The Crossbill Team
India on Sunday (December 21) strongly dismissed claims of a security breach at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, calling them “misleading propaganda”, while voicing deep concern over the “horrendous killing” of a Hindu man in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, an incident that has further strained already tense bilateral ties.
Responding to reports circulating in sections of the Bangladeshi media, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the facts surrounding the December 20 incident in New Delhi had been distorted.
“We have noted misleading propaganda in sections of the Bangladesh media on the incident,” he said.
Clarifying what transpired outside the Bangladesh High Commission, Jaiswal said, “about 20-25 youth gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on 20 December and raised slogans in protest against the horrendous killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, while also calling for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh.”
He emphasised that “there was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation at any time,” adding that police dispersed the protesters within minutes and that “visual evidence of these events is available publicly for all to see.”
Stressing India’s obligations under international law, Jaiswal said, “India is committed to ensure the safety of foreign Missions/Posts in its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention.”
He also noted that New Delhi was closely tracking developments across the border, stating, “India continues to keep a close watch on the evolving situation in Bangladesh.”
The protest in the Indian capital followed the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a garment worker who was lynched by a mob in Mymensingh on December 18, the same day violence broke out in several parts of Bangladesh following the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Das’s body was later hung from a tree on the divider of the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway and set on fire.
India has taken up the issue with Dhaka, Jaiswal said.
“Our officials remain in touch with Bangladesh authorities and have conveyed to them our strong concerns at the attacks on minorities,” he added, noting, “We have also urged that the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of Das be brought to justice.” Bangladeshi authorities have said investigations are continuing, with local media reporting that at least 12 people have been arrested so far in connection with the lynching.
According to Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Das had been forced to resign from his post as a quality supervisor at Pioneers Knitwear (BD) Limited by the factory’s floor in-charge, Mohammad Alamgir Hossain, before being handed over to an angry mob.
At a press conference at RAB-14’s Mymensingh office on Saturday, Commander Naimul Hasan said the blasphemy allegations levelled against Das were “extremely vague” and investigators were unable to establish what he had allegedly said.
Das’s brother, Opu Chandra Das, rejected the allegations outright.
“They claim my brother made derogatory remarks about religion, but there is no evidence. Even if he had said something and it was an offence, the matter could have been dealt with through legal channels. Instead, he was brutally murdered. I demand justice for those terrorists who killed him by making false allegations,” he told Prothom Alo.
Bangladesh’s interim government has described Das’s death as a “lynching” and said there is “no space for such violence in the new Bangladesh”, with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus assuring that those responsible “will not be spared.”
Diplomatic tensions have escalated sharply following the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old spokesperson of the platform Inqilab Mancha and a prominent figure of the July 2024 student-led uprising that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hadi was shot in the head by masked attackers on December 12 while launching his election campaign in Dhaka and died six days later in a Singapore hospital. His death triggered intense anti-India sentiment, with protesters alleging that the assailants had fled to India.
Soon after Hadi’s death was confirmed, mobs vandalised and torched the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Dhaka. In Chittagong, protesters hurled stones and bricks at the Indian Assistant High Commission, injuring at least four people, including two police personnel.
Following Hadi’s shooting, Bangladesh summoned India’s High Commissioner Pranay Verma on December 15 to protest what it described as former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s political activities from Indian soil and to seek cooperation should the suspects attempt to cross the border.
Dhaka also conveyed that absconding Awami League leaders based in India were allegedly plotting terrorist activities to derail Bangladesh’s general election scheduled for February 12, 2026.
India, in turn, summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah on December 17, expressing strong concern over the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh and the activities of extremist groups targeting Indian diplomatic missions.
The move followed calls by groups such as July Oikya for a march towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, which New Delhi viewed as a direct threat to its personnel and premises.
In a statement, the MEA said, “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.”
India also reiterated its expectation that Bangladesh would uphold its international obligations to protect diplomatic missions.
Amid continued unrest, security around Indian diplomatic establishments in Bangladesh has been tightened. While there is no plan to evacuate personnel at this stage, consular services have been affected.
On Sunday, the Indian Visa Application Centre in Chattogram announced the indefinite suspension of operations due to security concerns following protests near the Assistant High Commission. Earlier, the centre had been closed on Thursday following calls for a march to the Indian High Commission and was reopened briefly on Friday.
Responding to reports circulating in sections of the Bangladeshi media, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the facts surrounding the December 20 incident in New Delhi had been distorted.
“We have noted misleading propaganda in sections of the Bangladesh media on the incident,” he said.
Clarifying what transpired outside the Bangladesh High Commission, Jaiswal said, “about 20-25 youth gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on 20 December and raised slogans in protest against the horrendous killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, while also calling for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh.”
He emphasised that “there was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation at any time,” adding that police dispersed the protesters within minutes and that “visual evidence of these events is available publicly for all to see.”
Stressing India’s obligations under international law, Jaiswal said, “India is committed to ensure the safety of foreign Missions/Posts in its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention.”
He also noted that New Delhi was closely tracking developments across the border, stating, “India continues to keep a close watch on the evolving situation in Bangladesh.”
The protest in the Indian capital followed the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a garment worker who was lynched by a mob in Mymensingh on December 18, the same day violence broke out in several parts of Bangladesh following the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Das’s body was later hung from a tree on the divider of the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway and set on fire.
India has taken up the issue with Dhaka, Jaiswal said.
“Our officials remain in touch with Bangladesh authorities and have conveyed to them our strong concerns at the attacks on minorities,” he added, noting, “We have also urged that the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of Das be brought to justice.” Bangladeshi authorities have said investigations are continuing, with local media reporting that at least 12 people have been arrested so far in connection with the lynching.
According to Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Das had been forced to resign from his post as a quality supervisor at Pioneers Knitwear (BD) Limited by the factory’s floor in-charge, Mohammad Alamgir Hossain, before being handed over to an angry mob.
At a press conference at RAB-14’s Mymensingh office on Saturday, Commander Naimul Hasan said the blasphemy allegations levelled against Das were “extremely vague” and investigators were unable to establish what he had allegedly said.
Das’s brother, Opu Chandra Das, rejected the allegations outright.
“They claim my brother made derogatory remarks about religion, but there is no evidence. Even if he had said something and it was an offence, the matter could have been dealt with through legal channels. Instead, he was brutally murdered. I demand justice for those terrorists who killed him by making false allegations,” he told Prothom Alo.
Bangladesh’s interim government has described Das’s death as a “lynching” and said there is “no space for such violence in the new Bangladesh”, with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus assuring that those responsible “will not be spared.”
Diplomatic tensions have escalated sharply following the shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old spokesperson of the platform Inqilab Mancha and a prominent figure of the July 2024 student-led uprising that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Hadi was shot in the head by masked attackers on December 12 while launching his election campaign in Dhaka and died six days later in a Singapore hospital. His death triggered intense anti-India sentiment, with protesters alleging that the assailants had fled to India.
Soon after Hadi’s death was confirmed, mobs vandalised and torched the offices of leading newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in Dhaka. In Chittagong, protesters hurled stones and bricks at the Indian Assistant High Commission, injuring at least four people, including two police personnel.
Following Hadi’s shooting, Bangladesh summoned India’s High Commissioner Pranay Verma on December 15 to protest what it described as former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s political activities from Indian soil and to seek cooperation should the suspects attempt to cross the border.
Dhaka also conveyed that absconding Awami League leaders based in India were allegedly plotting terrorist activities to derail Bangladesh’s general election scheduled for February 12, 2026.
India, in turn, summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah on December 17, expressing strong concern over the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh and the activities of extremist groups targeting Indian diplomatic missions.
The move followed calls by groups such as July Oikya for a march towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, which New Delhi viewed as a direct threat to its personnel and premises.
In a statement, the MEA said, “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.”
India also reiterated its expectation that Bangladesh would uphold its international obligations to protect diplomatic missions.
Amid continued unrest, security around Indian diplomatic establishments in Bangladesh has been tightened. While there is no plan to evacuate personnel at this stage, consular services have been affected.
On Sunday, the Indian Visa Application Centre in Chattogram announced the indefinite suspension of operations due to security concerns following protests near the Assistant High Commission. Earlier, the centre had been closed on Thursday following calls for a march to the Indian High Commission and was reopened briefly on Friday.
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