In a move that underscores the severe deterioration in bilateral relations, India has officially designated Bangladesh as a "non-family" diplomatic posting and withdrawn the families of its officials from the country. This decision, which took effect at the start of the year, places Bangladesh in the same high-risk category as conflict zones like Afghanistan and Pakistan and comes just weeks before Bangladesh's pivotal national election. While Indian sources cited "security threats" and "increasing activities of extremist elements" as the reason, the action is widely seen as a dramatic indicator of the deep crisis between the two neighbors.
The core of the current hostility stems from the political upheaval of 2024. Following a deadly, student-led uprising that ousted her government, former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India, where she remains in self-imposed exile. Bangladesh's interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has repeatedly sought her extradition, a demand India has not acquiesced to. For many in Bangladesh, India's sheltering of Hasina, whose 15-year rule was widely seen as having enjoyed strong Indian backing is viewed as direct interference in their internal affairs and a refusal to respect their democratic revolution. This has fueled long-simmering resentment over what is perceived as India's overbearing influence.
Tensions escalated violently with the assassination of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader of the 2024 uprising and an outspoken critic of India. His death triggered massive protests, with angry mobs attacking and setting fire to the offices of major Bangladeshi newspapers The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, institutions accused by people of being pro-India. Compounding the fury, Hadi's supporters alleged that the main suspect in his killing had fled to India, a claim that further inflamed public sentiment.
This wave of anger has directly targeted Indian diplomatic assets. Protesters have pelted the Indian assistant high commission in Chittagong with stones, and security forces have had to prevent crowds from marching on the Indian high commission in Dhaka. In response, India has twice summoned Bangladesh's high commissioner to protest the security situation.
The diplomatic family withdrawal is just one symptom of a comprehensive breakdown. The two countries have engaged in tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and suspended visa services in several cities. Even cultural ties have suffered, as seen when Bangladesh refused to play T20 World Cup matches in India following a dispute over a cricketer's release.
Underlying these incidents is a significant shift in Bangladeshi public opinion. Analysts note that anti-India sentiment, while not new, has become a potent political tool. Radical elements have increasingly sought to dehumanize opponents by labeling them "pro-India," thereby justifying attacks on secular institutions, minorities, and the free press. With an election scheduled for February 12 and major parties like the Awami League banned from contesting, the political landscape is volatile. The worry among experts is that hardline groups may further exploit anti-India rhetoric, destabilizing the nation and creating what one Indian parliamentary panel called the "greatest strategic challenge" since 1971.