Dhaka, Dec. 31 -- Dhaka-Delhi relations, long characterised by periodic flare-ups and uneasy cooperation, have entered a sudden and potentially dangerous downturn. In recent weeks, violent protests in Bangladesh, the suspension of visa services, and threats directed at Bangladeshi diplomats in New Delhi have shaken the foundations of bilateral trust. This deterioration is not merely a diplomatic inconvenience; if mishandled, it carries the risk of cascading into outcomes that could destabilise both societies and reverberate across the wider region.

The most immediate danger lies in the politicisation of Hindu-Muslim relations. In India, narratives portraying Hindus as victims in Bangladesh risk fuelling domestic polarisation. In Banglade...