Northeast remark, angry summons: What's stoking fresh tensions between India, Bangladesh

Since Hasina’s ouster, Bangladesh has experienced significant unrest, including targeted violence against minority communities, particularly Hindus

On Wednesday, India summoned Bangladesh high commissioner Riaz Hamidullah to express strong concerns at the deteriorating security environment in Dhaka. It also, in particular, pointed out activities of some extremist elements who have announced plans to create a “security situation” around the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh capital.

The diplomatic action was taken in light of the anti-India rhetoric by National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah, who had made a public speech threatening to isolate the Seven Sisters and provide refuge to Northeast separatists if Bangladesh is “destabilised”.

According to Bangladesh media reports, a group of protesters marching towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka's Gulshan area on Wednesday under the banner of “July Oikya” (July Unity) were stopped by the police. The protestors are demanding the return of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and others who fled during and after the July uprising last year. It came after threats against Indian diplomats, prompting India to summon Bangladesh's envoy.

“The Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, was today (December 17) summoned and apprised of India’s strong concerns at the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh. His attention was drawn, in particular, to the activities of some extremist elements who have announced plans to create a security situation around the Indian Mission in Dhaka,” the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Wednesday.

It said that India “completely rejects the false narrative” sought to be created by “extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh”.

“It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents,” the statement added.

“We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” the MEA said.

India-Bangladesh ties

Ties between India and Bangladesh have been under strain since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year during a student-led uprising. Hasina, whose Awami League government maintained close ties with India, fled to India, where she remains in exile.

Last month, the 78-year-old leader was sentenced to death in absentia by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) for "crimes against humanity" over her government's brutal crackdown on student-led protests last year.

Since Hasina’s ouster, Bangladesh has experienced significant unrest, including targeted violence against minority communities, particularly Hindus (who comprise about 8% of the population).

Data by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council suggests that 2,000 incidents of communal violence against minorities had taken place from August 2 to 20, 2024. This included the deaths of 9 Hindus and 69 attacks on places of worship and countless attacks on other minorities like Buddhists and Christians.

Minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written response to a query in the Lok Sabha in February, said “during the last two months (November 26, 2024 till January 25, 2025), 76 cases of incidents of attacks against Hindus have been reported in Bangladesh”.

"Since August, reports have cited deaths of 23 Hindus and 152 incidents of attack on Hindu temples in Bangladesh," he said in his response.

While relations remain strained, they showed signs of pragmatic engagement earlier in the year, with meetings between PM Modi and Muhammad Yunus in place.

On December 16, Bangladesh's Victory Day was celebrated with a cultural program at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Delhi, India. High Commissioner M Riaz Abdullah  stressed that Bangladesh and India share a mutually beneficial relationship, with a focus on prosperity, peace, and regional security. He noted the two countries' mutual interdependence, underscoring the importance of their partnership.

He said, "The whole of Bangladesh, and all of us, are committed to fulfilling the aspirations of our people, especially the younger generation. We have a very young demography... We believe our relationship with India is in our shared interest. We have mutual interdependence... We are fully focused on prosperity, peace, and security in the region."