The situation in Bangladesh reflects deep alarm over the country’s descent into chaos, underscoring the urgency of a nation on the brink of extremism amid rising anti-India sentiment, communal violence, and geopolitical shifts.
Drawing from India’s parliamentary reports, official statements, and eyewitness accounts, the situation paints a picture of a “mobocracy” fueled by fundamentalist forces, with implications for South Asian security. As hardline groups exploit the death of a prominent activist to consolidate power, calls for Sheikh Hasina’s extradition intensify, while India warns of losing strategic ground without swift recalibration.
A report from India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and presented on December 18, describes the ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh as India’s “greatest strategic challenge” since the 1971 Liberation War. The document highlights a “generational discontinuity” and a “shift of political order,” warning that without recalibration, India risks “losing strategic space in Dhaka not to war, but to irrelevance.”
The collapse of the Awami League’s dominance, the rise of youth-led nationalism, the resurgence of Islamists like Jamaat-e-Islami, and growing influences from China and Pakistan are cited as key factors. Experts testifying before the committee, including former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and ex-Ambassador Riva Ganguly Das, emphasised the subtler yet graver threats compared to 1971’s existential crisis. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the panel on the emergence of new entities like the National Citizen Party, formed by student activists who ousted Hasina, and the restoration of Jamaat-e-Islami’s electoral registration.
The report criticises the ban on Awami League activities, stating it undermines the inclusiveness of the February 12, 2026, elections. It also calls for a bilateral mechanism to handle nationality verification and repatriation of undocumented immigrants, urging humane treatment and safeguards against erroneous deportations of Indian nationals.
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India has firmly rejected demands for the extradition of five-time Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, who has been in exile in New Delhi since August 5, 2024. The parliamentary report affirms that her stay aligns with India’s “civilizational ethos and humanitarian tradition,” recommending a continued principled approach managed with sensitivity.
Bangladesh’s interim government, led by fascist Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has repeatedly summoned Indian envoys, accusing Sheikh Hasina of inciting “terrorist” activities through “incendiary” statements to thwart the upcoming elections. On December 14, 2025, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated calls for her “expeditious extradition,” linking her to alleged plots, including the attempted assassination of Osman Goni, alias Sharif Osman Hadi.
India responded by asserting it has “never allowed its territory to be used for activities inimical to the interests of the friendly people of Bangladesh,” urging Dhaka to ensure law and order for peaceful polls.
In an exclusive interview with CNN-News18 on December 16, Sheikh Hasina denounced the demands, stating extradition “should follow the law, not politics.” She criticised the Yunus regime for a “constitutional crisis,” weaponising the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD)—originally for 1971 war crimes—to prosecute political disputes without parliamentary oversight.
Sheikh Hasina, sentenced to death in absentia on November 17, for alleged crimes during the 2024 protests, called the trials “political retribution” lacking due process and vowed to appeal.
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The death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a 32-year-old mob leader who was an aspiring candidate for the Dhaka-8 parliamentary seat, has ignited widespread violence. Shot on December 12 in Dhaka’s Paltan area, Hadi died on December 18 after treatment in Singapore.
Social media accusations by Islami Chhatra Shibir leader Abu Shadik Kayem (also DUCSU VP) blamed BNP’s Mirza Abbas, leading to harassment and prompting BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman’s announcement of a December 25 return. A counter-narrative linked the shooter to Awami League’s Chhatra League, claiming a flight to India, fueling anti-India propaganda backed by Jamaat.
Post-death, attacks escalated: Awami League homes were targeted, Indian Assistant High Commissions in Chattogram and Khulna were assaulted, and media outlets Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were set ablaze. Cultural sites like Chhayanaut, Udichi, and the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre were vandalised, alongside renewed damage to Bangabandhu’s Dhanmondi 32 residence.
On December 20, looters stormed the National Parliament after Hadi’s funeral, where Mahmudur Rahman, editor of Amar Desh, threatened “war” on Indian entities if the killer isn’t extradited by December 25. Militants Jasim Uddin Rahmani and Harun Izhar delivered inflammatory speeches.
Communal clashes have intensified, targeting Hindus amid accusations of religious defamation or Indian ties. On December 18 in Bhaluka, Dipu Chandra Das was beaten and burned alive; on December 20 in Jhenaidah, Gopal Chandra Das was assaulted for wearing a red wrist thread; and in Raozan, Chittagong, Babul Das’s home was torched. Hindus nationwide live in fear, with violence seen as a coordinated push for fundamentalism.
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Shashi Tharoor condemned the “mob rule” under Yunus, calling Das’s murder “unbearably tragic” and demanding accountability. The interim government condemned the lynching on December 20, with RAB arresting seven suspects, but critics question enforcement.
The US and UK issued travel warnings, advising citizens to stay secure amid risks.
Under Hadi’s funeral pretext, Jamaat-e-Islami mobilised supporters to Dhaka, discussing a new interim government led by Rahman. A Pakistan-leaning army faction, led by Lt. Gen. Kamrul Hasan (tied to ISI) and retired Brig. Gen. Abdullahil Amaan Azmi (son of convicted war criminal Ghulam Azam), is allegedly involved. The strategy aims to derail BNP’s election dominance, overshadowing its ties with Yunus’s administration.
Anti-India campaigns risk attacks on missions, potentially delaying elections. Pakistan and Turkey back Jamaat, with 18 operatives reportedly entering via Dubai and Turkish Airlines on December 19. China’s influence grows, including Mongla Port expansion and Lalmonirhat airbase development near India’s border, though Dhaka denies military upgrades. India counters with infrastructure like the Khulna-Mongla railway.
The parliamentary report notes China’s long presence, warning Bangladesh’s potential RCEP entry could flood India with Chinese goods, prompting trade reconsiderations. Bilateral trade hit $13.46 billion in 2024-25, but visa services dropped to 1,500 daily (mostly medical) due to security, down from 1.6 million in 2023.
Discussions on renewing the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty (expiring December 2026) are pending, with India holding internal talks involving West Bengal and Bihar. The committee urges bilateral initiation to avoid a post-2026 vacuum. On Teesta, progress remains unresolved amid 54 shared rivers.
Misri dismissed SAARC revival due to Pakistan’s terrorism, favouring BIMSTEC without Dhaka pushback.
Sheikh Hasina, in her interview, praised her tenure’s 450% GDP growth (per IMF) and warned of Yunus’s failures in rights and elections. Tharoor urged protection for journalists and diplomats, decrying “ochlocracy.” As violence persists, observers fear Bangladesh’s transformation into an extremist state, reshaping South Asia. India emphasises engagement with all stakeholders, but sustained diplomacy is crucial for stability.
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