By Kalyani Shankar
Bangladesh has been going through a massive political crisis since the resignation of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government last year. This volatile situation has caused regional tensions.
A series of riots, arson attacks, and political unrest hit across Bangladesh from December 18 to 20, 2025, following the assassination of Osman Hadi, the spokesperson for the Inqilab Moncho. Hadi was shot on December 12 and died on December 18.
Over the past year, India has faced challenges stemming from Dhaka’s weakened security cooperation. This instability was tied to deep-rooted historical anti-India sentiment.
Recent political unrest in Bangladesh has significant regional implications, potentially destabilising neighbouring countries such as India, China, and Pakistan, and affecting regional security and economic stability.
Diplomatic ties between Delhi and Dhaka have hit a critical juncture with Dhaka suspending visa and consular services at its missions in New Delhi and Agartala. India has also suspended visa services at its Chittagong centre in Bangladesh following widespread violent protests. New Delhi and Dhaka summoned each other’s envoys earlier last week in a tit-for-tat move to express concern over the situation.
India’s security concerns about the instability in Bangladesh are raising fears of conflict with China and Pakistan. This also increases the risks of illegal migration and communal violence, complicating India’s diplomatic negotiations and projects in the region.
A period in the aftermath of the election that banned the Awami League Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami have gained prominence. A younger generation has developed a unique sense of nationalism, distinct from the historical narrative of Bangladesh’s 1971 liberation.
Across the border in India, the ramifications of Dipu Chandra Das’s killing have intensified anti-Bangladesh sentiments, making regional stability and diplomatic relations more fragile.
There have been mob attacks on media outlets such as The Daily Star and Prothom Alo, with accusations that these newspapers are pro-India. The increasing influence of Islamist radicals and the government’s inability to manage unrest are a concern about civil stability.
Civil society activists are criticising the interim government for failing to address the unrest. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is organising a big rally to welcome back Tarique Rahman, the son of the Zias, amid this political turmoil; he is expected to be the Party’s prime ministerial candidate.
Many Bangladeshis express concerns about India’s influence, particularly throughout Hasina’s fifteen-year rule, which ended amid unrest. This aspect has intensified Hasina’s refuge in India, as New Delhi has declined to repatriate her. Following Hadi’s assassination, young political leaders have started making increasingly provocative anti-India statements.
Supporters allege that the main suspect in Hadi’s murder, linked to the Awami League, has fled to India, escalating anti-India sentiment.
Overall, Bangladesh’s ongoing instability heightens the risks of conflict with neighbouring countries and complicates India’s diplomatic efforts in the region, especially after a Hindu group protested outside Indian diplomatic premises.
The deep-seated anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh has been further exacerbated by Hasina’s moves and India’s handling of her asylum. The killing of Dipu Chandra Das has intensified anti-India sentiments, with some attributing unrest to the former Awami League government.
The Yunus government has declared that there is “no place for such violence in the new Bangladesh.” The government has assured that individuals involved in the recent killing will face accountability and that no one will be exempt from consequences.
Meanwhile, the BNP is preparing for a massive rally to mark the return of Tarique Rahman from London, who has been in exile for over 17 years. The Party is preparing to mobilise over five million people to welcome him back. Rahman, 60, is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and serves as the BNP’s acting chairman. Courts cleared him of charges after Hasina left office, allowing his return.
Overall, Bangladesh’s ongoing instability increases risks of conflict with neighbouring countries and complicates India’s diplomatic efforts in the region, as it objected to a Hindu group’s protest outside its diplomatic premises in Delhi, calling it “unjustifiable”.
An Indian parliamentary panel said developments in Bangladesh pose “the greatest strategic challenge” to Delhi since the country’s independence war in 1971. Delhi has already indicated that it will engage with an elected government in Bangladesh, and that could pave the way for a diplomatic reboot.
The BBC reported, quoting Riva Ganguli Das, a former High Commissioner, “I sincerely hope tensions don’t escalate further on both sides.” Ganguli Das, a retired Indian high commissioner to Dhaka, told the BBC that the “volatile situation” in Bangladesh made it challenging to predict which way things would go.
In the future, the elections should be fair and free. Violence should be controlled so that people can go and vote. All parties should have a level playing field. The Yunus government should also ensure there is no post-poll violence. A peaceful election would also help improve the economy. Only when normalcy returns can Bangladesh hope to regain its development. (IPA Service)
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