Relations between India and Bangladesh have come under fresh strain after Dhaka summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma over alleged security concerns surrounding Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India. The move comes days after India suspended visa and consular services for Bangladeshi nationals, citing safety and operational issues.
The diplomatic flare-up follows widespread protests in parts of India, particularly in Kolkata, over the lynching of a Hindu worker, Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladesh. The incident reignited concerns in New Delhi about the safety of minorities in Bangladesh and prompted India to earlier summon Bangladesh’s envoy to convey its concerns over rising violence and instability.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, is facing significant internal unrest after the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The incident triggered nationwide protests, arson attacks on media offices and political properties, and heightened tensions across several cities. During the unrest, India’s Assistant High Commission in Chattogram was also targeted, raising alarm in New Delhi over the security of its diplomatic establishments.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has publicly criticised the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, accusing it of failing to maintain law and order amid escalating violence and political turmoil.
As both countries exchange diplomatic summons instead of engaging in dialogue, and with visa services still frozen, observers say India–Bangladesh relations are entering one of their most fragile phases in recent years. The situation highlights how domestic unrest and concerns over minority safety are increasingly spilling over into bilateral ties, raising questions about the immediate future of diplomatic engagement between the two neighbours.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
