New Delhi/Dhaka, Dec 24: Relations between India and Bangladesh have come under renewed strain following the killing of a Hindu man during violent protests in northern Bangladesh, worsening mistrust between the two neighbours.
Dipu Chandra Das, 27, a factory worker from Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, was beaten to death by a mob in Mymensingh after being accused of blasphemy, according to police and local media. The killing occurred amid unrest triggered by the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader, in Dhaka.
Hadi’s supporters alleged that the main suspect, reportedly linked to the Awami League, fled to India, fuelling anti-India sentiment. Bangladeshi police said there was no confirmation the suspect had left the country.
The unrest has spilled into diplomatic tensions, with both countries suspending visa services in several cities and summoning each other’s high commissioners over concerns about the security of diplomatic missions. Protests targeted India’s missions in Dhaka and Chittagong, while Bangladesh objected to demonstrations outside its diplomatic premises in Delhi.
Analysts say the crisis reflects deeper political tensions, including long-standing anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh and anger over former prime minister Sheikh Hasina taking refuge in India after her removal from office.
Former Indian envoy Riva Ganguly Das urged restraint, warning the situation remains volatile, while former Bangladeshi diplomat Humayun Kabir said mistrust between the two sides is at an unprecedented level.
Observers warn the standoff could mark one of the sharpest downturns in India–Bangladesh relations in recent years unless tensions are de-escalated.
