India Declares Bangladesh Diplomat Posting 'Non-Family' Amid Security Concerns

Amid the concerning security situation in Bangladesh, India has classified the neighbouring country as a “non-family” posting for its diplomats and advised dependents of Mission and Post officials to return home, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday, reported Hindustan Times. The move comes as a precautionary measure, with rising communal incidents raising concerns over the safety of minorities, the people said on condition of anonymity. “As a precautionary measure, we have advised the dependents of officials at the high commission and four assistant high commissions to return to India,” one of the people said, reported HT. Despite the situation, all five diplomatic missions in Bangladesh - in Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet, along with the high commission- will continue to operate at full strength. There is no clarity on when the diplomats' families are expected to return, reported HT. Due to security concerns, details about the number of Indian diplomats in Bangladesh were not disclosed. India-Bangladesh relations have hit an all-time low since the caretaker administration assumed office in August 2024, with both sides stepping up security at their missions in New Delhi and Dhaka after recent protests. There were violent protests outside the Indian mission in Chattogram last month. Indian missions have faced security threats, particularly after the killing of Islamist youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in December 2025. Rumours initially circulated that Hadi's killers had fled to India; however, one of the accused released a video claiming that he was in a Gulf country. Threats from extremist and radical elements have further raised concerns over the safety of diplomats and their families. According to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, the reported cases of communal violence stood at 51, including 10 murders, in December 2025 alone. According to them, since December, nearly seven members of the Hindu community have been killed in Bangladesh, reported ANI. On Monday, the chief adviser of the interim government shared a review report of the previous year's police records on social media, which documented 645 incidents involving members of minority communities. “The findings show that 71 incidents were identified as having communal elements, while 574 incidents were assessed as non-communal in nature,” ANI reported, citing the official statement. What is “non-family” posting? India classified its diplomatic posts as “non-family,” one of the most stringent security measures. India’s relations with Pakistan are at an all-time low, but the rules for Indian diplomats are stricter in Bangladesh. In Pakistan, Indian diplomats follow a “no children” posting, meaning spouses may accompany officials. As per sources familiar with the matter, concerns had grown over the freedom provided to Pakistani elements by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. India-Bangladesh ties under strain India has alleged that the interim government failed to protect Bangladesh’s minorities and accused the regime in Dhaka of turning a blind eye to the activities of radical groups. Since the caretaker administration assumed office in August 2024, India-Bangladesh relations have deteriorated considerably. Both sides have increased security at their missions. In the upcoming general election scheduled for 12 February, the Indian side has reached out to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), widely expected to emerge as the single-largest party in Bangladesh, reported HT.