Dhaka, Jan 28 (.) Bangladesh interim govt Foreign Affairs Advisor, Touhid Hossain, said Wednesday that neither the Indian diplomats, nor their families currently stationed in Bangladesh, face any kind of security risks, dismissing any notions of concern whatsoever.
Speaking to the media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, he said:
“There is no concern. And as for signals – I don’t really understand that. This is entirely their own matter,” dismissing speculation that Indian diplomats were sending back family members due to security concerns.
When asked whether the move indicated any security warning, he said, “They can ask their employees’ families to leave at any time.”
Reportedly, Indian authorities had decided to make Bangladesh a “non-family” posting for its diplomats, citing security concerns. However, all five diplomatic missions of India in Bangladesh (Dhaka, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Chattogram and Khulna) continue operating at full strength.
Responding to queries on the matter, the Foreign Affairs Advisor remarked that he could not comprehend the reasoning behind the decision, and stressed that no incidents of note had occurred in Bangladesh that would endanger Indian officials or their families in any manner.
“There is no situation in Bangladesh where their officials or family members are in danger. Not a single such incident has taken place,” he said, though he did acknowledge Indian reservations, simultaneously arguing that perhaps the move underscored other intentions.
“They may have some concern in mind, or perhaps they want to convey a message – it could be. But I cannot find any clear message in this,” he added.
Hossain said that should Indian diplomats decide to send their families back home, Bangladesh would have no objection to the move, remarking “If they want to do so, there is nothing we can do about it.”
Referring to the overall law and order situation, he claimed that security in the nation was fine, and had not deteriorated, while acknowledging that minor incidents during election periods were not unusual.
He further noted that the current situation did not appear worse than in previous elections. Asked whether India had formally communicated any security-related concerns to Bangladesh, the foreign affairs adviser said no such information had been conveyed, and Bangladesh had not been told that Indian diplomats or their families were facing any danger.
Diplomat’s families stationed in Bangladesh were recalled to India due to increasing threats emanating from the burgeoning Islamic extremists in the country, rise of anti-India rhetoric, and the pro-Pakistan and pro-Islamist attitude of the interim govt.
The diplomatic relations between India-Bangladesh have fallen to an all-time low ever since the caretaker administration assumed office in August 2024, with pro-Islamist and anti-India rhetoric frequently emerging from state officials, the so-called activists of the July Uprising, as well as from the Islamic clergy in the country.
The resultant animosity has led to both sides heavily stepping up security at each other’s missions in New Delhi and Dhaka respectively, particularly after a violent protest took place outside the Indian High Commission in Chattogram last month, following the killing of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson and the country’s most prominent anti-India leader, Sharif Osman Hadi.
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