Modi’s Victory Day Silence on Bangladesh Underscores Strained Dhaka-Delhi Ties

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today commemorated Victory Day (Vijay Diwas)—the anniversary of the 1971 surrender of Pakistani forces—without once mentioning Bangladesh, an omission that highlights the current highly strained relationship between New Delhi and Dhaka.

In a post on the social media platform X, Modi paid tribute solely to Indian soldiers.

“On Vijay Diwas, we remember the brave soldiers whose courage and sacrifice ensured India had a historic victory in 1971,” he wrote. Modi praised the soldiers for protecting “our nation” and etching a moment of pride in Indian history, echoing similar remarks he made last year.

While the Indian Prime Minister conspicuously omitted mention of the nation whose liberation was the central outcome of the 1971 war, the Foreign Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, adopted a warmer diplomatic tone.

Jaishankar extended formal greetings to Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain and the people of Bangladesh on the occasion of Bijoy Dibosh (Victory Day).

The diplomatic tension has been palpable since the ouster of the Awami League government on August 5 last year. The primary source of friction remains the presence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry has written to India on two occasions—once in December last year and again in November this year—seeking the extradition of Hasina following the International Crimes Tribunal handing her a death sentence.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has simply stated it will “look into the matter.” External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has previously stated that Hasina went to India “under certain circumstances” and her return was “up to her to make up her mind.”