India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have often made inflammatory and derogatory remarks about Bangladeshis, a pattern that seems to have escalated in recent years. BJP officials have referred to Bangladeshis as “termites,” threatened to throw them into the Bay of Bengal, or even suggested that they be hung upside down as punishment. Despite these provocations, the government of Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh has historically remained silent, refraining from issuing formal protests. However, this changed recently when Bangladesh’s interim government took a firm stance against the remarks, signaling a potential shift in diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Recent Provocations by Amit Shah
One of the most vocal critics of Bangladeshi immigrants has been India’s Home Minister, Amit Shah. During a rally in Giridih, Jharkhand, Shah made several inflammatory comments, including threats to “hang Bangladeshi intruders upside down.” He has previously called these immigrants “termites,” a deeply dehumanizing metaphor, and threatened to expel them into the Bay of Bengal.
Shah’s rhetoric taps into a broader narrative of hostility toward Bangladeshis. At the rally, he claimed that Rohingyas and Bangladeshis were infiltrating Jharkhand, seizing properties, and committing fraud by marrying local women. Shah further warned that if unchecked, these immigrants could become the majority in Jharkhand within 25-30 years. He accused the local government of inaction, alleging that they protect these immigrants as part of their vote bank strategy. Shah’s message was clear: “Elect a BJP government, and we will hang these infiltrators upside down to correct them.”
The Political Context Behind Anti-Bangladeshi Sentiment
The BJP’s strategy of targeting Bangladeshis fits into a larger political narrative driven by the party’s Hindutva ideology. According to Snigdhendu Bhattacharya, a researcher specializing in Hindutva politics, the BJP’s aggressive rhetoric against Bangladeshis echoes their earlier antagonism toward Pakistan. For Hindutva groups, Muslims have historically been cast as the “other,” a group to be vilified. While Pakistan used to be the primary focus of this rhetoric, Bangladesh has increasingly become a convenient target in the last decade.
The BJP’s focus on Bangladeshi immigrants is also part of a broader political strategy across eastern India, including states like West Bengal, Assam, Tripura, and more recently, Jharkhand and Odisha. By casting Bangladeshis as intruders and outsiders, the BJP is able to appeal to local fears and prejudices, particularly among Hindu voters. Bhattacharya notes that this has led to increasing discrimination against Bengali Muslims from West Bengal in other parts of India, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, and the Delhi-NCR region. Recently, similar incidents have also been reported in Odisha, where Bengali Muslims have been labeled as illegal immigrants.
The Electoral Angle: Polarizing the Voter Base
Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury, a professor of political science at Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata, emphasizes that these remarks are often strategically timed, especially during election periods. The BJP uses the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration to polarize the electorate, appealing to Hindu voters who may feel threatened by the presence of Muslims, particularly those perceived as “outsiders” from Bangladesh. This tactic is aimed at consolidating the BJP’s voter base by creating an “us vs. them” narrative, where Bangladeshi immigrants are cast as a direct threat to India’s social and economic fabric.
The BJP’s anti-Bangladeshi rhetoric is not limited to border states but extends across various parts of India, illustrating the party’s attempt to nationalize the issue of immigration. By stoking fears about job losses, demographic changes, and cultural erosion, the BJP positions itself as the defender of Hindu civilization against an imagined Muslim “invasion.”
The Shift in Bangladesh’s Diplomatic Stance
For years, the government of Sheikh Hasina refrained from formally protesting such remarks, even when they crossed diplomatic boundaries. However, the recent remarks by Amit Shah prompted an unprecedented response from Bangladesh’s interim government, signaling a notable shift in their diplomatic approach. The government summoned the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Dhaka to express their strong disapproval of Shah’s comments, stating that such inflammatory language undermines the spirit of mutual respect between two neighboring countries.
The Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that these comments are harmful not only to diplomatic relations but also to the broader cultural and social ties between India and Bangladesh. By summoning the Indian diplomat, Bangladesh sent a clear message that it would no longer tolerate such disrespect toward its citizens.
An Unprecedented Protest
This diplomatic protest from Bangladesh is significant because it marks the first time the country has taken such a strong stance against the derogatory comments of a high-ranking Indian official. Previously, even when BJP leaders made similarly offensive remarks, the government of Bangladesh opted for silence, likely due to the strong political and economic ties between the two nations.
However, Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury argues that the current interim government in Bangladesh might be signaling that it is no longer willing to remain under India’s influence. By protesting Amit Shah’s remarks, the interim government is asserting its independence and sending a message that it will not tolerate disrespect, even from a neighboring superpower.
This change in stance is particularly noteworthy given the complex and often sensitive relationship between India and Bangladesh. While the two countries share deep cultural and economic ties, their political relationship has often been marked by tensions over issues like immigration, border security, and water sharing.
The Broader Implications
The ongoing anti-Bangladeshi rhetoric in India has far-reaching consequences for both countries. For India, it fuels domestic political polarization and discrimination against Bengali Muslims. For Bangladesh, it complicates its relationship with a key regional ally, while also potentially endangering its citizens living in India, who may face harassment or violence as a result of these inflammatory statements.
The recent diplomatic protest from Bangladesh could mark the beginning of a more assertive foreign policy, particularly under the interim government. It remains to be seen how India will respond to this shift, especially as the BJP continues to use anti-Bangladeshi sentiment as part of its electoral strategy.
In conclusion, the BJP’s frequent targeting of Bangladeshis is part of a broader political and ideological agenda, one that seeks to rally Hindu voters by casting Muslims, particularly those from Bangladesh, as threats to India’s sovereignty and culture. While this rhetoric has proven politically effective for the BJP, it risks damaging India’s relationship with Bangladesh, especially as the latter becomes more vocal in defending its citizens and sovereignty.