The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has launched a political campaign to boycott Indian products, led by Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the party and son of former leaders Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. The BNP has faced a decline in recent years, and the ‘India Out’ strategy is seen as a new political manoeuvre to regain relevance. Reports suggest that Rahman is orchestrating the campaign from exile in London, adding a unique dimension to the party’s initiatives. The campaign is predominantly playing out on social media, using hashtags such as #IndiaOut to propagate the message of boycotting Indian products. However, the basis of the campaign’s narrative appears confusing, as accusations of Indian interference in Bangladesh’s affairs are contradicted by the fact that Bangladesh has prospered and is on track to become a developing nation by 2026.
Historically, Bangladesh had closer ties with Pakistan under BNP rule, leading to societal radicalisation and anti-India sentiments. The leadership of Sheikh Hasina has worked to correct these imbalances, aligning the country with the vision of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who believed in a close association between Bangladesh and India. Recent changes in the Bangladesh cabinet, including the replacement of notable pro-India figures, have raised eyebrows. However, analysts caution against reading too much into these alterations, as they are part of a broader reset involving the introduction of new faces.
The ‘India Out’ campaign in Bangladesh is seen as a desperate political strategy employed by the BNP to regain relevance. While social media amplifies the message, the nation’s history and current political landscape suggest that such tactics may not resonate with the broader population of Bangladesh, a country of 170 million people that stands strong against external intimidation. The future trajectory of this campaign and its impact on diplomatic relations will unfold in the coming months.
Overall, the ‘India Out’ campaign in Bangladesh is a response to the decline of the BNP and an attempt to regain relevance through a nationalist approach. The leadership of the BNP, particularly Tarique Rahman, is utilizing social media and hashtags to propagate the message of boycotting Indian products. However, the campaign’s narrative appears to be based on confusing accusations of Indian interference in Bangladesh’s affairs, despite the nation’s prosperity and development. It is unclear how the campaign will impact diplomatic relations and resonate with the broader population of Bangladesh, given its strong history and political landscape. The future trajectory of this campaign will unfold in the coming months, shedding light on its effectiveness and impact.