New Delhi/Agartala: Diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh hit a new low on Monday as the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi suspended all visa and consular services for an indefinite period. Similar suspensions were announced in Agartala (Tripura) and Siliguri (West Bengal), citing “unavoidable circumstances.”
Protests Trigger Consular Shutdown
The decision follows a series of demonstrations and security concerns at Bangladeshi missions across India:
- New Delhi: Members of the Akhand Hindu Rashtra Sena protested near the High Commission, chanting slogans against the recent lynching of a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladesh.
- Agartala: The Assistant High Commission suspended operations after protests by the Tipra Motha Party and other local groups.
- Siliguri: Services provided by a private operator were halted following reports of vandalism.
While India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed reports of a “security breach” in Delhi as “misleading propaganda,” Bangladesh’s de facto foreign minister, Touhid Hossain, contested this, alleging a serious security failure by Indian authorities.
Context: Unrest in Bangladesh
The friction is rooted in the volatile situation across the border following the death of radical student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who died in Singapore after being shot in Dhaka.
- Anti-India Sentiment: Protesters in Bangladesh have accused India of harboring Hadi’s killers, though Bangladesh Police later stated the assailants’ whereabouts are unknown.
- Retaliatory Actions: Last week, a mob attempted to storm the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chittagong, leading to the suspension of Indian visa services in that city.
- Minority Concerns: India has expressed deep concern over the “horrendous killing” of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu man lynched during the unrest. Bangladesh has rejected the characterization of this incident as a targeted attack on minorities.
A Relationship at an All-Time Low
Ties have remained severely strained since the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina government and the subsequent installation of the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. The suspension of visa services in three major Indian hubs is expected to significantly disrupt travel, medical tourism, and trade between the neighboring nations.