Indian National Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has cautioned that New Delhi should be ready for a future where no dependable friend remains in power in Dhaka.

In a recent opinion piece, Tharoor argued that the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election cannot be dismissed as a routine campus vote. Instead, he described it as a barometer of Bangladesh’s shifting political landscape.

According to him, the recent outcome reflects more than just a tilt toward Islamist fundamentalism—it signals deep-seated public disillusionment with both the Awami League and the BNP. Over time, he wrote, people have lost trust in these two dominant parties, creating a political vacuum that Jamaat-e-Islami has exploited by presenting itself as a “clean” alternative.

Tharoor observed that following Sheikh Hasina’s exit, the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been struggling through instability, creating fertile ground for Jamaat’s resurgence. He warned that the path is now open for Jamaat to make significant gains in the next general election, potentially emerging as a dominant force in a coalition or even a majority-led government.

Such an outcome, Tharoor stressed, would complicate India’s regional interests. A hardline administration in Dhaka could embolden anti-India groups in border regions with assistance from Pakistan’s ISI, while also heightening risks for Bangladesh’s Hindu minority community.

He urged New Delhi to closely monitor Bangladesh’s volatile political climate, maintain open dialogue with all emerging political forces, and prepare for a scenario where Dhaka no longer offers India a trustworthy partner in government.