India must work with the powerful in Bangladesh or those behind those powers because stability in neighboring countries has a direct impact on the security situation in northeast India.

“Our main concerns are twofold: first, Bangladesh's territory must not be used in a way that is contrary to its (India's) interests, and second, the security of Hindus and other minorities in the neighbouring country must be ensured,” said the former ambassador to Bangladesh.

Shringla also said that the recommendations in this report are preceded by three key facts: it remains unclear who is currently responsible for policy-making in Bangladesh, there is palpable anti-Indian sentiment in the neighbouring country and, finally, there is a lack of economic stability and job creation.

The report will be submitted to the Prime Minister's Office and the National Security Advisor for implementation, former retired Lieutenant General RP Kalita of the Eastern Command said at the event.

Former Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh RK Mathur said care was taken to ensure that the recommendations were implementable and acceptable to all classes and ideologies as the neighbouring country was undergoing socio-political upheaval.

The recommendations are divided into short-term, medium-term and long-term measures to ensure a phased approach to policy-making on India's part that is acceptable to both sides, the former defence minister said.

Highlighting the recommendations, Assam's Chief Information Officer Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta said dialogue with all stakeholders was in India's core interest, particularly in addressing a possible refugee crisis in the northeast of the country, which shares a 1,885-km border with Bangladesh.

One cause for concern for northeast India, Mahanta said, is the disturbing developments: On August 6, an armed mob broke into the maximum security prison in Sherpur, Bangladesh, and freed over 500 inmates. In another prison break in Gazipur, 209 inmates escaped.

Those released include senior members of the Ansarul Bangla Team (ABT) and the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh (JMB), the former DGP said.

This is an extremely alarming situation, especially for Assam and Tripura, where several ABT and JMB modules have been busted. In 2022-23, 60 members of these groups were arrested in these states and more than 30 of them are from Bangladesh, he said.

This should set off alarm bells in India's security and law enforcement apparatus, stressed Mahanta, who is also Secretary General of SHARE.

Connectivity is a key pillar of India-Bangladesh relations and the wide range of road, rail, inland waterway and even air connectivity projects undertaken by the two countries is a testament to this, he added.

The report pointed out that such connectivity exposes northeast India to potential security risks as these portals could be misused by anti-India elements to infiltrate the region and create chaos.

The importance of Northeast India in relation to Bangladesh remains disproportionately high and we have highlighted the need for a differentiated policy perspective, Mahanta reiterated.

Nagaland University Chancellor Samudragupta Kashyap and cybersecurity expert Subimal Bhattacharjee moderated the event on Sunday evening.

Bangladesh's 76-year-old Prime Minister Hasina resigned on August 5 and fled to India following massive student protests against a controversial quota system for government jobs.

Subsequently, 84-year-old Nobel Prize winner Muhammad Yunus took the oath of office as chief adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh on August 8.

First published: August 19, 2024 | 5:15 p.m. IS