Official sources reveal a coordinated anti-India campaign by Chinese vloggers and livestreamers. These individuals are reportedly filming in impoverished areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and falsely presenting them as parts of New Delhi, India, while making derogatory comments about India's living conditions, sanitation, and poverty to international audiences. This deliberate misrepresentation aims to create negative perceptions about India and highlights growing concerns about misinformation.
Bangladesh has launched a diplomatic inquiry, seeking comprehensive details from Saudi Arabia regarding the recent execution of two Bangladeshi citizens in Makkah.
Bangladesh's Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed will skip the first-ever BIMSTEC home ministers' meeting in New Delhi, with a senior bureaucrat leading the delegation. This absence underscores strained India-Bangladesh ties, particularly following the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024 and Dhaka's request for her extradition from India.
India's national security adviser was in Dhaka for roughly three-quarters of the day on Thursday to prepare the ground for Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to New Delhi.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, clarified that former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's arrival in New Delhi two years ago was unexpected and not facilitated by the Indian military. He addressed ongoing extradition requests from the current Bangladeshi government, stating India acted out of duty during tragic circumstances in Bangladesh.
Chinese nationals in Dhaka, accused of filming poor neighbourhoods and misrepresenting them as Indian scenes on social media, have reduced their activities. This follows increased surveillance by Bangladeshi law enforcement after India raised concerns about the disinformation campaign. The vloggers, reportedly around 150, were filming residents without consent, leading to suspicions of a coordinated effort to defame India.
Dinesh Trivedi's success or failure in this fragile diplomatic equilibrium will have consequences extending well beyond the Indian high commission in Dhaka. It will shape India's eastern strategic environment for years to come.
India has announced a 28-member U23 squad for the upcoming SAFF Championships in Dhaka, led by coach Naushad Moosa. The defending champions are sending a second-string team due to international friendlies for the main squad and ISL club reluctance to release players. India aims for its 10th title in the tournament, which runs from November 5 to 17.
The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship is set to begin in Bangladesh on November 5, with India and Pakistan playing the opening match. Six teams will participate, and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology will be implemented for the first time in South Asia during the semi-finals and final.
India's second-string football team is set to kick off its SAFF Championship campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan on Thursday in Dhaka. The main Indian squad is unavailable due to international friendlies and ISL club reluctance to release players outside the FIFA window. U-23 coach Naushad Moosa leads the team, which will gradually reach full strength after November 9.
Head coach Khalid Jamil has announced a 23-member Indian squad for the upcoming international friendlies against New Zealand. The squad sees the omission of veteran goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and the absence of key defender Anwar Ali due to a hamstring injury. Other players like Lalengmawia Ralte and Mohammed Sanan are also out with injuries, while some SAFF Championship players will join the team for the New Zealand tour.
India defeated Maldives 1-0 in their Group B match at the SAFF Championships, securing a spot in the semifinals. Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored the winning goal from a penalty in the first half. India, fielding a young squad, needed a draw or win to qualify.
Defending champions India need only a draw against Maldives in their final group match of the SAFF Championships on Wednesday to secure a spot in the semifinals. Despite using a second-string squad, India aims for a comprehensive victory and improvement in team coordination, following their opening win against Pakistan.
A junior Bangladeshi minister, Ishraque Hossain, conducted a raid on a suspected drug den in a Dhaka slum on Saturday, carrying a pistol and accompanied by plainclothes associates. He detained several individuals and handed them over to police, who stated they were not informed in advance. A video of the incident, uploaded by Hossain, sparked widespread debate on social media regarding the appropriateness of his actions.
Telangana's EAGLE Force has arrested a 30-year-old Bangladeshi woman and her live-in partner in Hyderabad, seizing synthetic drugs. The woman, who entered India on a tourist visa in December 2021, allegedly became involved in prostitution and drug peddling after facing financial hardship. She used false identities and established a drug supply network, eventually involving her partner.
Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL), controlled by the Adani group, plans to unilaterally shift international flights to 14 destinations from Mumbai airport to Navi Mumbai airport if airlines do not voluntarily submit relocation plans. This move is part of MIAL's strategy to redevelop Mumbai airport's Terminal 1 due to safety concerns, aiming to temporarily shift 5 million passengers annually.
Bangladesh's junior minister Ishraque Hossain resigned on Monday after facing controversy for personally leading an armed raid on a suspected drug den in Dhaka. He had uploaded a video of the raid on social media, which sparked public debate and led Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to ask for his resignation. Hossain defended his actions, citing his firearm licence and desire to combat drugs, but criticised media narratives.
India is deeply concerned by the growing consolidation of Pakistan-backed jihadi and radical Islamist groups in Bangladesh, particularly in the strategically vital Chittagong Hill Tracts, which experts warn is transforming the country into a new safe haven for these networks and posing a direct threat to India's security.
'Airport redevelopment plans should not, in themselves, result in the withdrawal, denial or reallocation of historical slots.'
'They probably imagine any hue and cry in the event Sheikh Hasina is hanged will be shortlived as it happened when Bhutto was hanged in Pakistan in 1979.'
A Bangladesh opposition leader, Nahid Islam of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has issued warnings against facilitating an Indian transit corridor through Bangladesh and called for a fair renewal of the Ganges water-sharing treaty, which expires in December. His remarks were made at a rally in Dhaka, where he also criticised the current government. The allegations about the corridor follow Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visit to Japan, which focused on economic cooperation and regional connectivity, though Bangladesh officials deny discussing third-country issues. India has also expressed interest in strengthening regional linkages with Japan involving its northeastern states.
Defending champions India started their SAFF Championships journey with a 3-2 victory over arch-rivals Pakistan. Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored a brace and Manglenthang Kipgen added another, giving India a 3-0 lead at half-time. Pakistan mounted a late comeback with two goals in stoppage time, but India held on for the win despite fielding a second-string side due to ISL player availability issues.
A 45-year-old Congress candidate, Mohanlal, contesting the panchayat samiti elections in Rajasthan's Barmer district, allegedly died by suicide on Wednesday, a day before polling. His body was found hanging from a tree. Police are investigating the incident, and the reason for the suspected suicide is yet to be determined.
'Growing up in Bangladesh, I always felt that I was a piece of meat. As soon as I walked down the street, I could be the president of Bangladesh and I would still be a piece of meat because I am a woman.'
Engagement with neighbours has gathered pace, particularly as the conflict in West Asia has exposed their vulnerability to energy supply disruptions.
India's Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that India desires positive, constructive, and forward-looking ties with Bangladesh and is ready to discuss all bilateral issues. This comes amidst queries regarding the state of relations following a change in Bangladesh's government and upcoming international engagements.
IndiGo and Air India Group will progressively shift flights from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) starting from December. This phased transition, expected to complete by the 2027 summer aviation season, aims to ease capacity constraints at CSMIA, facilitate its Terminal 1 redevelopment, and establish a dual-airport system for Mumbai, enhancing connectivity and future growth.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has strongly criticised Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's decision to skip the BRICS summit in India, calling it "immature" and detrimental to Bangladesh's national interest. She argued that the absence lost opportunities for economic development and that foreign policy should not be driven by personal considerations. Hasina also highlighted the current "grave national crisis" in Bangladesh and her intention to return to restore democracy.
Top-order batter Kevin Wickham has received his first Test call-up for the West Indies' two-match series against Bangladesh. The squad sees changes with Shai Hope rested and Alzarri Joseph withdrawn due to workload management, replaced by Keemo Paul. John Campbell returns from injury, as West Indies aim to improve their ICC World Test Championship ranking.
India has significantly increased its diplomatic engagements with Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Maldives.
Keemo Paul's exceptional five-wicket haul led the West Indies to a 24-run victory over India in the fourth T20 International in Hyderabad. This win, built on Shai Hope's unbeaten century, levels the five-match series at 2-2, setting up a decider in Bengaluru. India's chase, despite a strong start from Sanju Samson, faltered against Paul's decisive bowling.
Bangladesh has confirmed that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will not attend the upcoming BRICS Summit in India, clarifying that the invitation was extended to him as the BIMSTEC Chair, not as Bangladesh's Prime Minister. The nation is prioritising bilateral visits and discussions, while also addressing national interests like the expiring Ganges Water Sharing Treaty.
Bangladesh-China and Bangladesh-US relations have evolved from reluctant engagement to increasingly consequential strategic partnerships.
India's assistant coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar emphasised the importance of winning crucial moments ahead of the Asian Games gold medal cricket match against arch-rivals Pakistan. Drawing on his own experience from the 1998 Independence Cup final, Kanitkar stated that while the hype is significant, players must focus on their game and aim for a second successive Asiad gold for the country's medal tally.
Bangladesh has not yet decided on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to India for the upcoming BRICS summit, with his office stating that Dhaka is awaiting New Delhi's response to its request for the extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other 'fugitive criminals' currently residing in India.
Bangladesh has stated there is "no rush" for Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to India, emphasising that Dhaka will not compromise its national interests. State Minister Humaiun Kobir indicated the visit would occur after sufficient bilateral progress. The visit is crucial for mending India-Bangladesh ties, which have been strained, particularly following the ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh's subsequent extradition request.
Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humaiun Kobir, announced that the country seeks to "reset" its relationship with India, moving towards a new bilateral engagement based on mutual interests. He described ties during the previous government's tenure as "uncomfortable" and emphasised the need for Bangladesh to approach India as "just another country," focusing on balanced relations rather than an "excessive preoccupation." This comes after Bangladesh's Prime Minister Tarique Rahman did not attend the BRICS Summit in India.
Bangladeshi-origin cricketer Robin Das has been suspended by Essex County Cricket Club after being charged with two counts of rape in London. The Metropolitan Police confirmed his arrest in August last year and subsequent charging in July 2026, following reports of an incident in March 2024. Essex CCC has stated an immediate and ongoing suspension, adhering to all appropriate legal processes.
More than three months after her midnight deportation, however, the central question remains unanswered: Where is Mumtaz Begum?
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Tamim Iqbal has indicated that India's upcoming cricket tour to Bangladesh, scheduled for September, might be postponed again. Discussions are ongoing between the BCB and BCCI, with the BCB president suggesting dates could be shifted due to a conflicting domestic tournament schedule and past strained relations between the boards.
