UPDATE - India summons Bangladeshi ambassador amid tensions over diplomatic security

​​​​​​​ADDS BANGLADESH’S REACTION ON INDIAN REMARKS ABOUT ELECTION

Ahmad Adil and SM Najmus Sakib

NEW DELHI/DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – India on Wednesday summoned Bangladesh’s ambassador as tensions flared over the presence of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India and protests in Dhaka targeting the Indian diplomatic mission.

The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said it summoned Bangladeshi High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah to convey “strong concerns at the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh.”

India denounced “plans to create a security situation” near the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, according to an official statement.

“We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” it added.

New Delhi said it “completely rejects the false narrative sought to be created" 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,” the ministry said.

In Dhaka, police stopped protesters, including leaders of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, as they marched towards the Indian diplomatic mission on Wednesday.

They were demanding the return of fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India last year during mass protests that ended her 15-year rule.

Last month, Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia on charges of crimes against humanity.

India’s move also came a week after Dhaka summoned an Indian envoy to express concern over allegedly allowing Hasina to undermine next February’s national elections.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission has scheduled parliamentary elections for Feb. 12 under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which was formed after the collapse of Hasina’s government amid mass protests in August 2024.

According to the UN, around 1,400 people were killed during the uprising.

Since then, Hasina and her Awami League party have rejected the election roadmap, calling it illegal and vowing to resist it.

- Dhaka reminds New Delhi of ‘farcical elections under’ Hasina

Separately, Dhaka on Wednesday rejected an Indian statement on the upcoming elections in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain told reporters in Dhaka that “India is giving us advice on this (election) ... it is completely unacceptable.”

"They know the government that was in power for the last 15 years, the government (of Sheikh Hasina) with which they (New Delhi) had a very good relationship. Then they didn't utter a word about those farcical elections," he said.

"Now, we are moving toward a good election. There is no need to give us advice at this moment," he added.

Hossain made the remarks after the Bangladeshi envoy in Delhi was summoned by the Indian External Affairs Ministry on the same day.

According to the ministry, New Delhi has “consistently called for free, fair, inclusive and credible elections, conducted in a peaceful atmosphere."

Tensions between the two neighboring countries were exacerbated after an attack on Bangladeshi political leader Sharif Osman Hadi, who remains in critical condition at a hospital in Singapore.