Media reports reveal that India had previously requested the United States to exercise caution regarding investigations into Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed.
A year before her recent ouster in a student-led uprising, Indian officials reportedly urged U.S. counterparts to ease their criticism of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to both U.S. and Indian sources. This lobbying led Washington to moderate its stance on Hasina, who had been facing international scrutiny for her administration’s crackdown on dissent and alleged human rights abuses.
The U.S. had initially imposed sanctions on a Bangladeshi police unit under Hasina’s command and threatened visa restrictions in response to her government’s suppression of political opposition and civil liberties ahead of a planned election. However, Indian officials expressed deep concerns about the potential rise of Islamist groups in Bangladesh if opposition forces gained power, arguing that such a shift could pose a national security threat to India.
It is reported that Indian leadership warned the U.S. that if the government in Bangladesh were to change and opposition parties came to power, regional security would be at risk.
In response to India’s concerns, Washington toned down its criticism and delayed further sanctions. This decision was reportedly influenced by India’s strategic interests as Sheikh Hasina has traditionally been supportive of India.
In 1971, India openly supported the Awami League and its militant group, Mukti Bahini, in creating Bangladesh from East Pakistan. In return, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of the Awami League and the country’s first president, reciprocated by implementing pro-India policies, effectively making the new state a close ally of India.
Despite these moves, Hasina’s regime faced growing discontent, culminating in a violent student uprising that forced her to flee to India.
Legal proceedings have begun in Bangladesh against Sheikh Hasina for allegedly issuing orders that led to numerous incidents of mass killings during student protests.
Sheikh Hasina, along with her associates, faces accusations of genocide. This action is being taken under the International Crimes Tribunal, which had previously sentenced leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh to death after summary hearings.
The United Nations has also announced that it will soon send a mission to Bangladesh to uncover the facts. The pressure on Sheikh Hasina is intensifying, prompting Indian leadership to intervene on her behalf.
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