A tense situation took place in Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon when Bangladeshi police stopped a large march heading toward the Indian High Commission in the Gulshan diplomatic area. The protest, which drew several hundred participants, added further strain to the already fragile India-Bangladesh relations. The developments sparked concern in New Delhi, prompting India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to summon Bangladesh’s envoy and issue a firm warning.
According to reports from Dhaka-based newspapers, the protest march was organised under the banner of a group called “July Oikya.” Participants demanded the return of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who left the country during political turmoil following the July uprising last year. Protesters accused the current interim government of being unable to restore democratic normalcy and alleged that foreign influence had led to changes in Bangladesh’s internal politics.
Eyewitness accounts reported that the protesters gathered near Rampura Bridge around 3:15 pm and began moving along the road toward Gulshan. When the march reached the Uttar Badda area, police erected barricades to block the route leading to the Indian High Commission. Though protesters managed to break through the first barrier, security forces blocked them again with a stronger barricade further down the road. 
The demonstrators then halted, sat on the road, shouted slogans, and addressed speeches using loudspeakers. Many of them reportedly chanted “Dhaka, Dhaka—not Delhi” to express their anger at what they described as India’s interference in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.
Police personnel and security forces deployed along the route were seen in large numbers, making sure the march did not escalate into violence. According to Bangladeshi media reports, authorities had received intelligence inputs suggesting that extremist elements were planning to create a security situation around the Indian diplomatic mission.
Hours before the march reached near the diplomatic zone, India summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to New Delhi, Riaz Hamidullah. According to sources quoted in media reports, the MEA conveyed India’s serious concerns about the growing threats targeting Indian diplomats and Indian establishments in Bangladesh. The MEA said it expected the interim government to ensure the safety and protection of Indian Missions and Posts in Dhaka as per diplomatic obligations.
In a statement, the MEA said it “completely rejects the false narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh.” The ministry also said it was unfortunate that the interim government had failed to conduct a thorough investigation or share credible evidence with India about various security incidents.
Officials in Delhi said that India’s relations with Bangladesh are rooted in history and in the shared struggle of the liberation war. The ministry emphasised that India has always supported peace and stability in Bangladesh and has consistently called for free, fair, and inclusive elections held peacefully.
This is not the first instance in recent months where anti-India rhetoric surfaced in Bangladesh’s political speeches. Last week, National Citizen Party leader Hasnat Abdullah publicly threatened to sever India’s “Siliguri Corridor,” also known as the Chicken Neck, and allow separatist groups from India’s Northeast to operate in Bangladesh if India continued to interfere in Dhaka’s affairs. Abdullah is known for his strong anti-India views and has been vocal in his criticism of Indian foreign and economic policies.
Abdullah’s speech led to widespread criticism in India. Leaders in Assam and other northeastern states expressed concern that provocative political statements from Dhaka could encourage separatist elements across the region. Analysts say tensions between India and Bangladesh have been increasing since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, which previously maintained close relations with New Delhi.
Adding intensity to the diplomatic tension, Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly reacted to the remarks made by Bangladeshi politicians. Addressing a media gathering in Hojai, Sarma said Bangladesh should refrain from making irresponsible statements targeting India’s sovereignty and integrity.
Speaking to national media, Dr. Sarma reportedly warned that Bangladesh is a small and weak country and should not provoke a nuclear-armed nation like India. His statement, published in local Assamese newspapers including Amar Asom, triggered debate across the region.
Sarma reminded that for more than a year, Bangladeshi political actors and student leaders had been making provocative statements about splitting India’s Northeast from the mainland. He said these repeated calls to seize the Siliguri Corridor and integrate Assam and other northeastern states into Bangladesh were unacceptable and highly dangerous.
Political observers in Guwahati and Shillong say Sarma’s stern warning should be seen against the backdrop of rising insecurity among northeastern states. The region has long faced issues of insurgency and border tensions, and provocative statements from across the border are viewed with deep suspicion in security circles.
Meanwhile, in a development that drew attention in Assam, diesel supply to Bangladesh continues through the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline. The pipeline connects the Numaligarh Refinery Limited’s Siliguri Marketing Terminal to depots in Bangladesh. Reports say about 4,000 tonnes of crude oil currently flow through the 130-km cross-border pipeline.
Numaligarh Refinery has been exporting petroleum products to Bangladesh since 2015. However, sources pointed out that supplies are being sent at a loss. Many in Assam consider the refinery a symbol of sacrifice because it was built during the Assam Oil Movement, in which many people lost their lives.
Since the Assam government holds a 26 percent stake in the refinery, questions are now being raised about the continued supply of petroleum products despite the tense diplomatic climate. Political analysts believe the Chief Minister may soon face pressure from domestic political groups, opposition parties, and civil society to reconsider exports to Bangladesh until the situation improves.
The developments in Dhaka have created deep concern in New Delhi. Diplomatic analysts say that the safety of Indian diplomats abroad is non-negotiable for India. The MEA’s strong statement and the summoning of Bangladesh’s envoy indicate that India will not ignore threats against its diplomats.
Opposition leaders in Bangladesh, however, accuse India of influencing the country’s internal politics. They say New Delhi supported Sheikh Hasina’s government for years and now remains uncomfortable with new political forces gaining prominence. The interim government in Dhaka has so far remained cautious but has struggled to control extremist elements spreading anti-India narratives.
India and Bangladesh have historically shared close cultural and economic ties. But observers say relations have worsened since Sheikh Hasina left power. Cross-border trade, energy cooperation, and border security arrangements may be affected if tensions escalate further. Experts say that hostility at the street level in Dhaka, especially near diplomatic areas, could harm bilateral cooperation, damage trust, and embolden separatist narratives.
