India on Wednesday summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, to convey its “strong concerns” over the worsening security situation in Bangladesh, with particular emphasis on threats directed at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

The move comes amid growing unease in New Delhi over developments in Bangladesh that India believes could affect the safety and functioning of its diplomatic mission. The concerns were formally communicated during a meeting between senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Bangladesh envoy.

In an official statement issued after the meeting, the MEA said the Bangladesh High Commissioner was apprised of India’s concerns “at the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh.” The ministry made it clear that the issue was not limited to general security but involved specific threats that could impact Indian diplomatic interests.

The MEA said that the attention of the Bangladesh envoy was drawn “in particular, to the activities of some extremist elements who have announced plans to create a security situation around the Indian Mission in Dhaka.” This reference to extremist elements and announced plans underscores the seriousness with which India views the matter. India conveyed that such announcements and activities are unacceptable and raise serious questions about the safety of Indian diplomats and staff working at the High Commission in Dhaka.

The Indian government’s concerns centre specifically on the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, which represents India’s diplomatic presence in Bangladesh. According to the MEA, the activities of certain extremist elements pose a direct risk to the mission and its personnel.

By summoning the Bangladesh High Commissioner, India sought to ensure that its concerns were conveyed clearly and formally at the highest diplomatic level. The meeting was aimed at impressing upon the Bangladesh side the urgency of addressing these security threats.

India underlined that maintaining the safety and security of foreign diplomatic missions is a core responsibility of the host country and an essential requirement for the smooth conduct of bilateral relations. In addition to raising concerns about security, the Ministry of External Affairs also pushed back strongly against allegations circulating in Bangladesh. While the statement did not spell out the exact nature of these allegations, it made clear that India does not accept them.

The MEA’s response reflects India’s position that such allegations are misleading and do not help in addressing the real issues at hand. It expects Bangladesh to act responsibly and ensure that extremist elements are not allowed to create threatening environment around diplomatic establishments. By rejecting these allegations, India placed its position clearly on record and conveyed that it would not accept narratives that it considers incorrect or damaging.

The summoning of a high commissioner is a formal diplomatic step used to convey concerns directly between governments. In this case, India used established diplomatic channels to communicate the seriousness of the situation to Bangladesh. During the meeting, India made it clear that it expects the authorities in Bangladesh to take appropriate measures to prevent any deterioration of the security situation, especially around the Indian Mission in Dhaka.

India reiterated its long-standing position that the safety of diplomatic missions and personnel is governed by international conventions and norms. These place the responsibility on the host country to ensure that foreign missions can function without fear or threat. The MEA’s emphasis on security highlights India’s concern that any lapse in this responsibility could have serious consequences for diplomatic engagement.

India conveyed that threats against its mission are viewed with utmost seriousness and that such issues cannot be ignored or treated lightly. The MEA statement did not provide further details regarding the identity of the extremist elements mentioned or the specific nature of the plans announced. It also did not outline any additional steps that India might take if the situation does not improve. However, the language used in the statement indicates that India is closely monitoring developments and expects meaningful action to address the concerns raised.

At the time of the statement, there was no public response from the Bangladesh side regarding the summons or the issues raised by India. Diplomatic engagement between the two countries is expected to continue through official channels. India’s decision to summon the Bangladesh High Commissioner sends a clear message that it expects its concerns to be taken seriously and addressed promptly.