February 18, Tuesday: In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the number of Bangladeshi women applying to marry Indian men, with 2024 witnessing the highest surge in the past five years. This rising trend fuels conversations around the notion that love transcends borders, and the sentiment of cross-border marriages between India and Bangladesh is becoming more prevalent.
As of December 2024, official records show that 100 Bangladeshi women sought legal approval to marry Indian men. This is a remarkable jump compared to 2023 when only 44 Bangladeshi women applied for such marriages. To put this into perspective, only 11 Bangladeshi men applied for permission to marry Indian women during the same period, underlining the growing inclination of Bangladeshi women towards Indian grooms.
Over the last five years, there has been a steady rise in Bangladeshi women marrying Indian men, particularly in the Indian state of West Bengal. In this region alone, around 410 Bangladeshi women have tied the knot with Indian men. In contrast, only 76 Bangladeshi men have married Indian brides and settled in Bangladesh, pointing to a clear gender disparity in cross-border marriages.
Why Are Bangladeshi Women Interested in Marrying Indian Men?
While the exact reasons for this increasing trend are not entirely clear, experts suggest that one significant motivation could be the opportunity to obtain Indian citizenship. As per Indian law, individuals can apply for Indian citizenship after seven years of marriage to an Indian citizen. This may be one of the driving factors behind the growing number of Bangladeshi women seeking Indian husbands.
Geopolitical Tensions: Bangladesh’s Internal Struggles and Criticism of the Yunus Government
On the geopolitical front, Bangladesh is facing rising political instability. The ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has accused the interim government led by Mohammed Yunus of turning the country into a “hub of terrorism and lawlessness.” Hasina’s harsh criticism follows allegations that Yunus’s government failed to address the violence during student-led protests against the government’s quota reforms last year, in which several police officers lost their lives. Hasina has vowed to return to power, promising justice for those affected and an end to what she termed the “terrorist government.”
Hasina contended that Yunus, who has admitted to his lack of experience in running a government, should refrain from governing, as his actions have led to increased violence and lawlessness in Bangladesh. She has made it clear that her primary goal is to restore peace and stability in the country, vowing to remove Yunus’s government and bring justice to the people of Bangladesh.
In summary, the increasing number of Bangladeshi women seeking to marry Indian men highlights a significant shift in cross-border relationship dynamics. The trend appears to be driven, in part, by the opportunity for citizenship and the growing preference for Indian grooms. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s internal political strife, as highlighted by Sheikh Hasina’s criticisms of the Yunus government, adds another layer of complexity to the region’s geopolitical landscape.
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