The experts assured the Shashi Tharoor-led standing committee that there was no immediate cause for alarm regarding Bangladesh, especially compared to Pakistan
Concerns about the radicalisation of youth in neighbouring countries were discussed during a key meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, chaired by Dr Shashi Tharoor. The discussion, focused on India-Bangladesh relations, included expert testimonies from former national security adviser Shivshankar Menon, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), former High Commissioner to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das, and strategic affairs analyst Professor Amitabh Mattoo.
The meeting addressed the growing apprehensions over China and Pakistan’s increased engagement with Bangladesh. Several committee members expressed concern about the implications of this evolving regional dynamic, given India’s already strained ties with both China and Pakistan. However, experts assured the panel that there was no immediate cause for alarm regarding Bangladesh, especially compared to Pakistan.
According to the experts, the Pakistani army remains deeply radicalised, unlike the Bangladeshi army, which does not exhibit similar traits. This distinction is a key factor in assessing the strategic outlook of India’s eastern neighbour. They also noted that media narratives often exaggerate the closeness between Bangladesh and India’s adversaries.
BJP MP Kiran Choudhry, also a member of the panel, recalled her father Brigadier Atma Singh Sejwal’s contribution during the Bangladesh Liberation War, reiterating India’s longstanding friendship with Bangladesh.
In response to a question about Sheikh Hasina’s presence in India and how it might be perceived in Bangladesh, the experts drew parallels with India’s historic record of granting refuge—from the Dalai Lama to various political figures—reinforcing that this aligns with India’s humanitarian ethos.
Opposition MPs also emphasised the importance of enhancing bilateral engagement, particularly because states like West Bengal and Tripura share deep linguistic and cultural ties—and long, porous borders—with Bangladesh. Several members proposed increasing people-to-people exchanges, including media and journalist programmes, to deepen mutual understanding.
Chairman Shashi Tharoor described the session as “an excellent and in-depth discussion”, confirming that a detailed report would be submitted to Parliament soon. “We had first-class experts before the committee today. Members raised many important questions, and we received comprehensive responses,” he said.
On the politically sensitive issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh—often flagged by BJP leaders across states like West Bengal and Jharkhand—Tharoor noted that the number of such cases has “significantly declined”, based on inputs received by the committee.
When asked about the ongoing water-sharing disputes and whether the issue was discussed, especially in light of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s concerns, Tharoor said, “You’ll have to wait for the final report to know more.”
