The victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal has not only changed the political atmosphere inside the state but has also triggered visible reactions across the border in Bangladesh. The developments unfolding after the formation of the new government under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari have exposed deep anxiety among radical Islamist groups and sections of the political establishment in Bangladesh. Protests have erupted on the streets there, while several clerics have begun issuing open threats against the newly elected Bengal Chief Minister and Hindu leaders in India.

The concern in Bangladesh is not merely about one political party replacing another in West Bengal. The larger issue for many radical and political elements appears to be the ideological transformation that the new administration represents. For years, the porous India-Bangladesh border remained a sensitive issue. Critics repeatedly alleged that illegal infiltration, cattle smuggling, fake currency circulation, and organised cross-border networks flourished because strict measures were not implemented on the ground. Mamata Banerjee’s government was often accused by opponents of resisting stronger fencing and border enforcement measures. With the BJP now in power, the administrative approach has changed sharply, and that shift is causing visible discomfort among extremist groups operating across the border.

Suvendu Government Clears BSF Fencing Plan That Was Delayed Earlier

Soon after taking charge as Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari placed border security among the top priorities of his government. In one of the earliest cabinet-level decisions, the state administration resolved to hand over the pending land required for border fencing to the Border Security Force (BSF) within 45 days. This move was aimed at completing the unfinished fencing work along several vulnerable stretches of the India-Bangladesh border.

Suvendu Adhikari made it clear that his administration would not compromise on matters linked to national security and border protection. According to the government’s position, once the fencing work is completed, it will significantly reduce infiltration, cattle smuggling, and several illegal cross-border networks that have operated in border regions for years. The administration believes that these activities were not merely criminal issues but were also linked to attempts at altering the demographic balance in certain districts bordering Bangladesh.

The issue of land allocation for fencing had remained pending during the tenure of Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress government. The matter eventually reached the Calcutta High Court. During the hearing, the High Court reportedly reprimanded the then state government for failing to provide the agreed land to the BSF. The court also imposed a penalty of ₹25,000 on a government official connected to the matter. The BJP has consistently used this episode to argue that border-related decisions were deliberately delayed for political reasons.

Bangladesh Reacts Sharply to Bengal’s Border Security Push

The decisions taken by the new Bengal government have generated sharp reactions in Bangladesh. According to several media reports, Humayun Kabir, who serves as the foreign affairs advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rahman, reacted to the fencing decision by saying that Bangladesh could not be intimidated by “barbed wire.” Reports also emerged claiming that the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) had been placed on alert following the developments on the Indian side of the border.

For the BJP government in Bengal, the fencing project is being projected as an issue directly connected to national interest and border security. However, political observers note that the same decision is being interpreted very differently in Bangladesh. The reactions from political figures, Islamist groups, and sections of the Bangladeshi establishment indicate growing nervousness over the possibility of tighter surveillance and stricter administrative control along the border.

Radical Groups in Bangladesh Issue Threats Against BJP Leaders and Hindus

Following the BJP’s rise to power in West Bengal, several radical Islamist groups in Bangladesh have intensified their protests and public campaigns against the new government. Demonstrations have reportedly been organised in different places, while extremist clerics have openly delivered inflammatory speeches targeting the BJP leadership and Hindus in India.

One such video that went viral on social media showed a cleric associated with the radical Bangladeshi organisation Insaaf Kayamkari Chhatra Shramik Janata delivering an aggressive anti-India speech. In the video, the preacher openly called for an attack on India with the support of Pakistan and Indian Muslims.

He declared, “India will be attacked, Inshallah. We will call upon Pakistan. It will not even take 3 hours for us to capture India. These 26 provinces of India will be crushed, Insha-Allah. And the Muslims of India are enough.”

The preacher also directly named Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari while issuing threats against them.

Continuing his remarks, he further stated, “If 40 crore (400 million) Muslims become angry, the Hindus of India will not be able to live. Suvendu, Modi, Rajnath Singh, Himanta and Yogi will have to apologise to Muslims.”

The circulation of such videos has raised serious concerns regarding radicalisation and the increasing use of provocative communal rhetoric by extremist elements in Bangladesh.

Threats Against CM Suvendu Adhikari Surface in Viral Video

Another disturbing video has also surfaced online in which a Bangladeshi Muslim man allegedly threatens West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The video was reportedly shared by a Facebook page named “The Daily Inquilab.” At present, investigators are examining the authenticity of the clip and the identity of the individual seen in it.

According to information being looked into by investigators, the man featured in the video is believed to be the father of an Islamist who was killed during the 2024 regime change operation in Bangladesh. In the viral clip, the individual uses abusive and violent language against Suvendu Adhikari while speaking in Hindi. He allegedly threatens to bury the Bengal Chief Minister at the border.

At the same time, Bangladeshi cleric Maulana Inayatullah Abbasi has also made controversial remarks linked to the political developments in Bengal. He stated that if Muslims were not safe in Bengal, Hindus would not remain safe in Bangladesh either. Reports further suggest that he has been attempting to provoke the Tariq Rahman-led government into threatening trade-related action against India.

The Real Meaning of ‘Poriborton’: Crackdown on Cross-Border Illegal Networks

The growing frustration visible in Bangladesh over the BJP’s political rise in West Bengal is closely connected to the realities of the long international border shared by the two regions. Bengal shares nearly 2,200 kilometres of border with Bangladesh, and several stretches had remained vulnerable for years because fencing and strict monitoring were incomplete.

Over time, these border areas allegedly became centres for illegal immigration, cattle smuggling, fake currency rackets, and radical operations. Critics of the previous state government repeatedly accused it of ignoring the security risks due to vote-bank politics and appeasement-based governance. Illegal immigration, they argued, slowly altered the demographic composition of several districts located near the border.

It was also alleged by BJP leaders that many of the illegal activities linked to Bangladesh were indirectly enabled because strict administrative action was not taken under the Mamata Banerjee government. The BJP has consistently maintained that political patronage and appeasement politics weakened border enforcement and allowed illegal networks to flourish unchecked.

Now, with the BJP assuming power in Bengal and promising tighter border management, concern is increasing among those who allegedly benefited from these cross-border networks. The strong reactions coming from radical organisations, extremist clerics, and even sections of the Bangladeshi establishment are being viewed in this broader context. There appears to be growing fear that a stricter administration in Bengal may finally disrupt the illegal activities and networks that had operated with relative ease for years.