When former U.S. President Donald Trump, standing beside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, declared, “We leave Bangladesh in Modi’s hands,” it was no mere diplomatic pleasantry. It was a calculated strategic endorsement — one that continues to resonate across South Asia today.
That single sentence underscored deep trust in India’s maturity, responsibility, and regional leadership. It affirmed India’s pivotal role in preserving peace, prosperity, and partnership in South Asia. More importantly, it signalled to the world — and especially to Bangladesh — that India is not just a neighbour but a natural guardian of regional stability.
India stood by Bangladesh in its most critical hour — during the Liberation War of 1971 — not for territorial gain or strategic leverage, but for justice, democracy, and the rights of the Bengali people. Over the decades, India has provided open markets, transit corridors, training, vaccines, power supply, and goodwill, even when others have acted with opportunism. This is not the behavior of an empire-builder but of an elder sibling — firm, fair, and forgiving.
Yet, today, unsettling rhetoric from Bangladesh’s interim leadership, particularly Mr. Muhammad Yunus, seems out of sync with this historic relationship. Statements like “We are the only guardians of the ocean” and “India’s Northeast Seven Sister states are landlocked” do not reflect statesmanship. Instead, they echo narratives crafted in Beijing’s boardrooms.
Such remarks, veiled in vanity and borrowed bravado, risk undermining the goodwill built over generations.
India does not seek to dominate, but it cannot and will not remain indifferent if a neighbor allows itself to become a pawn for adversarial powers seeking to encircle or threaten Indian sovereignty.
Let us be clear: Bangladesh’s ports cannot become another Hambantota. India values a strong, independent, and friendly Bangladesh. However, if Dhaka drifts into becoming a proxy for another regime — one known for debt traps, surveillance, and strategic encroachments — it must be prepared for the region to respond with open eyes and firm resolve.
What Does “Bangladesh in Modi’s Hands” Really Mean?
It means that India will not allow instability to spill across borders. India will act diplomatically, politically, and economically to safeguard its people and its neighborhood. India will lead with peace but not passivity.
It also means that India will continue supporting the aspirations of the Bangladeshi people, not the ambitions of transient rulers. India will engage with global partners — including the U.S., Japan, ASEAN, and the Gulf — to ensure that the Bay of Bengal remains a zone of peace and progress, not puppetry.
A Time to Choose Wisely
The people of Bangladesh have always chosen wisely — they chose freedom in 1971, progress in the 1990s, and economic growth in recent years. Now, they must choose again:
- China’s shadowy embrace or India’s open hand.
- Temporary gains or long-term stability.
- Geopolitical puppetry or regional partnership?
President Trump’s statement was not just about leadership; it was about responsibility. And India accepts that responsibility — not with arrogance, but with alertness.
Let there be no confusion in Dhaka: India desires peace. But, peace must not be mistaken for permission. India is ready to walk together — but never behind and never blindfolded.
The next chapter of South Asia is being written today. Let Bangladesh script it with its people’s future in mind — not with borrowed pens and dangerous ink.
