MEA takes action as Bangladesh High Commissioner faces pressure from radical group ahead of December 17 march to Indian High Commission in Dhaka

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by NDTV, click this post to read the full article.

On December 17, 2025, following a radical group’s announcement of a protest march towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladeshi High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah. The protest, organized by July Oikyo Mancho, was in response to alleged Indian interference in Bangladeshi politics. The MEA emphasized Bangladesh’s responsibility to ensure the safety of Indian diplomatic missions and condemned the narrative promoted by extremist groups regarding recent events in Bangladesh.

The protest was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. from Rampura Bridge, with demands for the return of the current Bangladeshi leadership, which the group labels as “fascist.” In anticipation of potential unrest, the Indian visa processing facility in Dhaka announced it would cease operations by 2 p.m. The MEA called on the interim government of Bangladesh to uphold its diplomatic obligations and ensure the safety of Indian missions.

Tensions escalated following inflammatory comments made by student leaders, including Mahfuj Alam, who warned against the export of terrorism from India, and Hasnat Abdullah, who labeled India as hostile. These statements came in the wake of a violent attack on a right-wing student leader, Sharif Osman Hadi, which left him critically injured. The Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry accused the ruling Awami League of orchestrating attacks and urged India to prevent the attackers from escaping, prompting strong objections from India. The MEA reaffirmed the importance of India-Bangladesh relations, rooted in shared history and collaborative initiatives.