By Micah Jonah
January 22, 2026
India has decided to withdraw the families and dependents of its diplomats from Bangladesh amid rising security concerns ahead of the country’s general election scheduled for February 12, according to an Indian official.
The move comes as political tensions rise in Bangladesh, where election campaigning is set to begin, triggering protests and counter protests across parts of the country. Relations between the two neighbours have remained strained since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in 2024 following deadly unrest.
An Indian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision was part of internal readjustments, without giving further details. It was not immediately clear when the families would be allowed to return.
The foreign ministries of both India and Bangladesh did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In December, India summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to express concern over what it described as a worsening security environment, particularly threats directed at the Indian mission in Dhaka.
Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has repeatedly called for Hasina’s extradition, while rejecting India’s concerns over violence against members of the minority Hindu community.
The withdrawal of diplomats’ families reflects growing caution by New Delhi as political uncertainty and security risks increase in the lead up to the election period.
