MPs briefed on role of Bangladesh Army Chief in stability-OxBig News Network

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has outlined the rise of disruptive factional forces in Bangladesh. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

NEW DELHI

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in an interaction with the Standing Committee on External Affairs of the Parliament on Wednesday (March 26, 2025), highlighted the role of the Army Chief of Bangladesh in maintaining stability in his country.

The Hindu has learnt, Mr. Misri outlined the rise of disruptive factional forces in Bangladesh and noted that “continued release of Islamist extremists” by the interim government is a matter of concern for “regional and global security.” The discussion at the Indian Parliament coincided with the independence day of Bangladesh with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his congratulatory message to Chief Advisor Prof Mohammed Yunus reminding Dhaka of “mutual sensitivity to each other.”

Bangladesh Army Chief Waker uz Zaman had warned on February 25 against the widespread violence, including fighting and incidents of mob justice, taking place in Bangladesh. “This nation’s independence and sovereignty will be undermined if you cannot stop the mudslinging and if you continue to kill and injure each other. I have no other aspirations. For the past seven to eight months, I have had enough,” General Waker-uz-Zaman said in an unprecedented speech in Dhaka on 25 February. The report also mentioned that despite challenges, the two sides coordinated on multiple military and security fronts.

The Hindu has learnt the presentation mentioned that Army Chief Waker uz Zaman has stood against “fighting and factionalism” as Bangladesh continues to experience growing incidents of mob justice, vandalisation of properties, and lack of policing. Crimes against women featured prominently in the meeting. The meeting expressed concern about the “continued release” of Islamist extremists by the interim government and declared that releasing such figures poses a security threat to both the region and the world.

Attacks on minorities

Chairman of the Standing Committee Shashi Tharoor said the “bulk of the meeting was devoted to a discussion with the Foreign Secretary on India’s relations with Bangladesh.” The discussion also dealt in detail with the reported incidents of violence targeting religious minority communities in Bangladesh. The Hindu has learnt that the Committee was told that the Government of Bangladesh has failed to acknowledge and  address the “systematic persecution of minorities” and “sought to downplay” the scale of attacks against religious minorities, including the Hindu community.

The Committee was told that the Government of India is “continuously monitoring” the situation regarding the safety and security of the minority communities in Bangladesh. The Committee was told that the Indian government has been calling upon the interim government led by Mr. Yunus to “bring to justice” the attackers.

Secretary-level talks

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka on December 9, 2024, marking the restarting of foreign office-level consultations after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on 5 August, 2024. This was followed by a meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Bangladesh’s Foreign Policy Advisor Touhid Hossein in Muscat on the sidelines of the 8^th Indian Ocean Conference. 

The Indian-Bangladesh Naval Exercise Bongosagar 2025 and Coordinated Patrol was conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 10-12 March. “The exercise enhanced interoperability between the two navies, facilitating collaborative responses to shared maritime security challenges,” the report mentioned.

The interaction between the Foreign Secretary and the Standing Committee on External Affairs took place in Parliament on 26 March, which is the independence day of Bangladesh, as it was on this day in 1971 that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for the freedom of East Pakistan that ultimately led to the creation of Bangladesh in December 1971.

Emphasising the common struggle of India and Bangladesh for freedom, PM Modi said, “The spirit of the Liberation War of Bangladesh continues to remain a guiding light for our relationship, which has flourished across multiple domains, bringing tangible benefits to our peoples.” The message came on a day when Chief Adviser Prof. Mohammed Yunus reached China on a four-day visit, during which he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.