India on Wednesday summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner to New Delhi to formally convey its serious concerns over what it described as a steadily worsening security situation in Bangladesh, particularly about threats directed at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the envoy was clearly informed about the activities of certain extremist groups that have openly spoken about creating an unsafe environment around India’s diplomatic mission in the Bangladeshi capital.
In its statement, the MEA noted that the High Commissioner’s attention was specifically drawn to “activities of some extremist elements who have announced plans to create a security situation around the Indian Mission in Dhaka.” India also pushed back strongly against what it called a “false narrative” being promoted by radical elements in Bangladesh in connection with recent developments. The ministry expressed disappointment that the interim government in Dhaka had neither carried out a comprehensive investigation into these incidents nor shared any substantive or verifiable evidence with Indian authorities.
The diplomatic move came a day after a provocative statement by a Bangladeshi political leader who threatened to “isolate the Seven Sisters,” a term used to describe India’s northeastern states. While the MEA did not explicitly reference this remark in its official communication, the timing of the summons underscored New Delhi’s unease amid rising hostile rhetoric.
The decision to call in High Commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah also comes against the backdrop of increasing anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh as the country heads toward elections. Bilateral relations have been under strain since the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government last year, with New Delhi closely watching political and security developments across the border.
On Monday, National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah, known for his outspoken criticism of India, issued a warning at a public rally that Bangladesh could provide shelter to separatist groups targeting India’s northeastern region if Bangladesh itself was destabilised. Referring to the Seven Sisters, he claimed that unrest in Bangladesh would inevitably spill beyond its borders and hinted at retaliatory measures if Dhaka perceived interference in its internal affairs.
The rally was held in the aftermath of an attempted assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, a radical leader of the Inqilab Mancha and a fierce critic of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The group has alleged possible links between India, the Awami League and the attack, claims that New Delhi has categorically denied.
In a parallel development, Bangladesh had earlier summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, seeking cooperation in the investigation into the attack and reiterating its demand for the swift extradition of Sheikh Hasina. Last month, Hasina was sentenced to death in Bangladesh on charges of crimes against humanity linked to last year’s unrest, which reportedly resulted in more than 500 fatalities.
Tensions between the two countries have further escalated in recent weeks following remarks by a former Bangladeshi army general, who suggested that Bangladesh would not experience “complete peace” unless India was broken apart. Retired Brigadier General Abdullahil Amaan Azmi, son of former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam, also accused India of deliberately fuelling instability within Bangladesh.
Under interim chief Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh has signalled a shift in its foreign policy posture, including warmer ties with Pakistan. At the same time, several Bangladeshi leaders have accused India of interference in domestic affairs, a narrative that has coincided with a visible rise in extremist rhetoric and greater political space for radical Islamist groups such as the Jamaat-e-Islami.
