Tensions Escalate in Dhaka: Protesters Target Indian Mission, Clash with Police

Dhaka: A large group of protesters attempted to target the Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Wednesday, escalating security concerns for Indian diplomats in Bangladesh. Marching towards the mission, demonstrators clashed with police barricades before being stopped. Earlier, India had summoned the Bangladeshi High Commissioner in New Delhi to express concerns over the safety of its diplomatic mission.

Protesters Confront Police

According to local media reports, hundreds of protesters gathered near the Rampura Bridge under the banner of “July Unity” around 3:15 PM, demanding the return of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and others following last year’s unrest. As the procession moved towards North Badda, police erected barricades to prevent further advance. Defying the initial blockade, the demonstrators broke through, but a second, stronger police cordon ultimately stopped their progress. Some protesters then sat on the road, addressing the crowd via loudspeakers.

Diplomatic Response

In response to the escalating situation, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah on Wednesday morning. India expressed serious concern over extremist elements whose actions posed a threat to the security of its mission. The MEA rejected false narratives propagated by such groups and noted with regret that the interim Bangladeshi government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared substantive evidence with India.

Rising Anti-India Rhetoric in Bangladesh

The incident reflects growing anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh. National Citizen Party leader Hasnat Abdullah recently threatened to isolate India’s “Seven Sisters” region and provide shelter to separatist groups in India’s northeast if Bangladesh became destabilized. India has called for free, fair, inclusive, and credible elections in Bangladesh, while reminding Dhaka of the historically friendly ties rooted in the Liberation War.