India and Pakistan’s 1971 War: Rise and Fall of India’s Influence in Bangladesh

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 30th Nov. In 1971, India and Pakistan engaged in a major war that resulted in India’s victory. The conflict was primarily fought in what was then East Pakistan, where Bengali separatists, under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, had launched a rebellion against Pakistan’s control. India supported the rebels, leading to the creation of a new nation – Bangladesh. Following its independence, Bangladesh became one of India’s closest allies, with Sheikh Mujib declaring India as the cornerstone of his foreign policy. However, in geopolitics, things can change quickly, and so did India-Bangladesh relations.

In the years following the war, the situation in Bangladesh worsened, especially economically. The country was left in ruins after the war, and the struggle for survival gave rise to the perception that India was somehow responsible for Bangladesh’s woes. Many Bangladeshis began to believe that Indian traders were looting the country’s wealth. The water dispute over the Ganges River further fueled this sentiment, with accusations that India was trying to dry up Bangladesh’s rivers. The growing anti-India sentiment among the population went largely unaddressed by Mujib’s government. To reduce India’s influence, Mujib took strategic steps, sidelining pro-India leaders and distancing Bangladesh from its neighbour. Within a few years, India’s influence in Bangladesh had considerably diminished.

Despite the deteriorating relations, India’s Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, continued to support Mujib. India’s primary goal was to prevent atrocities against Hindus and maintain stability in the eastern part of Bangladesh. India also sought to ensure that Pakistan did not interfere in the region, particularly in helping insurgents in the Northeast. Mujib complied with these demands, but by 1974, internal conditions in Bangladesh were deteriorating rapidly. The country faced a severe famine in which over 500,000 people died, and Mujib’s authoritarian rule was becoming more apparent. He consolidated power under one-party rule and declared a state of emergency, transforming Bangladesh’s security forces into his personal army. The growing discontent with Mujib’s governance began to alarm many, including Indian intelligence.

In 1975, India’s RAW chief, R.N. Kao, personally warned Mujib about the threat to his life, but Mujib dismissed the warning. On August 15, 1975, a group of military officers stormed his residence, killing Mujib and most of his family members. Within days, many pro-India leaders were also killed. For India, this was a significant blow. Khondaker Mostaq Ahmed, a former ally of Mujib, took power, and it quickly became clear that a Pakistan-friendly government had taken charge. Pakistan, China, and Saudi Arabia grew closer to the new government, and by 1976, General Ziaur Rahman had seized control of Bangladesh.

Zia’s regime was characterized by the acceptance of Bangladesh as a non-Islamic republic, but suspicions between Dhaka and New Delhi continued to fester. Zia resumed support for insurgent groups in India’s Northeast and raised issues such as water disputes at global platforms like the Non-Aligned Movement. He also strengthened ties with China and Pakistan, pushing Bangladesh further away from India.

Experts believe India’s policy mistakes contributed to this shift in Bangladesh’s stance. India’s decision to support Mujib, despite his authoritarian tendencies, harmed its image in Bangladesh. The country’s singular focus on backing Mujib, sidelining others, cost India dearly. Over time, Bangladesh’s political landscape shifted, and with it, its relationship with India.

This period marked a complex chapter in India-Bangladesh relations, demonstrating how international ties can quickly unravel under the pressure of internal strife and foreign policy missteps.