India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasised the country’s dedication to fostering good relations with its neighbours, particularly Bangladesh, despite growing concerns over the worsening law and order situation there.

“We always strive to maintain strong ties with our neighbours because, as former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said, we can change friends but not our neighbours. So, we are committed to good relations with Bangladesh,” Singh told IANS.

India has been closely observing developments in Bangladesh under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which took over following the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League administration in August 2024.

The Yunus-led government has drawn sharp criticism for allegedly pardoning Islamist extremists previously convicted of serious crimes, raising alarm in New Delhi.

During a press briefing on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal outlined India’s stance: “We support a stable, peaceful, inclusive, and progressive Bangladesh where issues are addressed through democratic processes and inclusive, participatory elections.” He expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation, noting, “The release of violent extremists sentenced for grave offenses has further aggravated the law and order challenges.”

India’s apprehensions have been conveyed directly to Bangladeshi authorities. In December, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka to highlight New Delhi’s worries about the safety of minorities. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had urged Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain to avoid normalizing terrorism, underscoring its importance for bilateral ties.