Amid Anti-India Rhetoric, Jaishankar’s Dhaka Visit Reasserts India’s Strategic Bet On Bangladesh | Opinion | India News

The funeral of former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Khaleda Zia will be held today. The BNP party confirmed that Khaleda Zia passed away at the age of 80 in the early hours of Tuesday morning, following a prolonged illness. Bangladesh declared three days of state mourning following the death of the former prime minister. Today, a one-day general public holiday will be celebrated on the occasion of his funeral prayer.

On behalf of India, Dr. S Jaishankar will attend the funeral and other guests include Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Bhutan FM Lyonpo DN Dhungyel, Nepal FM Bala Nanda Sharma and President Dr. Ali Haidhar Ahmed will be the Minister of Education and Labor of the Maldives as his Special Representative. Dr Jaishankar’s visit comes at a time when the anti-India atmosphere has damaged Indo-Bangladesh relations since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the takeover of the regime by the interim government headed by Muhammad Younis.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Dhaka at a time of rising political turmoil and anti-India sentiment is a calculated diplomatic move that underlines New Delhi’s preference for engagement over alienation. Rather than backing down amid uncertainty, India has opted to remain visibly present, signaling that bilateral relations are based on long-term national interests rather than short-term political alignments. The visit helps prevent strategic drift at a time when Bangladesh’s internal dynamics are in flux and external actors are closely monitoring opportunities to expand their sphere of influence.

Most importantly, this aid sends a strong message that India is a friend of Bangladesh as a nation and not just of any political leader or party. By engaging with Dhaka at a sensitive stage, New Delhi is showing that it respects the people of Bangladesh and their democratic journey, reinforcing that their relationship is institutional, people-centered and enduring. Optics matter: India is signaling that it supports constitutional, progressive and non-radical democratic forces, regardless of who holds power.

From a security perspective, Jaishankar’s visit allows India to directly protect its core interests. The visit also serves a strategic purpose against external influences, especially from China and Pakistan. Political uncertainty in Bangladesh creates opportunities for external actors to reshape Dhaka’s strategic orientation through economic incentives, diplomatic signals or security cooperation. By remaining engaged, India limits the scope for such maneuvers and strengthens its role as Bangladesh’s most reliable and geographically indispensable partner. It also thwarts attempts by Islamabad and Beijing to cultivate alternative political figures, including efforts to influence leaders like Tarique Rahman and reposition anti-India rhetoric ahead of future elections.

More importantly, New Delhi’s approach reflects an understanding of Bangladesh’s evolving political environment. Considering that public sentiment plays a decisive role, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) may emerge stronger if the elections are held in a free and fair manner. India’s support signals its readiness to work with any legitimate government that emerges from the democratic process, as long as it is constitutional and not radical. This forward-looking stance helps insulate bilateral relations from election results while also strengthening India’s credibility as a mature regional power.