Dhaka/New Delhi — Russia’s ambassador to Bangladesh has urged Dhaka to ease diplomatic tensions with India, warning that prolonged strain between the two South Asian neighbours could undermine regional stability, according to remarks delivered in Dhaka amid a broader cooling in India-Bangladesh relations.
Speaking to the media in Dhaka earlier on Dec. 22, Russia’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin, said deteriorating ties between Bangladesh and India were creating avoidable pressure on an already fragile regional environment and should be addressed through dialogue and restraint.
“Stable and cooperative relations between India and Bangladesh are essential for peace and security in South Asia,” Khozin said, according to diplomats familiar with the remarks. He cautioned that abandoning dialogue in favour of confrontational positions could have wider political and economic consequences for the region.
Khozin’s comments come at a time of visible strain in relations between the two neighbours, following sharp public exchanges over minority violence in Bangladesh, election-related disagreements, and security concerns surrounding India’s diplomatic mission in Dhaka.
India has said it is closely monitoring the law-and-order situation in Bangladesh and has urged authorities to ensure accountability for attacks on religious minorities. Bangladesh’s interim government, meanwhile, has rejected external criticism of its internal political process, insisting it remains committed to holding a free and credible national election.
Historical context and regional concerns
In a pointed reference to history, the Russian envoy recalled the events of 1971, when India played a decisive role in Bangladesh’s war of independence. Diplomatic sources said Khozin warned that allowing relations with New Delhi to deteriorate while ignoring historical realities could weaken regional cooperation and stability.
Russia was among the countries that supported Bangladesh diplomatically during the 1971 conflict, and Moscow has since maintained close ties with Dhaka, including cooperation on energy and infrastructure projects such as the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
Bangladeshi officials have not issued a formal response to the ambassador’s remarks. However, government representatives have previously said Bangladesh seeks balanced relations with all major partners and rejects what it views as politicised interpretations of recent developments.
India-Bangladesh ties under pressure
India-Bangladesh relations have faced growing pressure in recent months, marked by diplomatic summons, public statements from both sides, and protests in Dhaka targeting India’s diplomatic presence. New Delhi has said it expects Dhaka to meet its obligations under international conventions to ensure the security of foreign missions.
Bangladesh has countered that it remains committed to protecting diplomatic premises and has accused some external actors of mischaracterising domestic political developments.
Despite the tensions, cooperation between the two countries has continued in several areas, including trade, transit, and the recent reciprocal release and repatriation of detained fishermen — moves both sides have described as humanitarian confidence-building measures.
Call for restraint
Diplomatic analysts say Khozin’s public intervention reflects broader international concern that sustained friction between India and Bangladesh could complicate regional initiatives on connectivity, energy, and security.
Russia’s position, analysts note, appears aimed at encouraging de-escalation rather than taking sides, underscoring the importance Moscow places on stability in South Asia amid wider geopolitical uncertainty.
As Bangladesh navigates an internal political transition and India prepares for upcoming regional diplomatic engagements, observers say the trajectory of Dhaka-New Delhi relations will remain a key factor shaping South Asia’s broader strategic environment.
