In a troubling development that has strained diplomatic relations between neighboring nations, the murder of anti-India student leader Osman Hadi in Bangladesh has evolved into what intelligence officials describe as a coordinated propaganda campaign rather than a legitimate criminal investigation.

Indian security officials claim the Bangladesh government’s response following the murder appears calculated to inflame anti-India sentiment rather than pursue the actual perpetrators. According to sources familiar with the situation, Bangladeshi authorities immediately declared the suspects had fled to India before any substantial investigation had commenced.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry promptly summoned the Indian High Commissioner, demanding cooperation to prevent suspects from escaping through Indian territory. Information Ministry Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan publicly stated that India had promised to extradite Hadi’s killers if they had crossed the border—an assertion made despite Indian authorities and West Bengal Police repeatedly clarifying that no suspects had been arrested on Indian soil nor was there evidence of their presence in India.

“Going by the sequence of events, it became clear that these reactions by Bangladesh were deliberate,” said an Indian official who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. “They were aimed at fanning violence and launching a massive anti-India campaign. This was well-planned and had the blessings of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which is all over Bangladesh today.”

The allegations from Dhaka immediately triggered widespread protests across Bangladesh. Demonstrators took to the streets in Chittagong, Dhaka, and Rajshahi, where anti-India slogans dominated the narrative. Protestors demanded the extradition of Hadi’s alleged killers, with some marching toward the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. In Chittagong, crowds surrounded the residence of the Indian envoy.

An Intelligence Bureau official characterized these protests as “staged to drum up anti-India rhetoric.” During this period, the spread of deepfake videos allegedly contributed to inflaming anti-India sentiment across Bangladesh. Social media platforms became battlegrounds for disinformation, with numerous falsified videos circulating widely.

The Bangladesh foreign ministry continued summoning the Indian High Commissioner to reiterate concerns about India sheltering Hadi’s killers, further exacerbating tensions and intensifying protests. According to Indian officials, the unrest coincided with a troubling increase in attacks targeting Hindu communities in Bangladesh, a situation that reportedly persists.

Adding complexity to the situation, social media accounts, including one named “Pakistan Defence,” aggressively promoted a video falsely claiming that Al Jazeera had confirmed Indian involvement in Hadi’s killing. Another fabricated TikTok video identified “killers” supposedly hiding in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills.

This narrative was challenged when Faisal Karim Masud, one of the individuals accused of the murder, released a video statement claiming he had fled to Dubai—not Delhi—fearing for his safety. Masud alleged that operatives from Jamaat-Shibir, a political organization in Bangladesh, were responsible for the murder, and clarified that his association with Hadi was purely business-related.

Indian officials contend that throughout this period, investigating Hadi’s murder was never Bangladesh’s priority. “The idea was to fan an anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiment, and the ISI-backed elements successfully managed to do just that,” said one official.

Security experts suggest the campaign was coordinated by ISI’s Dhaka Cell, with the dual objectives of turning Bangladeshi public opinion against India and creating sufficient volatility to potentially delay elections. “The ISI wants to make it appear that all of Bangladesh’s problems are because of India,” the official added.

The situation highlights the complex geopolitical dynamics in South Asia, where historical tensions and competing regional interests continue to influence diplomatic relations and internal politics across borders.