NEW DELHI: India has reportedly asked dependents of Mission & Post officials in Bangladesh to return home as a precautionary step, according to ANI sources. However, they added that the the Indian Mission and all Posts continue to remain open and fully operational.Ties between New Delhi and Dhaka have remained strained since the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus assumed office following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024, with India continuing to flag concerns over the safety of minority communities., especially Hindus.
On January 9, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was continuing to see “a disturbing pattern of recurring attacks on minorities as well as their homes and businesses by extremists”, stressing that such incidents must be addressed “swiftly and firmly”. Relations faced another setback following the killing of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, which triggered anti-India protests. Hadi, a prominent figure in last year’s July uprising, was killed in December amid heightened political tensions, sparking unrest in several areas. Protests also erupted after the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a young Hindu factory worker who was lynched in Mymensingh after being falsely accused of religious defamation. Meanwhile, from exile in India, Sheikh Hasina blamed interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus for the instability, accusing the interim government of empowering extremists, failing to protect minorities and undermining ties with India.