India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has acknowledged a growing trust deficit between India and the younger generation of Bangladesh, warning that New Delhi is facing one of its most serious strategic challenges in the region since 1971.

According to a recent report presented by the parliamentary committee of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Bangladeshi youth increasingly view India with suspicion and dissatisfaction. The report highlights that India’s regional influence in Dhaka has weakened, while the presence and impact of Pakistan and China have significantly increased.

The committee cautioned the Indian government that unless it urgently revises and corrects its policies, India risks becoming “irrelevant” in Bangladesh in the coming years.

The report further states that the political influence of the Awami League has diminished, particularly among younger citizens. It adds that Bangladesh’s youth are now questioning and reassessing India’s role in the creation of Bangladesh, which has historically been a cornerstone of bilateral relations.

According to the MEA assessment, these developments have pushed India-Bangladesh relations into a new and uncertain phase. The report explicitly warns that India is now confronting its largest strategic crisis in Bangladesh since the country’s independence in 1971.

Analysts believe the findings underline a shifting geopolitical landscape in South Asia, where changing public perceptions, regional competition, and evolving alliances are reshaping long-standing diplomatic relationships.