Bangladesh forgetting India’s role in its birth, questions raised over growing hostility
New Delhi: Amid rising diplomatic and political tensions, questions are being raised over Bangladesh’s increasingly adversarial posture towards India, with many recalling the significant sacrifices made by ordinary Indians during the country’s liberation struggle in the early 1970s.
Critics argue that Bangladesh appears to be behaving like an “enemy nation”, seemingly forgetting the crucial support extended by India during its birth. During the 1970s, in the aftermath of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, lakhs of Indians contributed financially to the newly formed nation through small but sustained public levies.
In cities such as Bombay (now Mumbai), commuters paid an additional five paise on every BEST bus ticket for more than five years as part of the Bangladesh Relief Fund. Similarly, cinema-goers were charged an extra ₹0.25 per ticket, with the proceeds directed towards rebuilding the war-torn country.
During the 1970s, lakhs of people in India paid 5 paise extra on every bus ticket, for over 5 years as Bangla Desh Relief Fund. At cinema hall Rs.0.25 extra per ticket as relief to Bangla Desh. These were the contribution of our generation to help build a country in distress.… pic.twitter.com/7yEY03K8P2
— Maj Gen Harsha Kakar (@kakar_harsha) December 20, 2024
These contributions, though modest on an individual level, collectively formed a substantial public fund aimed at supporting Bangladesh during one of the most difficult phases of its existence.
The initiative was not limited to one city alone, but Bombay emerged as a prominent example of how ordinary citizens willingly participated in relief efforts for a neighbouring nation in distress.
Social media user Harsh Kakar recently recalled these measures in a post, stating that the additional charges on public transport and cinema tickets were a generational contribution by Indians to help establish Bangladesh after its independence.
He noted that the funds collected over several years reflected the deep emotional and political support India extended to the Bangladeshi people following the 1971 war.
Against this backdrop, recent developments in Bangladesh have triggered outrage in India. In a disturbing incident, a Hindu youth was brutally lynched in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district. Interim government chief Mohammad Yunus confirmed the arrest of seven persons in connection with the killing, which took place in the Bhaluka area.
The victim, identified as Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker, was allegedly assaulted by a mob on Thursday night. Police said he was accused of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad. After being beaten to death, the youth was reportedly tied to a tree and set on fire.
The incident has further intensified concerns in India over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh and has added to the growing perception that the neighbouring country is distancing itself from the goodwill and support it once received. Observers warn that continued hostility and communal violence could strain bilateral relations further, at a time when regional stability remains fragile.
