New Delhi/Dhaka: The diplomatic row between India and Bangladesh continues with Dhaka summoning Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to protest “attacks” on the country’s diplomatic establishments in New Delhi and Siliguri.
“Bangladesh condemns such acts of premeditated violence or intimidation against diplomatic establishments, which not only endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel but also undermine the principles of mutual respect and values of peace and tolerance”, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, as reported by ANI.
“The Government of Bangladesh called upon the Government of India to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such acts and to ensure safety and security of Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions and related facilities in India”, the statement added.
While there was a brief protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 20, the country’s visa centre in Siliguri, West Bengal, was vandalised on Monday.
“The Government of Bangladesh expects the Government of India to immediately take appropriate steps in accordance with its international and diplomatic obligations to safeguard the dignity and security of diplomatic personnel and establishments,” the statement said.
Bangladesh has suspended visa operations in Delhi and Siliguri, citing security concerns, the news agency quoted a foreign ministry official of Bangladesh as saying.
“In Delhi, an incident occurred in which a group of people surrounded the Bangladesh High Commission. After this event, Bangladesh expressed concerns over security. As a result, no visas are currently being issued from the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi,” the official said.
“In Siliguri, although Bangladesh does not have an official mission, visa processing was carried out through a private agency, VFS. However, members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad reportedly vandalised the VFS office and issued threats. In response, the Bangladesh government has also suspended visa operations in Siliguri,” he added.
India, on Sunday, dismissed “misleading propaganda” in sections of the Bangladeshi media over a demonstration in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi against the “horrendous killing” of Hindu youth in the country’s Mymensingh district.
The protest was brief and posed no security threat, India said categorically.
Dipu Chandra Das, the Hindu youth in Mymensingh, was thrashed, tied to a tree and then burnt by a mob, triggering international concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh.
While there were initial allegations that Das had made blasphemous comments against the prophet, the police did not find any evidence of this, making it a targeted attack on the basis of religion.
