for the rampant killings of Bangladeshis on the Indian border by the BSF and the harbouring of hundreds of wanted persons from Dhaka for trials.
In addition to regularly lecturing on Bangladesh's internal affairs, India even 'condemned' the mob that stormed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's house at Dhanmondi 32 following a statement by the ousted Sheikh Hasina from Delhi.
Bangladesh's foreign ministry found India's reactions to the country's internal affairs "unexpected" and "undesirable".
Indian politicians have long propagated the issue of 'illegal' Bangladeshis in India. However, after Hasina's fall, numerous Awami League members have been living illegally in India, with some even involved in a rape case – yet India has shown no concern.
Meanwhile, India has shut down visas for regular Bangladeshis. All of this clearly illustrates India's choice in Bangladesh.
On one hand, Indian border guards continue killing Bangladeshis along the border, while on the other, India shelters the perpetrators of the July massacre, wanted for trial in Bangladesh. Yet, India continues to have a lot of concerns about Bangladesh, which is slowly healing from the wounds inflicted by Sheikh Hasina.
