The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned the Indian envoy, expressing concern over the security of Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India following recent protests outside its establishments in New Delhi and West Bengal. Dhaka said it viewed the incidents as a serious breach of diplomatic norms and sought assurances on the safety of its missions and personnel.
In a statement, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said it “condemns acts of premeditated violence or intimidation against diplomatic establishments”, adding that such actions “endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel and undermine the principles of mutual respect and the values of peace and tolerance”.
The diplomatic move coincided with a large protest near the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi by members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and other Hindu groups. The demonstrators were protesting alleged atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and the recent mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das. Visuals from the scene showed protesters breaching barricades, forcing police to use batons to disperse the crowd.
India–Bangladesh relations have been under strain in recent weeks, largely linked to the fallout from the ouster of former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in exile in New Delhi. Last month, a Bangladeshi court sentenced Hasina to death for her alleged role in the deadly violence during the 2024 student-led uprising.
Following the verdict, India said it “remains committed to peace, democracy, inclusion and stability in Bangladesh”, while Dhaka has been pressing New Delhi to hand over the former prime minister, whom it describes as a fugitive.
Ties worsened further after India last week summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah to lodge a protest over what it described as a deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh and concerns about threats to the Indian mission in Dhaka.
One trigger for India’s move was a controversial speech by Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of the National Citizen Party. Speaking at a Dhaka event organised by Inqilab Mancha, Abdullah claimed Bangladesh could shelter separatist forces from India and potentially cut off the country’s seven northeastern states from the rest of India.
The event was held in the backdrop of the shooting of Inqilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who was critically injured in an attack on December 12 and later died during treatment in Singapore on December 18. Hadi’s death triggered widespread unrest across Bangladesh, including mob violence and arson attacks on media offices. On Monday, another student leader, Motaleb Sikder, was also shot at by unidentified assailants.
Bangladesh cited the protests outside its missions while summoning the Indian envoy, referring specifically to what it described as vandalism at the Siliguri visa centre on December 22 and the demonstration in New Delhi on December 20.
India, however, rejected what it called “misleading propaganda” in sections of the Bangladeshi media regarding the Delhi protest. New Delhi said the demonstration against the “horrendous killing” of a Hindu youth was brief and posed no threat to the security of the Bangladesh High Commission.
Amid the escalating tensions, Bangladesh has reportedly suspended visa operations in Delhi and Siliguri, citing security concerns. Similar announcements were made by the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Tripura after protests were held outside the mission there, according to reports.
