Friendless in the neighbourhood

The ignominious end to Sheikh Hasina's long tenure as Bangladesh's Prime Minister has left the country's future uncertain.

- MIHIR S SHARMA

And it has left India isolated in South Asia.

There can be disagreements as to why Indian policymakers chose to support Ms Hasina as fervently as they did, even after it became clear that her popularity was fast eroding. But the fact is that they did, and thereby have left IndoBangladesh ties in a shambles.

One national government's apparent support for another country's leader would be, in most cases, an error of judgement ― - but one that might also be relatively straightforward to correct. However, the relationship between India and Bangladesh is somewhat more complicated, given that it implicates the choices that Bangladesh's citizens will make about their own state's ideological direction.

When India is seen across the border as an impartial, objective neighbour that is willing to assist when necessary and requested but otherwise views Bangladesh as an equal partner, then that creates a political climate within that country in which the spirit of 1971-cultural independence and secular nationalism - is honoured. A political environment, however, in which India is seen as a meddling threat will also be one which retreats into a more insular, religioustinted flavour of nationalism.