India on December 23, summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah for the second time in a week, as diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring countries continue to intensify. The fresh summon came just hours after Dhaka called in Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma, reflecting a sharp escalation in diplomatic exchanges over the safety of missions and the broader political climate in Bangladesh.
Officials said the latest development underscores the growing strain in bilateral ties following recent incidents involving diplomatic premises and the evolving political situation in Dhaka.
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry summoned Pranay Verma to convey what it described as “grave concern” over incidents outside the Bangladesh High Commission and the High Commissioner’s residence in New Delhi on December 20, as well as alleged acts of vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22.
According to Dhaka, these incidents were carried out by “different extremist elements,” and it also expressed deep concern over violent protests outside Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in various parts of India.
Within hours of that development, New Delhi responded by summoning Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah, marking the second such summon in a span of seven days.
During the earlier summon this week, India had lodged a strong protest with the Bangladeshi envoy over what it termed a “deteriorating security situation” around Indian diplomatic premises in Bangladesh.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said it had conveyed serious concerns about the activities of “extremist elements” that were allegedly attempting to create a hostile environment around the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and other Indian establishments.
“We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Indian missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” the MEA said in an official statement. It added that Hamidullah’s attention was drawn to public announcements and actions by certain groups that appeared aimed at engineering security threats around Indian diplomatic facilities.
The MEA also rejected what it described as a “false narrative” being propagated by extremist elements in the wake of recent developments in Bangladesh. Indian officials expressed dissatisfaction over the interim government’s handling of these incidents.
“It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents,” the ministry said, emphasising that New Delhi continues to support peace, stability and democratic processes in Bangladesh.
India reiterated its position that it backs free, fair, inclusive and credible elections in Bangladesh, conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, and maintains that instability or targeted hostility serves no one’s interests.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have come under visible strain since the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus assumed office in Dhaka. Diplomatic sources said New Delhi has been closely monitoring developments, particularly those related to internal security, political mobilisation, and the safety of diplomatic establishments.
The back-to-back summoning of envoys reflects a breakdown in quiet diplomacy, with both sides now formally recording protests and concerns through official channels.
While neither side has indicated any immediate retaliatory diplomatic action beyond the summons, analysts say the frequency and tone of the exchanges signal a hardening of positions. Summoning a high commissioner is typically viewed as a serious diplomatic step, short of recalling ambassadors or downgrading relations.
The fact that both countries have summoned each other’s envoys within hours highlights the sensitivity of the moment and the fragile state of bilateral engagement.
Officials on both sides indicated that diplomatic communication remains open, even as tensions persist. India has maintained that its concerns are rooted in international diplomatic norms and the Vienna Convention, which obligates host countries to ensure the safety of foreign missions.
