As military tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following deadly cross-border strikes, a parallel conflict has erupted in the virtual world — this time involving citizens of a third country: Bangladesh.
Over the past hours, thousands of Bangladeshi social media users flooded platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), taking sharply divided stances in what is now being dubbed an “online proxy war.”
While some netizens expressed solidarity with Pakistan, citing past grievances and regional Muslim solidarity, others defended India’s right to retaliate against “cross-border terrorism,” especially after the recent attack on Hindu pilgrims in Pahalgam.
Screenshots of cyber “meme wars,” digital flag overlays, and coordinated trolling campaigns suggest both organised and spontaneous involvement by users. Several popular Bangladeshi influencers were seen engaging in debates, some receiving backlash for inciting communal sentiment.
In response to the virtual storm, an adviser of the interim government weighed in publicly, calling for restraint.
Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Adviser to the Youth and Sports Ministry as well as the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, has emphasised the need for strong national unity to safeguard sovereignty.
He made the statement in a Facebook post at 4am on Wednesday.
In his post, Adviser Asif wrote, “A strong sense of national unity and solidarity is essential to protect our sovereignty.”
Meanwhile, in a separate post last night, Hasnat Abdullah, Chief Organiser (South) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), also called on everyone to stay united in defence of the country’s sovereignty.
“Let us all remain united to safeguard national security and sovereignty,” Hasnat wrote in his post.
Experts warn that while the cyber activity may seem trivial, it could complicate diplomatic neutrality in a region where alliances are already under strain.