EXPLAINED: Liberated from Pakistan 54 years ago, now Bangladesh is eyeing India, will PM Modi teach a lesson?

According to intelligence and defense sources of New Delhi, India has created 3 new military posts on the Bangladesh border. These posts have been made at Bamuni in Dhubri, Assam, Kishanganj in Bihar and Chopra in West Bengal. India is now increasing its closeness with Pakistan, the enemy country which had liberated Bangladesh 54 years ago. After Mohammad Yunus takes power in Bangladesh in 2024, relations with India are worsening day by day. Not only this, on November 9, after 54 years, a warship reached the coast of Bangladesh, which is Pakistan’s PNS Saif.

So let us understand in ABP Explainer how India-Bangladesh relations broke down, why Yunus is supporting Pakistan and whether something big is going to happen…

Question 1- How has India helped Bangladesh in the last 54 years?
answer- Today’s Bangladesh was once East Pakistan. Fed up with the atrocities of the Pakistani Army and the discrimination of the government there, the rebellion started. Bangladesh was formed by defeating Pakistan on 16 December 1971 with the help of Indian Army. In the last 7 decades, India was always ready to help its new neighbour. Even after suffering losses many times…

• In 1996, the two countries signed a ‘Ganga Water Sharing’ treaty for the Ganges River, which was essential for Bangladesh’s agricultural and water needs.
• In 2006, India took a unilateral decision, after which all goods from Bangladesh except cigarettes and liquor come to India at zero tariff. People of Bangladesh buy fabric from China and make clothes and send it to India. This causes problems to India’s local industry. Despite this he has got this facility.
• From 2010 to 2020, India gave a line of credit of about 8 billion dollars i.e. about 68 thousand crore rupees. Invested in 17 projects like roads, railways and ports.
• In 2015, under the Land Boundary Agreement, both the countries divided 162 small areas, which ended the border dispute. In this, India gave 10 thousand acres more land to Bangladesh.
• During Covid in 2021, India gave 33 lakh Covishield vaccines to Bangladesh free of cost and also sent medicines and equipment for hospitals.
• In 2022-23, there was trade between the two countries worth 12.2 billion dollars i.e. about Rs 1.4 lakh crore. It contains most of the daily needs items.
• From 2023, India will send 2 thousand MW electricity to Bangladesh every day. Apart from this, diesel will be supplied to Bangladesh through India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline from 2023.
• India had given a grant of Rs 120 crore to Bangladesh for 2024-25. Apart from this, India has given a total line of credit of about Rs 66 thousand crores, out of which a large amount was spent on infrastructure projects.
• Even in 2025, India retained a grant of Rs 120 crore. Apart from this, India provided funding to 77 small projects under High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs).

Question 2- How did the attitude of Bangladesh change after the government of Mohammad Yunus?
answer- After the rebellion in Bangladesh in August 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to flee the country and took refuge in India. An interim government was formed in Bangladesh and Mohammad Yunus became its head. India-Bangladesh relations were very strong during the time of Sheikh Hasina, but after that the anti-India activities of Bangladesh increased…

1. Bangladesh increased its closeness to Pakistan

• Muhammad Yunus visited Pakistan in September and December 2024 and talked about strengthening relations by forgetting grudges.
• Mohammad Yunus government abolished visa security clearance for Pakistanis.
• Direct maritime connectivity between Pakistan and Bangladesh was started in November 2024.
• According to The Tribune report, the Yunus government had ordered ammunition to Pakistan, which included more than 40 thousand rounds of ammunition and 2,900 RDX of 40 tonnes.
• On October 24, 2025, Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chief Shahid Shamshad Mirza reached Bangladesh. Mohammad Yunus gifted him the book ‘Art of Triumph’ containing the map of Greater Bangladesh.
• On November 8, Pakistani Navy Chief Admiral Naved Ashraf also reached Bangladesh on a four-day official visit.
• On November 8, Pakistani warship ‘PNS Saif’ reached Chittagong port of Bangladesh via the Bay of Bengal.

2. Bangladesh increased its closeness to China

• On 26-29 March 2025, Muhammad Yunus visited China and participated in the Boao Forum for Asia. He met Chinese leaders and signed many agreements.
• China will invest more than $1 billion in Bangladesh by 2025, which includes the development of Mongla port. This port is about 200 kilometers away from Kolkata, which increased India’s concerns.
• China announced to donate 4 hospitals, robotic physiotherapy center and cardiac surgery vehicle to Bangladesh.
• China had announced funding of about Rs 3400 crore for the establishment of Industrial Economic Zone (CEIZ) and Mongla Port.
• On October 8, the Bangladesh government approved the purchase of 20 Chinese J-10CE fighter jets for $2.2 billion.
• On October 19, hundreds of people gathered near Shaheed Minar of Chittagong University in Bangladesh demanding implementation of the China-backed Teesta Master Plan. India is against this plan.

3. Bangladesh started showing eyes to India

• On 13 April 2025, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh banned the import of yarn from India through Benapole, Bhomra, Banglabandha, Barimari and Sona Masjid land ports.
• Asif Nazrul, legal advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh, had said while replying to the Vijay Diwas tweet of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ’16 December 1971 was the victory day of Bangladesh. India was just an ally, nothing more.
• Mohammad Yunus gifted the book Art of Triumph to many foreign guests. In the controversial map of ‘Greater Bangladesh’ made on this, the north-eastern areas of India have been described as part of Bangladesh.

Question 3- So now does India face a bigger threat from Bangladesh, which has built military posts?
answer- India created 3 new military posts to secure the Siliguri Corridor i.e. Chicken Neck. These are operationally ready and are the answer to the threat from China-Pak-Bangladesh alliance. Apart from this, India reactivated Kailashahar airbase in Tripura, so that the North-East can be kept an eye on.

Actually, Chicken Neck is located in the Indian state of West Bengal, which is 22 kilometers wide. Chicken Neck is very special from the security point of view of India, because it connects North-Eastern India with the western states. If this route is stopped in any way then the north-eastern states of India will be separated and the country will be divided into two parts. It is through this route that imports and exports are made to the north-eastern states of India.

Question 4- Then how can India teach a lesson to Bangladesh?
answer- According to foreign affairs expert and NEHU professor Prosenjit Biswas, India can teach a lesson to Bangladesh in 3 ways…

1. Creating economic pressure: In April 2025, India retaliated against Bangladesh and closed the trans-shipment facility, due to which Bangladesh suffered a loss of about Rs 6,500 crore annually. In May 2025, India imposed import restrictions on Bangladeshi yarn, rice and garments. In response, Bangladesh banned Indian products, but Bangladesh suffered more losses due to India’s trade surplus exceeding ($11 billion). In Budget 2025, India has planned to boost its textile industry so that Bangladesh’s garment market share can be snatched away. Similarly, India should put pressure on Bangladesh.
2. Increasing Tariff on Agricultural Products: India warned of increasing tariffs on Bangladesh’s agricultural products like jute, fish and tobacco. The increase in tariff will be a big blow to Bangladesh’s economy, because 16% of Bangladesh’s GDP comes from exports and India is the second largest export market.
3. Control over power supply: India supplies 2 MW electricity to Bangladesh, which is a major part of Bangladesh’s energy needs. India may reduce supplies or tighten payment terms. This may affect the industrial activities and life of Bangladesh.

Question 5- Will the relations between India and Bangladesh improve or worsen in future?
answer- On April 4, 2025, PM Modi and Mohammad Yunus met for the first time during the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, Thailand. Modi said, ‘We want a positive relationship, but pay attention to the safety of Hindus and extremism.’ Yunus replied, ‘Send Hasina back, she is spreading falsehood.’ This meeting was limited to photos only, no agreement was reached.

Prosenjit Biswas says, ‘It is very difficult to improve relations between India and Bangladesh in 2026, because Bangladesh is coming closer to India’s enemy countries. At the same time, elections can be held in Bangladesh in April 2026. If Bangladesh Nationalist Party wins in this, relations with India will worsen. Bangladesh will stop all trade with India, blockage will start at Chicken Neck, India will completely bypass North-East and movement of goods will happen through Kaladan Port (Myanmar). Bangladesh will suffer the most because about 2 crore Bangladeshis will be unemployed and GDP will fall by 3.8%. But if Awami League comes to power then relations are expected to improve.