Dhaka, Bangladesh – Amid allegations of Indian interference in national elections, there are calls to boycott Indian products in Bangladesh.
Last week, suppliers to Indian consumer goods giant Marico were given the cold shoulder in Dhaka's Pantapas area. Grocery stores, typically eager to stock shelves with products such as hair oil, cooking oil and body lotion, refused new arrivals.
“Sales of Marico's best-selling parachute oil have plummeted to almost zero in recent weeks,” said Aman Ullah, a local shopkeeper. “Indian products are not moving at all. We have unsold inventory and there are no plans to restock it.”
Another shop owner, who requested anonymity, revealed the deep reason for this: “I don't want to sell Indian products anymore.'' He cited a YouTube video advocating a boycott of Indian products, which he wholeheartedly supported.
Smoldering anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh has boiled over the past decade, reaching a climax in public places such as last year's celebrations in Dhaka after India lost the Cricket World Cup final.
But after last month's general election in Bangladesh, in which Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina secured a fourth term as opposition parties boycotted the vote, a massive “India Out” campaign alleging Indian interference in Bangladeshi politics began. started.
The Bangladeshi diaspora and rebel groups have fueled this anti-India movement and advocated a boycott of Indian products. The move mirrors a similar movement in the Maldives, where Mohamed Muiz used anti-India sentiment to win the presidential election.
In Dhaka, the campaign was launched against the backdrop of India's traditionally strong ties with Hasina's government and tense relations with the opposition, with many believing India supports the status quo.
Pinaki Bhattacharya, an exiled Bangladeshi doctor who fled government harassment charges in 2018, is part of this burgeoning social media movement that accuses India of interfering in Bangladesh's recent elections to keep Hasina in power. He has emerged as a central figure.
Bhattacharya launched the #BoycottIndia campaign in mid-January through his more than 2 million followers across social media platforms, calling on them to join “this monumental effort”. His call, which emphasized his love for his country and his determination to free himself from perceived bondage, resonated with thousands of people.
Anti-India movements proliferated online, fueled by user-generated content. Photos of crossed-out Indian products such as Amul butter and Dabur honey are being circulated along with barcode identification tips to boycott these products. One post of his highlighting the 890 prefix used in barcodes on Indian products garnered him more than 1,000 shares, demonstrating the movement's online reach.
Why did this campaign attract so much attention?
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka declined Al Jazeera's request for comment on the anti-India campaign.
At the forum, held in Mumbai on January 30 with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, participants highlighted changing regional dynamics, particularly the growing power of key rival China over neighboring countries such as Bangladesh and the Maldives. He expressed concern about India's foreign policy.
Jaishankar downplayed concerns about foreign policy flaws but acknowledged the reality of competition. He pointed out that China's geographical proximity naturally gives it influence over neighboring countries such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Mohammad Arafat, deputy minister of information and broadcasting and ruling Awami League lawmaker, also dismissed the concerns, saying the unprecedented fact that the ruling government is in a fourth term has placed Bangladesh in the global spotlight.
“If I have to talk about other countries' interest in our local politics, the first one I would mention is the United States, which declared a visa-restrictive policy based on the Bangladesh elections. “We have publicly stated that the election is an internal matter and India has no say,” President Arafat said.
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader told Al Jazeera that the “India Out” campaign is being run by opposition parties that did not participate in the elections and blamed “India” for their misfortunes.
“They are [the opposition parties] Let's have the trump card of hitting India if anything goes against India,'' Quader said, adding, “I don't think the common people of Bangladesh are supporting this campaign. I know it’s not against people’s interests.”
Meanwhile, the growing anti-India movement is also affecting Bangladesh's domestic political situation, raising concerns that it could destabilize Bangladesh's economy and affect regional relations.
The boycott movement is being promoted by the Gono Odhikar Parishad, an emerging political force affiliated with the opposition party led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). “We all must launch an 'India Out' campaign,” party leader Nurul Haque Noor declared at a recent rally in Dhaka, alleging India's interference in recent elections.
BNP International Affairs Secretary Rumin Farhana told Al Jazeera that Bangladeshi people have never liked India's interference in Bangladeshi politics. “It is now clear that India has done everything possible to stay in power since 2014,” she claimed.
Anger against India reached a boiling point in Bangladesh after Hasina's Awami League won a landslide victory in the January 7 elections, winning 223 of the 300 seats in parliament. Critics argued that the process lacked legitimacy due to opposition boycotts and the presence of a large number of Awami League-backed independent candidates, raising questions about the fairness of the vote.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed the results, congratulating Hasina and “the people of Bangladesh on a successful election.” In contrast, Western governments expressed reservations, highlighting the boycott and the lack of a strong opposition presence.
Farhana said anti-India public opinion in Bangladesh goes beyond politics. “Border destruction, unresolved diversion of 53 rivers including Teesta, trade deficit are all impacting it,” she said.
According to human rights group Odhikar, around 1,276 Bangladeshis have been killed and 1,183 injured by Indian border forces since 2010. Additionally, Bangladesh's large trade deficit with India, as well as 53 transboundary river watershed agreements that have remained unresolved for decades, all raise concerns about Bangladesh's sovereignty and economic independence.
Ali Riaz, a distinguished professor of politics and government at Illinois State University, told Al Jazeera that India's unconditional support for Awami League and Hasina during the 2024 elections created a sense of “national disdain” among many people. He said the question arose as to whether his sovereignty had been violated.
However, Sreerada Dutta, a professor at the Jindal School of International Studies in Sonepat, India, refutes India's claim of “unconditional support” and says the Awami League is “even if India has expressed its support” “We were creative in going through the motions.” [had] Disagree[d] It's about recognizing elections. ”
“China and many other countries congratulated Prime Minister Hasina immediately after the election, but would it make any difference if India did not?” she asked.
economic impact
Meanwhile, analysts said the boycott of Indian products could have a major impact on economic relations between the two countries.
India is a major exporter to Bangladesh, with annual trade volumes historically exceeding $12 billion. Additionally, Bangladesh is highly dependent on India for essential goods, and the two governments are currently negotiating annual import quotas for Indian agricultural products.
Munshi Faiz Ahmed, former chairman of the Bangladesh Institute of International Strategic Studies, a government-funded think tank, called the anti-India campaign a “political stunt” and said the economic impact of boycotting Indian products would be even more severe.Al Jazeera told. For Bangladesh.
“I don't think any rational Bangladeshi would choose to join this campaign. India is our neighbor and we are highly dependent on India for essential goods such as rice and onions. Geography We depend on it because we can get these products at the cheapest price because of our proximity to the country,” said Ahmed, adding that sourcing these products from elsewhere would cost much more.
Australia-based economist Jyoti Rahman told Al Jazeera that the “India Out” movement could be politically important in that it “sends a strong message to Indian policymakers” about growing discontent in Bangladesh. “The economic impact is not so clear,” he said. cut”.
Rahman pointed out that although Bangladesh is India's fourth largest export destination, it still accounts for about 3.5% of India's export market. “Even if all exports to Bangladesh stop, it will not have a major impact on the Indian economy as these products will find markets elsewhere,” Rahman said.
Meanwhile, one-fifth of Bangladesh's imports come from India, including essentials such as cotton, grains and agricultural products such as onions for the garment manufacturing sector, he said. “[Looking at] Other sources of import of these products could further stimulate inflation,” Rahman said.
But he highlighted the potential political effects of boycotting non-essential goods such as tourism, cultural imports such as Bollywood films, and consumer products, which he said could benefit domestic industry.
Bangladesh's overwhelming dependence on India also means that “Indian companies become vulnerable if such a move gains momentum and support,” Riaz said.
Even if the economic impact is limited or not immediate, the boycott will contribute to the public debate on India's role in Bangladeshi politics and highlight the unequal relationship, he said. “This is just as important.”
Additional reporting by Abu Jakir
