India justifies pulling out diplomat families, rebuts Bangladeshi criticism

India has declared Bangladesh a "non-family" posting for diplomats due to security concerns amid protests, prompting criticism from Dhaka as an overreaction.

NEW DELHI: With Dhaka characterising New Delhi’s decision to declare Bangladesh a “non-family” posting for diplomats as an overreaction, Indian authorities pushed back on Wednesday, saying the move was a precautionary measure after more than two dozen protests near the Indian high commission and a violent demonstration near the mission in Chittagong.

Members of "July Oikya", a platform of several organisations that took part in the July Revolution, march to the Indian High Commission, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 17 (REUTERS FILE)

India’s decision to declare Bangladesh a “non-family” posting for diplomats because of security concerns was made public on Tuesday.

Very few other countries, including Afghanistan and South Sudan, are in this category, and the process of repatriating the dependents of officials at the five diplomatic posts in Bangladesh has begun.

Bangladesh’s de facto foreign minister Touhid Hossain told BBC Hindi in an interview that “India has overreacted to some extent” by deciding to bring back the families of diplomats. When Hossain was asked why Bangladesh was unable to assure India of the security of its diplomats, he replied: “There is no evidence that we were unable to ensure the safety of Indians.”

Responding to Hossain’s comments, people familiar with the matter said the decision to declare Bangladesh a “non-family” station was a precautionary measure because of the prevailing security situation in the neighbouring country, where there have been protests near the high commission in Dhaka and the missions in Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet.

“Over the past few months, more than two dozen protests have been held in close proximity to the high commission in Dhaka. On December 18, a large mob gathered near the assistant high commission in Chattogram, and the protesters came very close to the building and lobbed stones into the compound,” one of the people said on condition of anonymity.

Footage that emerged of the protest in Chattogram showed that the security forces faced difficulties in pushing back the protesters even after using tear gas and batons.

In contrast, the people noted that protesters were stopped almost 500 metres from the Bangladesh high commission during recent demonstrations in New Delhi, and no protester was allowed to come close to the facility. For several days, the road in front of the Bangladesh high commission was also closed to traffic, with police contingents deployed at both ends, the people said.

“The heightened police presence on the road leading to the Bangladesh high commission still continues,” the person cited above said.

India-Bangladesh relations cratered after the caretaker administration led by Muhammad Yunus assumed office in August 2024. Both sides have sparred repeatedly on a number of issues, including security at their missions in New Delhi and Dhaka, the oppression of Bangladesh’s minority communities, and the activities of extremist groups in the neighbouring country.

The Indian side has criticised the interim government for failing to protect Bangladesh’s minorities, a charge dismissed by Dhaka as an exaggeration.

Hossain also told BBC Hindi that it was “regrettable” if India puts “Bangladesh on the same level as Pakistan”. He added, “If we want good bilateral relations, we must first decide whether we really want good ties. If we continue to take one step after another that will drag the relationship down, that will happen.”