Bangladesh under the leadership of Interim Adviser Muhammad Yunus is trying to fish in deep water. Yunus, with support from the United States, is pursuing long-held ambitions, including establishing a U.S. military base in Bangladesh.
While Yunus was previously associated with the U.S. Democratic Party, he has now aligned with Republican interests, particularly under President Donald Trump. The U.S. has long sought a military foothold in Bangladesh to monitor the Indo-Pacific region, including India and China. Previous Bangladeshi leaders, such as Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina, resisted these efforts, but Yunus is more accommodating.
The U.S. influence in regions like Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Bandarban, and St. Martin’s Island is worth monitoring. Under the guise of humanitarian corridors, the U.S. has established control over these areas. Though there is no official evidence supporting claims that Bangladesh has ceded control of St. Martin’s Island to the U.S. AFP Fact Check
Yunus’s interim government’s approach to law and order, increased repression and a climate of fear had surpassed that of previous administrations. Today India’s security is at risk due to potential instability in Bangladesh and it is high time for India to intervene, drawing parallels with past conflicts. India should take non-military measures, such as economic sanctions and visa restrictions, to pressure the Bangladeshi government.
In summary, it will be right to assert that there is a deep skepticism toward Muhammad Yunus’s interim government, as it as heavily influenced by U.S. interests and posing a threat to regional stability, particularly concerning India’s security.