High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India M. Riaz Hamidullah. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
Hours after a radical group in Dhaka announced “March to Indian High Commission” on Wednesday afternoon (December 17, 2025), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi summoned the High Commissioner of Bangladesh Riaz Hamidullah and reminded him about Dhaka’s responsibility for ensuring security and safety of Indian mission and visa facilities in the neighbouring country.
The march was in protest against the alleged Indian interference in Bangladeshi politics, the radical group July Oikyo Mancho said earlier in the day.
“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 MEA said after Mr. Hamidullah was met by diplomats in the South Block.
The radical group called for March to Indian High Commission at 3 p.m. on Wednesday (December 17) from Rampura bridge of the city demanding “Return of Fascist Hasina, and other murderers, India’s proxy political party, and relentless conspiracy by Government officials”.
Soon after the announcement, Indian visa processing facility in Dhaka announced it will stop all operations at 2 p.m. Wednesday (December 17).
“We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” the MEA said.
The summoning took place a day after both sides marked Vijay Diwas on December 16, even as anti-India comments by multiple student leaders went viral on social media.
“We will not tolerate if terrorism is exported from India. Our enemies will not be safe if our security is harmed,” said Mahfuj Alam, a student leader who is campaigning for the upcoming elections in Bangladesh.
Mr. Alam was part of the interim government of Bangladesh till last week when he had resigned as the schedule of the election was announced. In another inflammatory speech Hasnat Abdullah, leader of National Citizen Party described India as a hostile country and threatened to “severe” northeastern India from the rest of the country.
The statements delivered in public rallies and on social media platforms further heightened tension that had spiked with the murderous attack on a right-wing student leader Sharif Osman Hadi on December 12, 2025.
Hours after the incident that left Mr. Hadi on life support, Bangladesh Foreign Ministry accused Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League leaders of launching “terrorist” attacks and asked India to prevent the assailants of Mr. Hadi from fleeing Bangladesh. India had issued a strong objection immediately.
“India has close and friendly relations with the people of Bangladesh rooted in the liberation struggle, and strengthened through various developmental and people-to-people initiatives,” MEA said on Wednesday (December 16).
Published – December 17, 2025 02:12 pm IST
