“India wants good relations with neighbors, Bangladesh no exception”: Rajnath Singh

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has reaffirmed India’s commitment to maintaining strong and friendly relations with Bangladesh, just as it does with all its neighboring countries.

“India always wants to maintain good relations with its neighbors, and Bangladesh is no exception. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to say that we can change friends, but not our neighbors. So, we would like to maintain good relations with Bangladesh,” Rajnath said in an interview with IANS on Saturday.

While reaffirming support for Bangladesh, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has raised concerns over the country’s deteriorating law and order situation, citing the release of “violent extremists” convicted of serious crimes.

At a media briefing in New Delhi on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “India supports a stable, peaceful, inclusive, and progressive Bangladesh in which all issues are resolved through democratic means and by holding inclusive and participatory elections.”

However, Jaiswal pointed to an alarming rise in violent incidents in Bangladesh, reporting that over 2,374 cases occurred between August 5, 2024, and February 16, 2025. According to him, Bangladeshi authorities have only verified 1,254 cases, with 98% classified as “political in nature.”