India summons Bangladesh High Commissioner for second time in a week amid strained ties
On December 17, India's Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah, citing security concerns around the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
India on Tuesday summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah for the second time in a week, amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours. Hamidullah arrived at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) shortly after being called in.
Bangladesh summons Indian envoy
The latest development came just hours after Bangladesh summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma in Dhaka to express "grave concerns" over the security of Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam had summoned the Indian envoy to the Foreign Office.
Earlier in the day, in a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that Verma was conveyed Dhaka's "grave concern over the regrettable incidents" outside the perimeter of the Bangladesh High Commission and the High Commissioner's residence in New Delhi on December 20, 2025, and the "acts of vandalism at" its Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22 by "different extremist elements."
"Bangladesh also expressed deep concern over violent protests staged outside the premises of the different Diplomatic Missions of Bangladesh in India," the statement said.
The statement said Bangladesh condemns such acts against diplomatic establishments, "which not only endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel but also undermine the principles of mutual respect and values of peace and tolerance."
Riaz Hamidullah was summoned on December 17
Earlier on December 17, MEA had summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Hamidullah, citing security concerns around the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
India's action was followed after certain extremist elements announced plans to hold protests around the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
The MEA said that 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," it said shortly after summoning Hamidullah.
Bangladesh Protests
Bangladesh has witnessed a fresh wave of unrest following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi last week. Hadi was a prominent face in the anti-government protests that toppled Sheikh Hasina's government.
Some of the protesters last week also trained their anger against India. Amid the fresh protests, a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was killed in Bangladesh's Mymensingh.
On December 19, Das was lynched to death and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Bangladesh. Das was a factory worker in Mymensingh city.
At least 12 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder.
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