Bangladesh Unrest Sparks India's Security Concerns

By John Pranay (Editor)

Bangladesh is on the brink of a major crisis, with unrest spreading across the country. Protests have erupted in Dhaka and Chattogram, with demonstrations near India-Bangladesh border posts. The situation has taken a turn for the worse, with Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain hinting at a possible reduction in the country's diplomatic presence in India over security concerns. The Indian government has issued a statement denying any attempt to breach security, but the situation remains volatile.

The current unrest in Bangladesh has its roots in the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August. The situation has been further complicated by the Indian media's portrayal of the protests as Islamist or extremist, which has been widely rejected by Bangladeshis. The Indian media's framing of the protests has not only been inaccurate but also incendiary, importing domestic political anxieties into a neighboring country undergoing political transition. This has delegitimized popular dissent and created a powerful narrative of impunity.

The protests have been driven by a broad-based, youth-driven democratic movement, but the Indian media has failed to recognize this. Instead, they have uniformly branded Bangladeshi protesters as radicals or extremists, deepening fear and reinforcing hostile narratives. This has led to a collapse of trust and decency between the two countries, with the reciprocal summoning of high commissioners by Dhaka and New Delhi this week.

• August 2025: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina falls, leading to a power struggle in Bangladesh.

• September 2025: Protests erupt in Dhaka and Chattogram, with demonstrations near India-Bangladesh border posts.

• October 2025: Indian media begins to portray the protests as Islamist or extremist, sparking outrage in Bangladesh.

• November 2025: Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain hints at a possible reduction in the country's diplomatic presence in India over security concerns.

• December 21, 2025: Indian government issues a statement denying any attempt to breach security, but the situation remains volatile.

The relationship between India and Bangladesh has been complex, with a history of partition and geographical proximity creating geopolitical necessities for cooperation. However, the two countries have also faced disputes regarding their maritime and land boundaries, which were eventually resolved in 2014 and 2015, respectively. The resolution of these long-standing issues left a clean slate for the two governments to cooperate on shared concerns and opportunities. The partnership between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was shaped primarily by four key factors: the resolution of existing disputes, China's growing presence in the region, capitalising interdependence, and India's strategic compulsions.

The current unrest in Bangladesh is a major worry for India, as it has the potential to spill over into the North East region. The Indian media's portrayal of the protests has not only been inaccurate but also incendiary, importing domestic political anxieties into a neighboring country undergoing political transition. This has delegitimized popular dissent and created a powerful narrative of impunity. The situation highlights the need for India to take a more nuanced approach to its relations with Bangladesh, one that recognizes the complexities of the situation and avoids exacerbating tensions.

The situation in Bangladesh is likely to remain volatile in the coming days, with protests and demonstrations continuing to spread. The Indian government's response will be crucial in determining the trajectory of the situation. The possible reduction in Bangladesh's diplomatic presence in India over security concerns is a worrying development, and the Indian government will need to take steps to address these concerns and prevent further escalation.

The current unrest in Bangladesh is a symptom of a deeper issue - the failure of India to recognize the complexities of its relations with its neighbors. The Indian media's portrayal of the protests as Islamist or extremist has been a major contributor to this failure, importing domestic political anxieties into a neighboring country undergoing political transition. This has delegitimized popular dissent and created a powerful narrative of impunity. Crucially, this overlooks the fact that the protests are driven by a broad-based, youth-driven democratic movement, which is a positive development for Bangladesh's democracy. This suggests that India needs to take a more nuanced approach to its relations with Bangladesh, one that recognizes the complexities of the situation and avoids exacerbating tensions.

Overall, the medium-term sentiment around this story is Bullish.

1. Connectivity at a crossroads: India-Bangladesh ties after regime change — https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/connectivity-at-a-crossroads-india-bangladesh-ties-after-regime-change/article70422212.ece

2. Opinion: What India must do to help restore stability in Bangladesh — https://scroll.in/article/1089436/opinion-india-needs-to-stop-feeding-the-fire-in-bangladesh

3. Will Bangladesh Shrink Diplomatic Presence In India Over Security Concerns? Here's What Dhaka Says — https://www.news18.com/world/will-bangladesh-shrink-its-diplomatic-presence-in-india-what-foreign-affairs-adviser-says-ws-kl-9784269.html

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.