Summary
- Bengal cancels state employee leaves, conducts 32 mock drills across 11 districts amid rising India-Pakistan tensions.
- Bangladesh urges calm and diplomatic resolution while expressing regional concerns over spillover effects.
- Mamata appeals for media restraint and warns digital content creators against misinformation during Operation Sindoor aftermath.
Bengal’s Wartime Pulse: Mamata’s Directive Amid Operation Sindoor Fallout
In an extraordinary display of administrative alertness, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rolled out a wartime protocol on May 7, 2025, aligning the state with India’s broader national security posture following Operation Sindoor. Her directive came hours after a virtual meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and after she publicly lauded the military strike with a “Jai Hind! Jai India!” post—underscoring a rare moment of bipartisan consensus in times of conflict.
Suspending all leaves for state employees and ordering immediate mock drills across 32 sites in 11 districts, Banerjee’s move signals that regional preparedness is now central to India’s internal defence strategy. What distinguishes Bengal’s response, however, is not just administrative speed but geographic significance: the state shares over 4,000 kilometres of international border with Bangladesh, and has proximity to Nepal and Bhutan.
While India braces for more retaliatory manoeuvres, Mamata’s message was resolute: Bengal has always “sacrificed for the nation,” and will continue to protect its soil while upholding democratic unity. In parallel, Dhaka’s measured response—citing regional peace, trade risks, and refugee concerns—added a layer of geopolitical complexity that cannot be ignored. As South Asia teeters on the edge, Bengal becomes more than a bystander; it’s a frontline of strategic calm and calibrated readiness.
In the wake of current military standoffs between India and Pakistan, the government of West Bengal has declared a state-level alert, asking all districts to prepare three months' worth of basic food items—June, July, and August. After a virtual meeting organized by the Union… pic.twitter.com/8fKLWATqoC
— India Wants Mamata Di (@IndiaWantsMB) May 12, 2025
Bengal Locks Down: Internal Vigilance and Public Messaging
- State-run schools shut; private schools urged to follow suit as precaution.
- Chief Secretary appointed nodal officer for coordination with central agencies.
- Control rooms in North Bengal activated for 24/7 disaster response.
Following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, Mamata Banerjee’s government swiftly transitioned into emergency mode. The Chief Secretary, Manoj Pant, was named as the nodal link between state and central agencies. At the core of this strategy was the northern belt—North Bengal—a zone particularly sensitive due to its borders with multiple countries.
Mamata’s team didn’t just prepare the government apparatus; it also reinforced civilian confidence. Control rooms are now operating round-the-clock, and emergency services, including disaster management and agricultural regulation, have been mobilised. She also took steps to prevent market exploitation, instructing the Agricultural Marketing Department to prevent price hikes—fearing hoarding in uncertain times.
This blanket of preemptive measures reveals a tactical understanding: even in a region not immediately affected by air raids or cross-border skirmishes, the psychological and economic impacts can be destabilising. Bengal’s administrative machinery is thus not just reactive, but anticipatory—primed for deterrence and resilience.
Bangladesh Responds: Diplomatic Balance and Strategic Anxiety
- Bangladesh Foreign Ministry urges restraint from both India and Pakistan.
- BNP’s Tarique Rahman issues statement condemning military actions.
- Trade, migration, and refugee management identified as core concerns.
Dhaka’s response was layered: formal restraint from its interim government and critical opposition statements from BNP’s acting chairperson Tarique Rahman. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stopped short of naming India or Pakistan, it made its concerns abundantly clear—regional instability threatens Bangladesh’s economic corridors, refugee burden, and border security.
At a time when Bangladesh is cautiously re-engaging with Pakistan in trade, the outbreak of kinetic military exchanges in South Asia has the potential to derail economic recalibration. Meanwhile, Rahman’s statement on X signalled rising political temperature within the country. He warned of escalations and appealed for diplomatic resolution, subtly positioning the BNP as a voice of moral reason.
Bangladesh’s reaction must also be read in the context of shared vulnerabilities. With large Rohingya camps and a delicate demographic balance, the country cannot afford additional cross-border instability. Mamata’s outreach to north Bengal and Dhaka’s rhetorical caution together illustrate that India-Pakistan military escalation 2025 is not just a bilateral flashpoint—it’s a regional shockwave.
The Price of Provocation: Information, Security, and the Media’s Role
- Mamata warns TV channels against inviting “uninformed voices” on debates.
- Misinformation flagged as a national security threat during wartime.
- Centre issues guidelines for responsible news dissemination.
In a sharp rebuke to sensationalism, Mamata Banerjee called on the media to exercise restraint. “This is not the time to increase TRPs. This is the time to protect the country,” she warned, making an unprecedented appeal to journalistic integrity in the middle of a geopolitical crisis.
The chief minister echoed concerns already raised by central agencies: social media is now a battlefield of misinformation. From fake videos of Rafale strikes to false ceasefire narratives, digital platforms are rife with volatility. Mamata’s demand for caution isn’t mere optics—it’s a recognition that panic, when digitally amplified, can lead to chaos in real life.
She referenced the Centre’s advisory on media conduct during wartime, which includes punitive measures for platforms or individuals spreading unverified content. In effect, the battlefield now extends to studios, feeds, and screens—and Bengal’s media is being urged to treat this moment not as a scoop, but a responsibility.
Lines Across Borders, Loyalties Within
From blackouts in Jammu to drone warnings in Punjab, Operation Sindoor has catalysed a new era of high-stakes regional readiness in India. Bengal, under Mamata Banerjee, has emerged as a model of preventive governance that blends administrative force with community outreach. Her stance—politically independent yet nationally aligned—signals that unity in times of war must transcend partisan boundaries.
Beyond Indian borders, Bangladesh’s diplomatic caution serves as a sobering reminder: the consequences of India Pakistan military escalation 2025 are neither isolated nor abstract. They ripple through economies, destabilise regional balances, and expose vulnerabilities often ignored in peacetime.
As South Asia navigates this fragile chapter, the coming days will test not just military muscle but political maturity—and Bengal, for now, appears ready on both fronts.
