Friday, 19 December, 2025
Bangladesh police on Thursday prevented demonstrators from marching towards an Indian diplomatic mission, a day after India’s foreign ministry expressed concern over the “deteriorating” security environment in the country.
The frosty ties between the two neighbours have intensified since former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India following a student-led uprising last year. Dhaka has repeatedly sought her extradition to stand trial for alleged crimes, with Delhi stating that it is still examining the requests.
On Thursday, dozens of protesters attempted to march towards the assistant Indian high commissioner’s office in Rajshahi district, near the border with India. Miftahul Jannat, one of the organisers, said the plan was to stage a sit-in demanding the “repatriation of all the killers, including Sheikh Hasina.” The protest was halted by police, who assured the demonstrators that their demands would be forwarded to the authorities.
“We are not aware of any further planned demonstrations and hope the issue will be resolved peacefully,” Nashid Farhad, a senior officer with the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, told AFP.
This follows Wednesday’s attempt by another group of protesters to march towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. In response, India’s foreign ministry summoned Bangladesh’s top diplomat in New Delhi, warning that some “extremist elements” were acting in ways that jeopardised diplomatic security. The ministry urged the interim government under Muhammad Yunus to “ensure the safety of missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations.”
The latest tensions come after Hasina, 78, was sentenced to death in absentia by a Bangladesh court last month for crimes against humanity. The country of 170 million people is scheduled to hold general elections on 12 February, with Hasina’s former ruling party, the Awami League, banned from contesting.
India has also reportedly increased security measures at its diplomatic missions in Bangladesh, including deploying additional personnel and installing temporary barricades, amid concerns over potential escalations during protests.
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Bangladesh police on Thursday prevented demonstrators from marching towards an Indian diplomatic mission, a day after India’s foreign ministry expressed concern over the “deteriorating” security environment in the country.
The frosty ties between the two neighbours have intensified since former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India following a student-led uprising last year. Dhaka has repeatedly sought her extradition to stand trial for alleged crimes, with Delhi stating that it is still examining the requests.
On Thursday, dozens of protesters attempted to march towards the assistant Indian high commissioner’s office in Rajshahi district, near the border with India. Miftahul Jannat, one of the organisers, said the plan was to stage a sit-in demanding the “repatriation of all the killers, including Sheikh Hasina.” The protest was halted by police, who assured the demonstrators that their demands would be forwarded to the authorities.
“We are not aware of any further planned demonstrations and hope the issue will be resolved peacefully,” Nashid Farhad, a senior officer with the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, told AFP.
This follows Wednesday’s attempt by another group of protesters to march towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. In response, India’s foreign ministry summoned Bangladesh’s top diplomat in New Delhi, warning that some “extremist elements” were acting in ways that jeopardised diplomatic security. The ministry urged the interim government under Muhammad Yunus to “ensure the safety of missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations.”
The latest tensions come after Hasina, 78, was sentenced to death in absentia by a Bangladesh court last month for crimes against humanity. The country of 170 million people is scheduled to hold general elections on 12 February, with Hasina’s former ruling party, the Awami League, banned from contesting.
India has also reportedly increased security measures at its diplomatic missions in Bangladesh, including deploying additional personnel and installing temporary barricades, amid concerns over potential escalations during protests.
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