In 2024, Bangladesh witnessed the rise of the ‘India Out’ boycott movement. This campaign, driven by Indian interference in Bangladesh’s national parliamentary elections on 7 January 2024, gained significant momentum both domestically and internationally. The movement urges Bangladeshis to prioritize local products over Indian imports, reflecting a deep-seated resentment towards India’s involvement in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.
The incumbent Awami League’s fourth consecutive victory in the controversial 2024 elections intensified anti-India sentiments. The election was marred by low voter turnout, an opposition boycott, and the presence of ‘dummy candidates’—independents backed by the ruling party to create an illusion of competition. These events underscored India’s role in maintaining a regime known for its brutal crackdown on political opposition and rampant corruption.
Issues such as the treatment of minority communities, irregular migration, trade imbalances, and even cricket rivalries have strained bilateral relations. The Bangladesh-India border is one of the deadliest in the world, with incidents involving Indian border security forces resulting in the deaths and injuries of numerous Bangladeshis between 2000 and 2021.
The opposition’s boycott of the 2014 elections, in protest against the Awami League’s decision to abolish the non-partisan caretaker government system, marked a significant turning point. Despite calls from various domestic and international actors for an agreement on the election process, Indian Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh pressured the opposition Jatiya Party (JP) to participate. This intervention provided the controversial election with a veneer of legitimacy.
In the 2018 elections, the Awami League promised a fair electoral process. However, the elections were plagued by reports of intimidation, arrests, torture, enforced disappearances, and assaults on opposition figures. Indian intelligence agencies were involved in manipulating the election results, casting further doubt on the integrity of the process.
The 2024 elections saw similar accusations of Indian interference. Massive street mobilizations by the opposition, demanding the reinstatement of the caretaker government system, were met with Western pressure to uphold democracy and human rights. The United States even imposed visa restrictions on those undermining democracy in Bangladesh. Indian policymakers, however, expressed dissatisfaction with Washington’s stance, fearing it would destabilize Sheikh Hasina’s regime and threaten regional security. Indian involvement in covert negotiations to evade US sanctions highlights the extent of its interference.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and other political figures openly discussed India’s role in past and present elections, further fueling anti-Indian sentiment in Bangladesh. The ‘India Out’ campaign, which began on social media, was embraced by many opposition leaders and activists, although it was not officially endorsed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Despite Indian media propaganda portraying the boycott as the work of radical “Islamists” or pro-Pakistan elements, the movement resonated with a broad spectrum of Bangladeshis deprived of their voting rights.
The campaign gained traction among youth, social media activists, and civil society. India’s unwavering support for an unmandated government has exacerbated the crisis, and portraying the boycott as solely driven by Muslims ignores the broader discontent. While the economic impact of boycotting Indian products remains a concern, the primary implications of the ‘India Out’ campaign are political. The movement has successfully highlighted the growing anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh.
