16/12/2025
Modi's Tweets Spark Debate in Dhaka Over Historical Narrative, Regional Influence
Zakaria Polash, Dhaka
As Bangladesh observes the Victory Day on 16 December, marking our nation’s hard-won independence in 1971, recent statements by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the same date over the past three years have reignited debate here about how history is remembered — and who gets centre stage.
For Bangladeshis, Victory Day is first and foremost our national celebration of liberation, sovereignty, and the sacrifices made by millions in our nine-month struggle against Pakistani oppression. But in New Delhi’s official messaging, the same date is framed differently — as India’s Vijay Diwas — focusing on India’s military success in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani war that surrounded the Liberation War and led to the creation of Bangladesh.
Modi’s Tweets: A Year-by-Year Look
On 16 December 2023, during the final year of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Today, on Vijay Diwas, we pay heartfelt tributes to all the brave heroes who dutifully served India in 1971, ensuring a decisive victory. Their valour and dedication remain a source of immense pride for the nation. Their sacrifices and unwavering spirit will forever be etched in the people’s hearts and our nation’s history. India salutes their courage and remembers their indomitable spirit.”
In 2024, he wrote:
“Today, on Vijay Diwas, we honour the courage and sacrifices of the brave soldiers who contributed to India’s historic victory in 1971. Their selfless dedication and unwavering resolve safeguarded our nation and brought glory to us. This day is a tribute to their extraordinary valour and their unshakable spirit. Their sacrifices will forever inspire generations and remain deeply embedded in our nation’s history.”
And on 16 December 2025, Modi’s message read:
“On Vijay Diwas, we remember the brave soldiers whose courage and sacrifice ensured India had a historic victory in 1971. Their steadfast resolve and selfless service protected our nation and etched a moment of pride in our history. This day stands as a salute to their valour and a reminder of their unmatched spirit. Their heroism continues to inspire generations of Indians.”
Across all three years, the tone and focus are consistent: Vijay Diwas is presented as “India’s historic victory”, with language that centres Indian military achievement and national pride.
Bangladesh’s Response: Why the Messaging Matters:
In Dhaka, politicians, scholars, activists and ordinary citizens have criticised this framing — especially as it omits explicit recognition of Bangladesh’s central role and sacrifices in our own liberation. In December 2024, the interim government’s Law Adviser Asif Nazrul publicly protested Modi’s message, stating: “I strongly protest. December 16, 1971, marks Bangladesh’s Victory Day. India was merely an ally in this victory, nothing more.”
Another organiser of the student movement that helped bring down the previous government also argued that by framing the event as India’s achievement, New Delhi’s messaging appeared to neglect the existence and agency of Bangladesh as a sovereign nation in the Liberation War.
Historical Narrative and Regional Hegemony:
For many Bangladeshis, acknowledging India’s support during the 1971 war is appropriate and appriciated. But the consistent emphasis on Indian victory language, without parallel acknowledgment of Bangladesh’s primary role, has been interpreted as part of a broader pattern in which New Delhi asserts its regional narrative and influence.
Critics here argue that such messages contribute to a hegemonic framing of South Asian history, where the experiences of smaller neighbours risk being overshadowed by India’s dominant geopolitical position. The retelling of shared historical events through an Indian lens — especially on symbolic occasions like 16 December — underscores how powerful states can shape collective memory, and how that framing resonates politically across borders.
After 5 August 2024: A Shift in Bangladesh’s Politics and Sentiment:
The regime change in Dhaka on 5 August 2024, when India's long-trusted ally Sheikh Hasina was ousted following prolonged mass protests, has dramatically altered Bangladesh’s political dynamics.
Since the transition, public sentiment in Bangladesh has grown more vocal and critical whenever historical events like the Liberation War are discussed in contexts that appear to prioritise Indian interests or perspectives over those of Bangladeshis. Analysts suggest that continued resistance to India’s unilateral framing of shared history is part of a broader push for Dhaka to reclaim and reaffirm its independent narrative of 1971 — one in which Bangladesh’s liberation is not merely an outcome of Indian military action, but the culmination of mass struggle, sacrifice and political agency.
Looking Ahead:
While India and Bangladesh continue to have deep cultural, economic, and diplomatic ties, the nuances of how shared history is portrayed remain a sensitive issue. Modi’s tweets over the past three years illustrate more than mere annual commemoration; they reflect how historical memory and national narratives continue to shape geopolitical relationships in South Asia.
For Bangladesh, vigilance over how its history is represented internationally — particularly by powerful neighbours — remains a central concern as the country navigates its evolving political landscape.
The writer is a researcher, journalist and author
