Security has been tightened at Bangladesh diplomatic missions in India following separate incidents involving protests and verbal threats in New Delhi and Agartala, officials said.

In New Delhi, a group of individuals allegedly shouted slogans and issued threats outside the gate of the Bangladesh Bhaban, residence of the Bangladesh High Commission, on Saturday night.

Confirming the incident, Bangladesh Press Minister in Delhi Md Faisal Mahmud told reporters that between 8:30pm and 9:45pm, several individuals arrived in three cars and shouted slogans in a mix of Bengali and Hindi.

“They raised slogans demanding security for Hindus and calling for the arrest of the high commissioner,” he said.

The group later moved closer to the main gate, shouted for a while, and left, he added. No physical attack was reported and nothing was thrown at the premises.

When asked whether death threats were made, Mahmud said some of the slogans included threatening language, but emphasised that there was no physical assault.

“Some statements were shouted in Bengali and Hindi suggesting retaliation if Hindus were harmed. These were verbal threats only,” he said.

Following the incident, Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah held an emergency meeting with the mission’s defence wing. Officials later confirmed that the situation remained under control and no further incident occurred.

Heightened security in Agartala

Meanwhile, security was reinforced around the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, capital of India’s northeastern state of Tripura, following a protest staged on Friday by the youth wing of a regional political party.

The Youth Tipra Federation (YTF), the youth wing of the Tipra Motha Party, demonstrated near the mission protesting what it described as “anti-India campaigns” and remarks allegedly made by a Bangladeshi political leader regarding India’s northeastern states.

West Tripura Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak said personnel from the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had been deployed to ensure security.

“Adequate security arrangements have been made to handle the situation,” he said.

The protest revived memories of an incident last year when protesters breached the premises of the Assistant High Commission following unrest over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, prompting regret from the Indian government over the security lapse.

YTF president Suraj Debbarma told reporters that the protest aimed to convey a political message, claiming that India played a key role in Bangladesh’s independence.

Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, in a post on X, said his party was the only political force in the Northeast to publicly protest outside the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission following remarks made against the region.

Political reactions in Bangladesh

Tensions escalated further following remarks by National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah during a rally on December 15, organised to protest the attack on Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent July Uprising leader who later died from gunshot wounds.

Hasnat warned that India’s northeastern “Seven Sisters” states could face isolation if Bangladesh is destabilised. He alleged that those seeking to create unrest in Bangladesh and disrupt the election process were being backed by India.

He also accused Indian authorities of involvement in border killings of Bangladeshi nationals.

“If Bangladesh is destabilised, the consequences will extend beyond borders,” Hasnat said, adding that attempts to undermine Bangladesh’s sovereignty would have regional repercussions.