Panel flags extremists stoking anti-India sentiment after fleeing from Bangladesh jails

A parliamentary committee on External Affairs has sounded a strong warning over the escape of prisoners linked to terrorism and extremist violence in Bangladesh during last year’s unrest, cautioning that the fallout poses direct security risks for India, particularly in the North-East.

In its report on the future of India–Bangladesh relations, the committee, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, said it was deeply concerned that several individuals charged with or convicted of terrorism and extremist violence fled custody during jail breaks amid the chaos witnessed in Bangladesh in July and August last year.

The panel was informed that many of these elements were now actively fuelling anti-India sentiments and narratives within Bangladesh. It warned that such activities could aggravate instability and trigger serious law-and-order challenges, with potential spill over effects in India’s border states.

The observations assume added significance as Bangladesh is once again witnessing chaos and mob violence, heightening concerns in New Delhi over regional stability and security along India’s eastern frontier.

“The Committee note that this poses a risk of further instability and law-and-order challenges with implications for India’s North East,” the report said, underlining the need for sustained vigilance by Indian security and intelligence agencies.

It urged the Centre to closely monitor the activities of these individuals and engage proactively with Dhaka to ensure that such developments do not adversely impact India’s internal security, especially in the sensitive north-eastern region.

Beyond physical security threats, the panel flagged a sustained campaign of misinformation and anti-India rhetoric in sections of Bangladeshi media and on digital platforms, saying this has created serious perception challenges for New Delhi.

The Ministry of External Affairs has also informed the committee that it was the nodal body for addressing hostile narratives through coordinated efforts involving multiple ministries and agencies. However, the panel said the speed and reach of digital misinformation necessitated a more institutionalised and specialised response.

In a key recommendation, the committee called for setting up a dedicated Strategic Communication and Perception Management Unit within the MEA’s External Publicity and Public Diplomacy (XPD) Division, working in close coordination with the Ministries of Home Affairs, Defence and Information & Broadcasting.

The proposed unit would monitor and analyse hostile narratives, disseminate verified information, counter anti-India propaganda and strengthen India’s soft-power outreach, particularly in the neighbourhood.