New Delhi, Dec. 27 -- The current unrest in Bangladesh poses a pressing geopolitical question: is the country drifting out of India's strategic orbit? A significant rift emerged in August 2024 when Sheikh Hasina-long the political cornerstone of India-Bangladesh relations-was removed from power. This followed an uprising in which student protests over employment quotas escalated into widespread violence against her government, ultimately forcing her to flee and seek shelter in India.

Since Hasina's departure, Bangladesh's politics have been shaped by a volatile mix of nationalism, Islamic fundamentalism, and growing anti-India sentiment. Violence flared again after the killing of radical activist Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in ...