India on 14 December 2025 categorically rejected the Bangladesh interim government’s accusations that New Delhi is permitting exiled former premier Sheikh Hasina to issue incendiary statements inciting her supporters to engage in terrorist activities ahead of parliamentary elections.
This firm rebuttal came shortly after Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma was summoned to Dhaka’s foreign ministry, where Bangladesh not only protested Hasina’s rhetoric but also demanded her extradition alongside that of former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, while seeking cooperation on the recent attempted assassination of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
India’s External Affairs Ministry reaffirmed its unwavering support for free and fair elections in Bangladesh, stating it has never allowed its territory to be used for activities inimical to Bangladesh’s interests, and urged Dhaka to maintain law and order to ensure peaceful polls. Both perspectives highlight escalating diplomatic strains since Hasina’s exile in August 2024, with no immediate resolution in sight.
Diplomatic Summoning Over Multiple Flashpoints
The summoning of High Commissioner Pranay Verma on 14 December marked a significant escalation in bilateral tensions, as Bangladesh’s foreign ministry readout detailed grave concerns over Hasina’s alleged calls from exile for her supporters to thwart upcoming elections through terrorist acts.
This was compounded by Dhaka’s plea for India’s assistance in apprehending suspects linked to the 12 December shooting of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inquilab Mancha youth group, who remains in a coma after the attack reportedly orchestrated by Awami League fugitives allegedly sheltered in India.
“India categorically rejects the assertions made by the interim Government of Bangladesh in its press note dated 14 December 2025,” the External Affairs Ministry declared in a strongly worded statement, emphasising New Delhi’s long-standing policy against using its soil for anti-Bangladesh actions.
During the meeting, Verma reportedly conveyed India’s commitment to supporting a peaceful electoral process and its readiness to cooperate on mutual security concerns, underscoring a desire for constructive engagement despite the accusations.
This incident is notable as at least the fifth such summoning of the Indian envoy since the interim government’s formation, reflecting a pattern of friction over Hasina’s presence and her vocal criticisms of Dhaka’s leadership.
Roots in Revolution, Exile, and Legal Battles
Sheikh Hasina’s exile traces back to 5 August 2024, when she fled to India aboard a military aircraft amid a wave of deadly student-led protests that dismantled her 15-year authoritarian rule, marked by allegations of widespread human rights abuses, suppression of dissent, and economic mismanagement.
The uprising, initially sparked by quotas for freedom fighters’ descendants in government jobs, snowballed into a broader revolution that claimed over 1,000 lives and forced her dramatic exit after she had positioned Bangladesh as a close strategic ally to India during her tenure.
Upon taking power, the interim administration under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus established the International Crimes Tribunal, which in November 2025 sentenced Hasina to death in absentia for crimes against humanity related to the protest crackdown, invoking Bangladesh’s 2013 extradition treaty with India to demand her repatriation.
Dhaka views her ongoing social media statements denouncing the Yunus regime as illegitimate and rallying her Awami League base as direct threats to national stability, especially with elections looming.
India, historically supportive of Hasina for countering Islamist extremism and Chinese influence in the region, has hosted her discreetly but faces mounting pressure, having previously indicated it was “examining” the extradition request without committing to action. This backdrop of shared 4,000-km borders, migration flows, and security interdependence amplifies the stakes, as fraying ties risk broader regional instability.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
In an era where neighbours like India and Bangladesh share deep cultural, economic, and human ties millions cross borders daily for trade, family, and survival escalating rhetoric over accusations risks overshadowing the empathy needed for true harmony.
The Logical Indian calls for both sides to channel this tension into structured dialogue through revived bilateral mechanisms, prioritising joint anti-terror cooperation, fair extradition processes under international law, and safeguards for democratic elections that reflect the people’s will.
Rejecting violence and inflammatory statements in favour of kindness, coexistence, and positive social change honours the sacrifices of those who fought for justice on both sides of the border, fostering a stable South Asia where security concerns unite rather than divide.
