Dhaka, Feb 17 (NationPress) India should capitalize on its economic and political power to implement a strategy of soft deterrence, which combines preventive measures with re-engagement diplomacy. This approach will enable India to negotiate with Bangladesh from a position of strength. The responsibility for safeguarding and advancing interests should primarily lie with Dhaka, according to a report released on Tuesday.

“The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has regained power after decades, demonstrating significant electoral influence in the recent elections that followed the ousting of Sheikh Hasina in 2024. As India seeks to engage with the new government in Dhaka, it must adopt a comprehensive strategy with clear objectives, especially in light of longstanding tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka,” the report in ‘India Narrative’ elaborated.

The findings suggest that India should focus on engaging with Dhaka across two critical areas: strategic and security, while indicating that opportunities for recalibration are limited.

“Taking a strategically assertive stance in dealings with the BNP leadership is crucial, as the issue surrounding the extradition of Sheikh Hasina presents a significant challenge that could hinder recalibration efforts. Consequently, India needs to actively pursue economic and political strategies to contain any adversarial actions from Dhaka and protect its own interests,” it outlined.

The report noted that previous approaches advocating for recalibration and a wait-and-see stance have yielded no substantial results. Under the new BNP leadership, particularly with Tarique Rahman in charge, there is a likelihood of increasing hyper-autonomy and anti-India sentiments.

At the strategic level, the report highlighted the importance of India utilizing its long-standing economic clout in Bangladesh, focusing on areas such as trade of essential goods, electricity exports, and supply chain management.

“In the current South Asian context, India possesses a formidable position in the geo-economic landscape concerning Bangladesh and should leverage this strength if Dhaka attempts to overreach. India’s negotiation tactics should prioritize communication over direct confrontation, employing a transactional realism approach to convey to the BNP that Bangladesh’s autonomy is at stake without India or amidst anti-India sentiments. In essence, India ought to be positioned to impose caution rather than compulsion on Dhaka when necessary,” it added.

On the security front, the report warned that the resurgence of the radical Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami and its growing influence represent a tangible terror threat not just to India, but also to Bangladesh itself.

“The JMB group may seek to reestablish its presence. Given the struggles of ISKP to assert itself in the South Asian region, coupled with JMB’s close ties to ISIS (often regarded as an ISIS proxy in Bangladesh) and Pakistan’s attempts to gain strategic depth in Dhaka against India, the threat becomes increasingly evident and serious. Therefore, India must communicate to Dhaka that security collaboration is essential, while also ensuring that New Delhi can exercise significant caution in its dealings with Dhaka,” it stated.