India has decided to withdraw the families and dependents of its diplomats posted in Bangladesh in view of growing security concerns linked to increased extremist activity in the country.

According to official sources, the decision applies to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka as well as other diplomatic posts across Bangladesh. The move comes weeks before the country is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections.

“Given the security situation, as a precautionary measure, we have advised the dependents of our officials in the high commission and other posts to return to India,” sources said, adding that all Indian missions in Bangladesh will continue to remain open and fully operational.

Non-family postings signal heightened alert

The advisory effectively places Indian diplomatic postings in Bangladesh under a “non-family” status, a step generally adopted in locations considered unstable or facing elevated security risks. However, there is no official clarity yet on the timeline for the withdrawal of families or when they may be allowed to return.

India currently maintains its high commission in Dhaka along with consulates in Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet.

Strain in bilateral ties amid internal unrest

India-Bangladesh relations have faced strain since the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus assumed power in 2024 following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina administration. Both countries have heightened security at their respective diplomatic missions in recent weeks amid protests and political unrest.

Concerns have also been raised over a spike in incidents of violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi on December 12.

India has repeatedly flagged these incidents with Bangladeshi authorities, urging firm action against communal violence.

“We continue to witness a disturbing pattern of recurring attacks on minorities as well as their homes and businesses by extremists,” the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said, expressing concern over attempts to attribute such incidents to personal or political disputes.

New Delhi has maintained that such explanations risk emboldening perpetrators and deepening fear among minority communities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Nitin Nabin on his election as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s new national president, describing the 45-year-old leader as a representative of a generation that has seen India transform across decades.

Addressing party workers at the BJP headquarters after the formal announcement, PM Modi underlined the organisational culture of the party by saying that in matters related to the organisation, the newly elected president would be his superior.

“When it comes to party matters, Mananiya Nitin Nabin ji is my boss. I am a worker,” the prime minister said, drawing applause from the gathering.

BJP leadership transition after Sanghatan Parv

Nitin Nabin was elected as BJP national president at the conclusion of the Sanghatan Parv, a wide-ranging organisational exercise that involved elections from the booth level up to the national leadership.

PM Modi said that as party president, Nabin’s role would go beyond managing the BJP’s internal affairs and would include ensuring coordination among National Democratic Alliance partners.

PM Modi highlights generational shift

Describing Nabin as a “millennial,” PM Modi said the new party chief belongs to a generation that grew up listening to news on the radio and is now comfortable using artificial intelligence.

According to the prime minister, this combination of adaptability, youthful energy and experience would be an asset for the party’s future.

“Nitin ji has youthful energy along with rich organisational experience,” PM Modi said.

Tracing BJP’s organisational journey

The prime minister also reflected on the BJP’s growth over the years, recalling its journey under different leaders.

He said the party rose from modest beginnings under leaders such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani and Murali Manohar Joshi. In later years, leaders including M Venkaiah Naidu and Nitin Gadkari expanded the organisation further.

PM Modi noted that under Rajnath Singh’s leadership, the BJP secured a full majority at the Centre for the first time, while under Amit Shah, the party expanded its footprint across states and returned to power nationally for a second consecutive term.

He added that during JP Nadda’s tenure as president, the BJP strengthened its presence from panchayat-level bodies to Parliament.

India has conveyed strong concerns to Poland over what it described as “selective and unfair targeting” related to its trade ties with Russia amid the Ukraine war, while firmly cautioning Warsaw against extending any form of support to Pakistan on issues linked to cross-border terrorism.

The concerns were raised by external affairs minister S Jaishankar during talks with Polish deputy prime minister and foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski in New Delhi, where both sides reviewed the growing India-Poland strategic partnership and discussed key global and regional developments.

India-Poland strategic partnership review

Welcoming the Polish delegation, Jaishankar said the discussions were taking place at a time of major global uncertainty, making dialogue between countries from different regions essential. He noted that India and Poland had elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Warsaw in August 2024.

The two sides reviewed the Action Plan 2024–28 and explored ways to expand cooperation in areas including trade, investment, defence, security, clean technologies and digital innovation.

India’s stand on Ukraine conflict

The Ukraine war figured prominently in the talks, with Jaishankar reiterating India’s position on the issue. He said he had candidly shared New Delhi’s views with Sikorski on several occasions and again underlined India’s objections during the New Delhi meeting.

Jaishankar stated that the selective targeting of India through tariffs and other pressure measures over its Moscow trade ties was unfair and unjustified. India has consistently maintained that it supports dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict and opposes attempts to influence its independent foreign policy choices through selective pressure.

Warning on terrorism and Pakistan

Jaishankar also raised India’s long-standing concern over cross-border terrorism, stressing that Poland should adopt a zero-tolerance approach. He said Warsaw should not, directly or indirectly, contribute to the terrorist infrastructure in India’s neighbourhood, a remark widely seen as a reference to Pakistan.

India has intensified diplomatic outreach in Europe to ensure that partners remain mindful of Pakistan’s record on terrorism financing and safe havens for extremist groups. Jaishankar’s message underscored that New Delhi expects consistency and principle from its strategic partners on the issue.

The remarks were also viewed in the context of Poland’s statement on Kashmir during a bilateral visit to Islamabad in October 2025.

Poland echoes concern over selective pressure

Responding to India’s concerns, Sikorski said Poland agreed that selective targeting through tariffs was unfair and could disrupt global trade stability. Referring to incidents in his own country, he said Poland had faced acts of arson and attempted state terrorism, including attacks on railway infrastructure, and underlined the need to counter trans-border terrorism.

Growing economic ties

The meeting took place against the backdrop of expanding economic engagement between the two countries. Poland is among India’s key trading partners in Central Europe, with bilateral trade at around USD 7 billion and Indian investments exceeding USD 3 billion.

Both sides expressed confidence that the strategic partnership would continue to deepen, even as India used the dialogue to clearly articulate its red lines on geopolitical pressure and terrorism.