Dhaka– As India launches targeted strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under Operation Sindoor, in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Bangladesh’s interim government has opted for calculated silence, treading carefully amid rising regional tensions.
While major global powers, including the United States and China, have called for restraint in the wake of Islamabad’s inflammatory rhetoric, Dhaka has issued only a restrained appeal. In a brief statement, Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain urged both India and Pakistan to “exercise restraint” and “engage in dialogue.” He disclosed that Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had phoned him on May 5 to present Islamabad’s view of the escalating conflict. “We want peace. We don’t want to see any conflict here,” Hossain told reporters on May 6.
Analysts say Bangladesh’s ambiguous posture reflects a strategic balancing act. Since August 2024, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has sought closer ties with Pakistan, while avoiding any direct clash with India. The Yunus administration’s proximity to the pro-Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami faction and reported support from Pakistan’s ISI adds further complexity to its position.
This diplomatic tightrope is also evident in the response from the National Citizen Party (NCP), a student-driven political organization aligned with the interim government. NCP leaders Nahid Islam and Akhter Hossain voiced concerns on social media about potential regional instability triggered by India’s strikes, while directing their criticism inward—accusing the opposition Awami League of fomenting chaos. Analysts note that NCP’s response focused more on domestic political grievances than the broader terror threat prompting India’s action.
Observers have also flagged growing concerns that Bangladesh could emerge as a transit hub for Pakistani terror networks. Critics cite the perceived leniency shown toward extremist elements under the Yunus government, as well as its silence on controversial national issues—including alleged coordination with Myanmar’s Arakan Army, contested border negotiations, and the transfer of port operations to foreign powers.
While Dhaka’s civilian leadership downplays the situation, the military appears more alert. During the Akash Bijoy 2025 military drills on April 30, Yunus acknowledged rising regional tensions, stating, “India and Pakistan remain on the brink of conflict… to remain unprepared is nothing short of suicidal.”
Still, the government’s muted response to India’s Operation Sindoor has raised questions in New Delhi and among international observers about Bangladesh’s current geopolitical trajectory and internal stability. As the region braces for potential aftershocks, Dhaka’s attempt to remain neutral may become increasingly difficult to sustain. (Source: IANS)
