For decades, hostile propaganda has attempted to paint India as an overbearing regional power exploiting Bangladesh on issues such as water sharing and regional politics. Yet the historical record tells a very different story. From the birth of Bangladesh in 1971 to modern-day river management, energy cooperation, disaster relief, trade and connectivity, India has consistently acted as a partner and stabilizing force rather than an exploiter. At a time when radical and anti-India elements are trying to poison public opinion in Bangladesh, it is important to separate evidence from political narratives.

The foundation of India-Bangladesh relations itself was built on sacrifice. In 1971, when the Pakistani military unleashed brutal repression in East Pakistan, nearly 10 million refugees fled into India. India absorbed this humanitarian burden, established hundreds of refugee camps, and provided military and diplomatic support to the Bengali liberation movement. India’s intervention ultimately helped create Bangladesh as an independent nation. Even historical archives and refugee documentation acknowledge India’s massive humanitarian commitment during the Liberation War.

This is not the behaviour of a country seeking to dominate or exploit its neighbour. A truly exploitative state would have used Bangladesh’s vulnerability to impose permanent military or territorial control. India did neither. Indian forces withdrew after the war, and New Delhi recognized that a stable, sovereign Bangladesh was essential for regional peace.

The water-sharing issue, often weaponized by anti-India........

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