On the walls of Dhaka University, a slogan captures the political mood: “Delhi na Dhaka? Dhaka Dhaka.” The graffiti highlights the question — should it be Delhi [ruling] or Dhaka [ruling]?
The chant, which gained prominence during the July 2024 uprising that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, targeted her government, accusing it of maintaining power with support from India.
In Focus Podcast | Bangladesh elections 2026: Decoding the big themes and trends
With Ms. Hasina’s party, the Awami League, barred from contesting the February 12 election, the slogan and the sentiment behind it remain potent and have now been deployed as both shield and sword on the electoral battlefield.
As Bangladesh heads into a landmark election, anti-India sentiment is reshaping political discourse.
