India Summons Bangladesh High Commissioner For Second Time In A Week Amid Tense Ties
India summoned Riaz Hamidullah, marking the second time in a week that the Bangladesh High Commissioner has been called in, amid rising diplomatic friction between the two neighbours. The latest summon came hours after Dhaka called in Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to convey concerns over the security of Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India.
During the earlier summon, India lodged a strong protest with Bangladesh over what it described as a “deteriorating security situation” around its diplomatic mission in Bangladesh. The Ministry of External Affairs said at the time that it conveyed its concerns to Hamidullah over the activities of what it termed “extremist elements” targeting Indian diplomatic premises.
“We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of [Indian] missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” the ministry said in a statement, adding that Hamidullah’s attention was drawn to announcements by certain groups aimed at creating a security situation around the Indian Mission in Dhaka.
India also rejected what it described as a “false narrative” being propagated by extremist elements regarding recent developments in Bangladesh.
“It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents,” the ministry said, reiterating that India favours peace and stability in Bangladesh and supports free, fair, inclusive and credible elections conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
The fresh summon followed Bangladesh’s decision earlier in the day to call in Pranay Verma. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said it conveyed Dhaka’s “grave concern over the regrettable incidents” outside the perimeter of the Bangladesh High Commission and the High Commissioner’s residence in New Delhi on December 20, as well as “acts of vandalism” at its Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22, allegedly by “different extremist elements.”
The ministry also expressed “deep concern” over violent protests staged outside the premises of various Bangladeshi diplomatic missions across India, according to an official statement.
