History and experience repeatedly remind us that when a neighboring country faces turmoil, its heat invariably reaches our walls. But when the neighbor itself converts its home into a powder keg, mere vigilance is no longer sufficient; assertiveness becomes the only viable response. Bangladesh, nurtured by India’s sacrifice in 1971 to become an independent nation, is today evolving into a festering threat to Indian security. The political maneuvers unfolding within the corridors of Dhaka are no longer a matter of diplomatic “balance”; they constitute a deliberate and perilous strategic betrayal.
Muhammad Yunus, once lauded in the West as the “champion of the poor” and a “messenger of peace” with a Nobel Prize to his name, has aligned Bangladesh almost entirely with China and Pakistan to preserve his political power and to advance an anti-India agenda. This is not merely the story of aimless leadership; it is a calculated conspiracy drawing a new, toxic line across the South Asian geopolitical map. Ignoring Washington’s warnings, Dhaka is now enmeshed in Beijing’s debt-trap diplomacy and Rawalpindi’s jihadist-military nexus.
China–Pakistan Axis: Dhaka’s New Direction
The recent warnings issued by U.S. Ambassador Brent Christensen cannot be dismissed lightly. When a superpower’s envoy publicly declares that acquiring Chinese military hardware poses a long-term threat to national sovereignty, it is far more than diplomatic rhetoric—it is an alarm bell. Yet, the Yunus administration seems entirely deaf to these cautions. On the contrary, Dhaka has made its allegiance explicit—not toward New Delhi or Washington, but toward Beijing and Islamabad.
Under Yunus, Bangladesh is poised to become the third wheel in the “China–Pakistan axis,” whose sole objective is to encircle India. Pakistan, which perpetrated the 1971 genocide of 3 million Bengalis, now finds itself as a defense partner to Dhaka. This is not only historical treachery against Bangladesh’s own liberation narrative but also a grave security challenge for India.
Military Modernization or Strategic Subjugation?
Bangladesh’s recent military acquisitions suggest not independent modernization but preparation to become a client state. Negotiations are at an advanced stage for fourth-generation J-10C fighter jets from China and JF-17 Thunders from Pakistan—the latter essentially Chinese technology licensed to Islamabad.
Understanding military procurement is crucial: purchasing aircraft is never a “one-time transaction.” A nation does not merely acquire machines; it enters a three-to-four-decade-long relationship of strategic dependence. Spare parts, software upgrades, maintenance, and pilot training—all tie Dhaka irrevocably to Beijing and Rawalpindi.
Consider this stark reality: the Bangladesh Air Force, nurtured by India to stand on its own, will now host Chinese engineers and Pakistani air force instructors on its airbases. Lieutenant General S.M. Kamrul Hasan, the principal staff officer, holds regular meetings with his Chinese and Pakistani counterparts, signaling that Bangladesh is about to hand the keys to its national security to India’s adversaries. The promise of rapid delivery of “Super Mushshak” trainer aircraft by Pakistan, coupled with secret agreements with China, indicates the construction of a hostile military ecosystem directly along India’s borders.
India’s “Laxman Rekha” at Stake
More concerning than mere weapons acquisition is the infrastructural penetration by China into Bangladesh. Yunus’ key advisor, Saeeda Rizwana Hasan, recently stated that “China is eager to begin work on the Teesta River Master Plan as soon as possible.” This is a clear alarm for India. The project targets regions near the “Chicken’s Neck”—the Siliguri Corridor, a narrow stretch linking Northeast India to the rest of the country. If China secures the Teesta project as a pretext to deploy surveillance radars, engineers, and other installations, it poses an existential security threat to India.
This project is more than development—it is strategic encroachment. From the submarine base in Patuakhali in the south to the Teesta project in the north, it is evident that China intends to use Bangladeshi territory to pressure India on two fronts. And Yunus? He is willing to jeopardize India’s security merely to cling to power.
Yunus, Trump Opposition, and U.S. Limitations
Yunus’ political orientation adds another layer of complexity. Historically aligned with Democrats and the Clinton circle, he has long opposed Donald Trump. With Trump’s influence in Washington rising, Yunus anticipates pressure from the U.S. To counter this, he has sought refuge in China. When the U.S. ambassador issued warnings, the Chinese embassy in Dhaka responded aggressively, dismissing the statements as “irresponsible” and “malicious”—a direct diplomatic challenge.
China is no longer a passive investor in Dhaka; it is acting as a protector. Beijing assures Yunus that any U.S. pressure, under the pretext of democracy or human rights, will be countered by the combined support of China and Pakistan. Yunus’ anti-Trump stance thus strengthens the China–Pakistan axis at the expense of India–U.S. strategic alignment.
The Irony of 1971 and Pakistan’s Return
The ultimate irony is that Bangladesh, a nation founded on India’s blood in the Liberation War, is now aligning with its historical oppressor. Defense deals involving JF-17 Thunders and Super Mushshaks are not mere transactions; they are Pakistan’s strategic victory to reassert influence over Dhaka without firing a single shot.
Discussions between Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu of Pakistan and Bangladesh Air Force chief Hasan Mahmood Khan regarding “expanded defense cooperation” show that Yunus is willing to forget the wounds of 1971 to cultivate ties with old adversaries—a development India cannot tolerate. On one side, India pursues a “Neighborhood First” policy; on the other, a neighbor is harboring our own historic enemies.
Upcoming Elections and Yunus’ Power Consolidation
The proposed February 12 referendum and general elections in Bangladesh appear increasingly ceremonial. Critics contend that the process is designed to legitimize Yunus’ grip on power. China and Pakistan are assisting Yunus to ensure a government in Dhaka that remains perpetually indebted to Beijing. If Yunus succeeds, India could witness the rise of another “Pakistan” in its east—a country sovereign in name, but effectively controlled from Beijing and Rawalpindi.
Time for Strategic Assertiveness
India can no longer rely on “sweet diplomacy.” Bangladesh is no longer the “friendly neighbor” envisioned during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure. Under Yunus, Dhaka is actively undermining the Indo-Pacific balance. India must send an unequivocal message: any Chinese presence near the Siliguri Corridor is unacceptable. Should Dhaka proceed with J-10C and JF-17 acquisitions, India must leverage its economic and diplomatic power to convey that its cooperation is indispensable for Bangladesh’s survival. Yunus appears to forget that China’s loans and Pakistan’s friendship, though alluring initially, are ultimately akin to embracing a venomous serpent—pleasurable at first, fatal eventually. India cannot remain a passive observer; strategic assertiveness, inspired by Chanakya’s pragmatism, is essential to sever this toxic axis at its roots. The threat is no longer at the doorstep—it is already within the courtyard.
India’s Imperative
Bangladesh’s shift toward the China–Pakistan axis is no longer a theoretical concern; it is a tangible threat to India’s national security and regional stability. India must adopt a dual strategy: robust military preparedness along the eastern frontiers and decisive diplomatic pressure to expose and dismantle this toxic alignment. Failure to act will mean watching a historically nurtured neighbor evolve into a strategic adversary, hosting hostile forces on its soil, while global institutions observe in silence. The era for cautious diplomacy has ended—India must now navigate its neighborhood with foresight, vigilance, and assertive strategy, ensuring that history’s sacrifices are not rendered futile.
The Holi of Hindu Blood and Convenient Silence of the World
While Yunus arranges strategic alignments with China and Pakistan, Bangladesh’s soil once again bears the blood of its Hindu minorities. Since Sheikh Hasina’s departure and the advent of Yunus’ interim government, being Hindu is no longer a matter of identity—it is a death sentence. Between December 2025 and January 2026, the rule of law has collapsed, replaced by mob violence. Human rights organizations report at least six gruesome murders of Hindus within 18 days. These are only the documented cases; cries from rural hinterlands remain unheard.
Moni Chakravarti, a 40-year-old shopkeeper in Nursingdi, was hacked to death in broad daylight. Khokon Chandra Das, a 50-year-old businessman in Shariatpur, was stabbed and set ablaze. Newspaper editor Rana Pratap Bairagi in Jashore was shot dead. Auto-rickshaw driver Sameer Das in Feni and Liton Chandra Ghosh in Gazipur were beaten to death by mobs.
The Yunus administration remains callously indifferent, dismissing these coordinated communal attacks as “isolated criminal incidents,” while human rights groups identify a clear pattern of targeting minorities. Perhaps most galling is the “convenient silence” of the Western media and global institutions, which saturate coverage on Gaza or Ukraine yet turn a blind eye to burning temples and displaced Hindu families in Dhaka. As Bangladesh approaches the February 2026 elections, its Hindu population is caught between fear, identity, and existential crisis. In Yunus’ “new Bangladesh,” neither homes nor temples are safe, and the very democracy he promised serves as an altar for the sacrifice of the innocent.