Amid growing diplomatic strain, Bangladesh army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has created a flutter in his latest media interview, describing his country’s ties with India as one based on “give and take” in a comment apparently aimed at discrediting New Delhi’s support and military help in the Liberation of the nation in 1971 from Pakistan. In contrast, he termed China — a UNSC veto holder with a long-held rivalry with India — a “partner” in the development of Bangladesh.
In an interview to Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo, Waker said that Dhaka will not do anything that will go against the strategic interests of New Delhi.
‘Bangladesh dependent on India in many ways’
Waker said that India is an “important neighbour” of Bangladesh and people should in no way feel that New Delhi is dominating Dhaka.
“India is an important neighbour. We are dependent on India in many ways. And India is getting facilities from us too. A large number of their people are working in Bangladesh, formally and informally. Many people go for medical treatment to India from here. We buy a lot of goods from them. So, India has a lot of interests in Bangladesh’s stability. This is a give-and-take relationship. This must be based on fairness,” Waker said.
“Any country will want to get benefits from the other. There is nothing wrong with that. If we want to extract our benefits, then we are to blame too. We must look into these matters. We have to maintain good relations based on equality. The people in no way should feel India is dominating over us, which goes against our interests. People should not feel this in any way,” Waker said.
Ties between India and Bangladesh soured after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on August 5, 2024, after the student-led anti-quota protest against her Awami League government burgeoned.
Waker’s remarks assume significance as it’s not common for army chiefs in a democracy to comment on diplomatic aspects of the country. Bangladesh has a history of military rules and interventions in national politics. Waker’s role also came up for discussion during the anti-Hasina protests in Dhaka in July-August last year.
Reports said Hasina decided to flee the country, seeking shelter in India, after Waker refused to obey the command of the elected government, suggesting to the then-Bangladesh prime minister that she better resign.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took the charge late in August to head the interim government in Bangladesh and several reports of attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in the neighbouring country came to the fore .
Yunus claimed that India was peddling a “false” narrative that minorities were being targeted and attacked in Bangladesh. New Delhi, however, maintained it was the responsibility of the interim government to ensure the welfare of Hindus and all the minorities in Bangladesh and it was also communicated to Yunus by India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri during his visit to Dhaka earlier in December.
New Delhi’s ties with Yunus’ caretaker government has also been cold since Hasina has been sheltering in India. In December end, Bangladeshi authorities extended India a note verbale seeking extradition of Hasina to face trial at the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka.
Let relations be on equal footing’
Responding to a question on Bangladesh’s cooperation in ensuring security in India’s northeast region, Waker said, “We will not do anything with our neighbour that goes against their strategic interests. At the same time, we will expect that our neighbour does nothing that is contrary to our interests. When we look after their interests, they will look after our interests with equal importance.”
He also highlighted the key areas where balanced cooperation is crucial, including the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the stability along the Myanmar border.
“Unrest will not be created in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The stability along the Myanmar border will not be disrupted either. They will not kill our people along the borders. We will get our fair share of water. There is no problem with this. Let the relations be on equal footing,” Waker said.
China ‘very important’ to Bangladesh
Waker said that Bangladesh has an “excellent foreign policy of friendship” towards all countries and it must maintain a balance as it goes ahead.
As for China, Waker said, “China is a partner in our development. They have investment in Bangladesh. So China is very important to us. We use a lot of weapons from China. The air force uses weapons from China too. So does the navy. Their weapons are comparatively inexpensive.”
Waker remarks came around the same time Chinese ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen in an opinion piece published by the Daily Star on Wednesday made it clear that Beijing would support Dhaka’s “independent foreign policy”.
Bangladesh wants ‘long-lasting peace’
Addressing the concerns back home, Waker said that in 2025 Bangladesh wants to tread the path to long-lasting peace.
“We want a peaceful environment. Peace and stability is very important now for Bangladesh’s economy and social development. Without these two factors, there can be no development or good governance. That is why we need to restore tolerance among ourselves. An environment of national consensus must be created,” he said.
Bangladesh army will support Yunus
Waker even went on to say that the Bangladesh army is “wholly by the side” of the interim government-led by Muhammad Yunus and will try to support the chief advisor “in any way that he wants”.
“Even if this is inconvenient and the troops face temporary inconvenience, we will do this in the interests of the country, the nation. We are ready to make any sacrifices in the interests of the nation, the country and the people of the country,” he said.
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