The brotherly relationship between India and Bangladesh, forged in the blood of 1971, has disintegrated into a bitter diplomatic feud. As elections loom in both nations, political posturing has spiraled into a full-blown crisis involving visa suspensions, trade blockades, and a unprecedented sports boycott.

The latest flashpoint is cricket—the religion of the subcontinent. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced today that its team will not travel to India for the upcoming World Cup, demanding matches be moved to a neutral venue. This follows the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) blocking a Bangladeshi player from the IPL due to "security concerns."

The Sheikh Hasina Shadow

The root of the conflict is the 2024 ouster of Sheikh Hasina. India’s refusal to extradite the former Prime Minister, who fled to Delhi, has enraged Bangladesh’s interim government. Dhaka views Delhi as the protector of a dictator; Delhi views Dhaka’s new rulers as puppets of Islamist radicals.

• Visa Wars: India has suspended visa operations in Chattogram after its consulate was attacked by a mob. Bangladesh retaliated by freezing visas in New Delhi. This has stranded thousands of patients seeking medical care in India and businessmen trading across the border.
• Communal Violence: India cites rising attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh (over 50 incidents in December alone) as proof of a "genocide" in the making. Bangladesh accuses India of "fake news warfare" and meddling in its internal affairs.
• Trade Chokehold: Informal trade blockades have begun at the Benapole-Petrapole border. Indian truckers are refusing to cross, citing safety, causing prices of onions and essentials to skyrocket in Dhaka.

Election Fever

With India’s BJP and Bangladesh’s BNP both in campaign mode, neither side can afford to look weak. Anti-India rhetoric is a vote-winner in Bangladesh, while "protecting Hindus" is a core plank for Modi. The result is a dangerous escalation that threatens to destabilize the entire Bay of Bengal region.