India has been closely watching developments in neighbouring Bangladesh as tensions rose sharply following the death of anti-Indian activist Sharif Osman Hadi on Friday (19th December). The situation in the country turned volatile after news of his death spread, prompting heightened security measures in the capital. The Bangladesh interim government, headed by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, moved quickly to prevent further unrest by deploying the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) across several sensitive locations in Dhaka.

According to an official statement issued on Friday, BGB personnel were positioned in the airport area, Karwan Bazar, the Hotel InterContinental zone, and other key points throughout the city. These deployments were made ahead of the arrival of Hadi’s body from Singapore, as authorities anticipated large gatherings and possible disturbances during funeral-related events.

Hadi’s funeral procession is scheduled to take place on Saturday (20th December) after Zuhr prayers at Manik Mia Avenue. He will be laid to rest beside the grave of renowned poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The activist was shot on 12th December while campaigning in the Bijoynagar area of central Dhaka. He remained under medical care for six days before succumbing to his injuries in a Singapore hospital, a development that further intensified public anger and protests.

Indian Visa Services Resume Operations in Dhaka

The India Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Dhaka resumed its services on Thursday (18th December) after a temporary shutdown caused by security concerns. The suspension followed a protest march that had moved toward the Indian High Commission in the capital, raising fears of possible unrest around diplomatic premises.

While visa services in Dhaka were restored, IVAC facilities in Khulna and Rajshahi continued to remain closed due to ongoing security risks. On Wednesday (17th December), Dhaka police stopped a group of protesters marching under the banner of ‘July Oikya’ from surrounding the Indian High Commission. On the same day, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, and formally registered a protest over the worsening security environment in Bangladesh.

United States Issues Travel Advisory for Bangladesh

Amid the deteriorating law and order situation, the United States issued a travel advisory for its citizens in Bangladesh on Saturday (20th December). The advisory warned of possible disruptions in Dhaka and urged American citizens to reassess their travel plans. The US government also advised its nationals to remain alert and cautious, especially in areas witnessing protests and heightened security presence.

Hindu Man Lynched Over Blasphemy Allegations Amid Violence

In a deeply disturbing incident during the wave of violence triggered by Hadi’s shooting, an Islamist mob lynched a Hindu man in Bangladesh. Dipu Chandra Das was beaten to death on Thursday (18th December) in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka Upazila. The mob tied him to a tree and set him on fire following allegations of blasphemy. The incident added to growing concerns over the safety of minority communities as unrest spread across the country.

India Tightens Border Vigilance as Bangladesh Remains Unstable

As the situation across the border worsened, India stepped up security measures along its frontier with Bangladesh. Lieutenant General RC Tiwari, GOC-in-Chief of the Indian Army’s Eastern Command, visited the Belonia border outpost in South Tripura district to review the ground situation. He was accompanied by several senior military officers, and together they assessed preparedness levels and existing security arrangements along the India-Bangladesh border.

Bangladesh remained tense on Friday as the interim government announced revised funeral arrangements for slain activist Sharif Osman Hadi, strengthened security across Dhaka, and condemned a series of violent incidents that unfolded amid continuing protests.

The interim administration, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, confirmed changes to the funeral prayer schedule and issued security advisories ahead of the event to ensure crowd control and public safety.

In a post shared by the Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh on X, it stated, “Time of Shaheed Hader's funeral prayer changed to 2 PM Dhaka, 19 December 2025: Tomorrow at 2 PM, the funeral prayer for Shaheed Osman Hader will be held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Earlier, it had been announced that the funeral prayer would be held at 2:30 PM.”

Human Rights Group Warns of Rising Extremist Violence

A leading international human rights organisation raised serious concerns on Friday over what it described as a surge in extremist violence across Bangladesh. The group strongly condemned the recent series of “horrific extremist” incidents that took place in different parts of the country.

Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), in its statement, said the coordinated nature of attacks on Thursday night showed that Bangladesh had slipped into a state of extreme insecurity. The organisation accused authorities of failing to meet their basic responsibilities to protect citizens.

The attacks reportedly targeted the offices of major national newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, the cultural institution Chhayanaut, members of minority communities, the remaining structures of the Bangabandhu Museum, and the office of the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram.

China Calls for Stability Ahead of Bangladesh Elections

China on Friday expressed its desire to see a peaceful and stable political process in Bangladesh as the country faces turmoil ahead of its general elections scheduled for February.

Referring to the announcement that parliamentary elections will be held on February 12, 2026, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed the issue during a media briefing. He stated, “China wishes Bangladesh safe, stable and smooth elections and believes that various sectors of Bangladesh will properly advance important political agendas and uphold national solidarity and stability,” reflecting Beijing’s concern over the unfolding situation.