India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will visit Bangladesh on Monday amid worsening relations between the two nations. Tensions have escalated since the July unrest that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose 15-year rule was backed by New Delhi. Hasina, now in India, faces extradition demands from Dhaka, further straining ties.
Interim head of the government Muhammad Yunus has accused India of destabilizing actions and spreading “propaganda” to undermine his government’s democratic reforms. India, meanwhile, criticized Bangladesh for failing to protect its Hindu minority, citing the recent sedition arrest of a Hindu priest. Yunus condemned the attacks on Hindus but claimed many incidents were politically motivated.
Protests against India have grown in Bangladesh, while New Delhi condemned a recent breach of a Bangladeshi consulate by Hindu activists. Despite the political discord, the neighbors remain key economic partners, with annual bilateral trade worth $14 billion.
