THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY

As Bangladesh enters another turbulent transition amid rising anti-India sentiment, New Delhi must revive its old playbook of substantive reengagement

- NAMRATA BIJI AHUJA

Half a century ago, a plot to kidnap Indian high commissioner Samar Sen in Dhaka was foiled by the timely intervention of his security personnel.

A leaked Wikileaks cable describes what happened on that fateful morning on November 26, 1975, when six young men, disguised as visitors, pulled out revolvers and moved towards Sen as he stepped out of his car in front of the Indian High Commission in Dhanmondi, an upscale neighbourhood. Security guards rushed in, exchanged fire and secured Sen, beating back the assailants.

Following the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in August 1975, the first wave of anti-India sentiment began to emerge in Bangladesh. The coups and counter-coups that finally brought General Ziaur Rahman to power gave fresh ammunition to a section of the post-liberation leadership—consisting largely of leftist groups and radical freedom fighters—to vent against pro-India policies and the country’s alleged influence on Bangladesh’s foreign policy and politics. This sentiment resulted in Zia’s consolidation of power, opening space for all parties, including Islamist outfits such as the Jamaat-e-Islami and secular parties like the Bangladesh Awami League, while realigning Dhaka's foreign policy to improve diplomatic ties with the Islamic world as well as Islamabad.

For the ordinary Bangladeshi, resentment towards India continued to grow, driven by high prices of Indian goods, excessive use of water from rivers flowing into Bangladesh and a trade imbalance in India's favour. New Delhi, in turn, was upset with the persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh and insurgent groups on its borders finding safe havens on Bangladeshi soil.