In the Indian subcontinent, it appears that portraying New Delhi as a villain has become a trend to gain power. In Maldives, the current President Mohamed Muizzu gained power by running an ‘India Out’ campaign. In Pakistan, the political parties often rake up India and Kashmir issues to gain votes. Now, the Bangladeshi opposition party is looking to play the same card to gain voters’ trust. Recently, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina retained power in Bangladesh by defeating the main opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Sitting out of power since 2009, the BNP has failed to make its space among the people of the country. Now, it’s looking to fuel enmity in the hearts of the Bangladeshi people against India to win the polls.The BNP seems to have drawn inspiration from the tactics of the ruling party in the Maldives, which initiated the “India-Out” campaign during the previous Presidential elections. It is alleged that the “India Out” campaign of Maldives President Md Muizzu received support from China. BNP’s social media activists, many of whom are based in Western capitals, are endeavouring to construct a narrative suggesting that the legitimacy of the January parliamentary elections was solely due to India’s influence.
Slamming the BNP for ‘India Out’ campaign, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has responded firmly to a faction of opposition leaders. Prime Minister Hasina criticized the BNP opposition for launching the ‘India Out’ campaign, stating that opposition leaders should first dispose of the Indian sarees present in their own homes.