Feb 19 • 10:17 UTC 🇮🇳 India Aaj Tak (Hindi)

Erdogan secretly sent his son to Bangladesh, alarm bells ringing for India!

Erdogan's son visits Bangladesh amid the rise of the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, raising concerns for India regarding Turkey's growing influence in the region.

In the recent general elections in Bangladesh, despite the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami not securing power, it has formed alliances to win 77 seats, establishing itself as the largest opposition party. This rise positions Jamaat to significantly impact policy decisions made by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), further strengthening its influence in Bangladeshi politics. The emergence of Jamaat as a formidable political force could have wider implications not only for Bangladesh but also for neighboring nations, particularly India, as regional dynamics shift.

In a move perceived as a strategic alignment between Turkey and Bangladesh's Islamist factions, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent his son, Bilal Erdogan, to Bangladesh just 24 hours after BNP leader Tarique Rahman assumed office as Prime Minister. Bilal's arrival in Dhaka is viewed as timely and critical, symbolizing Turkey’s growing engagement with political groups in Bangladesh, especially amidst the latter's evolving political landscape. This diplomatic gesture is expected to foster closer ties between the two countries, highlighting Turkey's aspirations to expand its influence in South Asia.

The implications of these developments are significant, as political analysts suggest that Turkey’s backing for Jamaat-e-Islami could heighten tensions in the region. India, which has historically been wary of the rise of Islamist parties in its neighboring countries, is likely to view Bilal Erdogan's visit and the strengthening of Jamaat as direct threats to its own national security and regional stability. As Turkey seeks to nurture these connections, India may need to reevaluate its diplomatic strategies to counterbalance this growing influence from Ankara in the subcontinent, which could fundamentally alter the geopolitical landscape.

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