India just another neighbour in post-poll Bangladesh? BNP, Jamaat manifestos explained

As Bangladesh approaches a pivotal electoral moment on February 12—national polls that will transition power from the interim administration to an elected government—foreign policy has re-entered domestic politics in a way unseen for more than a decade.

The manifestos of principal contestants Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh reveal not only alternative governing visions but also two distinct critiques of how Bangladesh has conducted itself internationally under the long incumbency of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, which lost power in August 2024 to a public uprising.

Neither the BNP nor Jamaat advocates rupture with India nor do these parties employ hostile or populist rhetoric. Yet, both their manifestos signal a decisive turn away from strategic deference towards what they describe as dignity, reciprocity and sovereignty-driven diplomacy.

The sharpest convergence between them lies in river-water sharing, framed not as a technical dispute but as a test of Bangladesh’s equal standing in the region. What differs, though, is tone, ideological framing and the instruments through which each party proposes to recalibrate India relations.

Since 2009, Bangladesh’s foreign policy has been characterised by unusually close alignment with India. Under Hasina as prime minister, Dhaka prioritised security cooperation, transit access and regional connectivity while shelving or softening up on disputes over Teesta river water-sharing, border killings and trade asymmetries.

This posture delivered tangible benefits. India became Bangladesh’s largest regional trade partner. Security cooperation reduced insurgent activity along the border. New transport corridors integrated Bangladesh into India’s Northeast connectivity plans.

But it also created a political backlash. Critics argued that Dhaka accepted symbolic inequality and substantive imbalance in exchange for political goodwill. The unresolved Teesta agreement became the most-visible symbol of that imbalance. It is this background that gives meaning to the manifesto language now adopted by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.

BNP: sovereignty through balance and transaction
The BNP frames foreign policy through the slogan “Bangladesh Before All”. This is not mere rhetoric. The manifesto repeatedly stresses on independence, dignity and national interest as organising principles, explicitly rejecting ideology-driven alignments.

The party commits to an independent and balanced foreign policy, no subservience to any power and restoration of Bangladesh’s dignity in international affairs. The implication is clear. The BNP views the current posture as imbalanced even if it avoids naming the Awami League directly.

India central but not privileged
India is implicitly central in the BNP’s worldview due to geography, shared rivers and history. Yet the manifesto carefully avoids celebratory language. Instead, it insists that relations with neighbours would be based on equality, mutual respect, reciprocity and non-interference.

This signals a shift from partnership language to state-to-state normalisation. The party’s commitment to reviewing “unequal treaties and agreements” is one of the strongest departures from the past decade. India is not named, but no serious reader can miss the reference to water, transit and energy arrangements signed since 2010.

The BNP elevates river-water sharing from environmental management to core national interest. It frames Bangladesh explicitly as a lower riparian state whose rights have been compromised. The manifesto calls for just, equitable and internationally recognised principles in water-sharing, alongside transparency and enforceability. It commits to revisiting existing arrangements using international water law.

This is significant for two reasons. First, it opens the door to diplomatic internationalisation of disputes like Teesta. Second, it signals that quiet bilateral management will no longer suffice if outcomes remain unchanged.

At the same time, the BNP remains cautious. There is no threat of escalation, no deadline politics and no naming of adversaries. The emphasis is transactional and corrective, not ideological.

Jamaat-e-Islami: Dignity through multilateralism
The Jamaat-e-Islami’s foreign policy language is ideologically distinct but strategically deliberate. Titled ‘A foreign policy based on mutual respect, justice and equal dignity’, the manifesto positions diplomacy as an extension of sovereign self-reliance. Unlike the BNP’s nationalist pragmatism, Jamaat’s framing blends moral language with strategic calculation.

India as one neighbour among many
India appears first in Jamaat’s list of neighbouring countries, but without special status. There is no separate India chapter, no reference to the historic friendship and no claim of strategic convergence. Instead, India is folded into a broader neighbourhood framework governed by fairness and reciprocity.

By avoiding India-centric language, Jamaat signals a desire to dilute bilateral asymmetry through multilateral engagement. The manifesto places heavy emphasis on international institutions, regional bodies and global norms. This is a familiar strategy in asymmetric relationships. Multilateral forums allow smaller states to offset power imbalances without direct confrontation. For India, this signals a Bangladesh that may increasingly raise water, climate and migration concerns in international settings rather than relying solely on bilateral goodwill.

A notable distinction is the Jamaat’s explicit prioritisation of relations with Muslim-majority countries. This does not imply antagonism towards India but it does suggest a deliberate rebalancing of diplomatic attention. Expanded engagement with Gulf economies, Turkey and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) states would reduce Bangladesh’s relative dependence on India for trade, labour markets and political support.

River water: Jamaat’s sharpest edge
Jamaat’s most-direct statement appears under water resources management, committing to all necessary diplomatic, legal and regional initiatives to secure Bangladesh’s rightful share of water from international rivers.

The phrase “rightful share” is loaded. It implies injustice and legitimises stronger tactics. Unlike the BNP, the Jamaat explicitly signals willingness to pursue legal and multilateral routes. This suggests a readiness to internationalise disputes if bilateral talks fail. The manifesto’s commitment to implementing the Teesta Master Plan, even without guaranteed upstream cooperation, further underlines a less patient approach.

What neither party says
Equally revealing are the silences. Neither the BNP nor Jamaat mentions any security alignment against India. There is no anti-India rhetoric and no call for cancellation of cooperation. This restraint suggests strategic calculation. Both parties appear keenly aware of economic interdependence and regional stability. Their critique is not of India as a state but of asymmetry as a condition.

Subscribe to India Today Magazine