
Bangladesh summons Indian envoy after protests in Agartala
The Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, was summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Tuesday, a day after protesters breached the security barricade at the Indian Assistant High Commission in Agartala. The protests were triggered by the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, amplifying tensions between the two neighbors.
Criticism over security lapse
The incident drew sharp criticism from Asif Nazrul, a Law Affairs Adviser to the Bangladesh government. In a Facebook post, Nazrul labeled the situation a failure of Indian authorities, stating, “India must understand that this is not Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh,” hinting at diminishing tolerance for such events under the current political environment.
The unrest in Agartala stemmed from protests against the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das and alleged incidents of violence targeting the Hindu community in Bangladesh. The demonstrations witnessed the participation of thousands near the mission.
Indian Envoy Pranay Verma summoned by Foreign Secretary
Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain confirmed to the media that Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma had been summoned. According to the state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Verma arrived at the ministry at 4 PM and met acting Foreign Secretary Reaz Hamidullah for discussions regarding the incident.
Escalating tensions between India and Bangladesh
The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and the subsequent protests have intensified existing tensions between the two countries. Relations have been under strain since the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India on August 5.
Further complicating the situation, a Bangladesh court on Tuesday deferred a hearing on the monk’s bail petition to next month due to the absence of legal representation. Swatantra Gauranga Das, an associate of the detained monk, attributed the delay to threats from a “politically motivated lawyers’ group,” which discouraged attorneys from taking up the case.
Developments raise questions over bilateral ties
The recent developments highlight growing discord and the need for both nations to address these escalating tensions through diplomatic engagement.
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