Special Correspondent //

India has decided to evacuate family members of Indian diplomats and government officials working in Bangladesh. The decision has been taken as part of a security precaution, New Delhi said. However, other Indian missions abroad, including the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, will remain open and functional.

This was reported by India’s state-run news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) on Tuesday (January 20). The agency reported that India took such a decision just weeks before the 13th parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.

Quoting government officials, PTI said that as part of a security precaution, family members of Indian officials working in the High Commission and other posts in Dhaka have been advised to return to India.

Meanwhile, an exclusive report by the BBC said that the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has now classified Bangladesh as a ‘non-family’ country. As a result, Bangladesh is placed in the same category as countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sudan. At the same time, the families of diplomats working in Dhaka have been ordered to be repatriated.

BBC Hindi asked Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain for his reaction on the matter. In response, he said, “There is no evidence that we could not ensure the safety of Indians.”

Regarding the decision to keep Bangladesh at the same level as Pakistan, he said, “If India keeps Bangladesh at the same level as Pakistan, that is their decision. Of course, it is unfortunate. But I cannot change their decision.”

On the future of bilateral relations, the Foreign Affairs Advisor said, “If we want good bilateral relations, then we first have to decide whether we really want good relations. If we keep taking steps one after another that will break the relationship, then that will happen.”

He also said, “Looking at my experience with India in various roles over the last 40 years, I think India is a bit overreacting. I expected a better response from India.”