Bangladesh's foreign ministry has formally summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka to convey profound concerns regarding the adequacy of security arrangements for its diplomatic missions and consular services across India, signalling a significant deterioration in bilateral relations and highlighting mutual apprehensions over the protection of diplomatic personnel and premises in both countries.

This diplomatic action was precipitated by recent incidents, including a gathering of protesters near the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 20 that required police intervention for dispersal, alongside reports of vandalism at a Bangladeshi visa application centre in Siliguri, leading to the temporary suspension of visa processing operations in Delhi and several other Indian cities to safeguard staff and applicants.

At the core of the escalating tensions lies the ongoing asylum granted by India to deposed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled Bangladesh following the violent student-led uprising in 2024 and was subsequently sentenced to death in absentia by a domestic court for her alleged role in crimes against humanity during the suppression of protests that claimed numerous lives.

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Further aggravating the situation are inflammatory public statements from influential figures in Bangladesh, notably National Citizen Party leader and former student protest coordinator Hasnat Abdullah, who issued warnings during a Dhaka event that Bangladesh possesses the capability to harbour separatist elements targeting India's northeastern region—referred to as the "Seven Sisters"—potentially severing these states from the mainland in response to any perceived interference.

Although both governments continue to affirm their adherence to international diplomatic norms and obligations under the Vienna Convention, the reciprocal summoning of envoys in recent weeks underscores a deepening crisis of trust, compounded by Bangladesh's persistent demands for Hasina's extradition, concerns over minority community safety, and broader implications for regional stability amid ongoing political turmoil in Dhaka.

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