New Delhi: India slammed media reports in Bangladesh about a protest outside that country’s mission in New Delhi as “misleading propaganda”. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has made it clear that there was no security breach at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, as reported by the media in the neighbouring country.
The MEA has also said that India is closely monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country and has voiced strong concerns over the continuing atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh. This comes after the “horrendous killing” of a Hindu man in the Mymensingh district on December 18.
“We have noted misleading propaganda in sections of the Bangladesh media on the incident. The fact is that about 20-25 youth gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on 20 December and raised slogans in protest against the horrendous killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, while also calling for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh. There was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation at any time. The police stationed at the spot dispersed the group after a few minutes. Visual evidence of these events is
available publicly for all to see. India is committed to ensure the safety of foreign Missions/Posts in its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.
“India continues to keep a close watch on the evolving situation in Bangladesh. Our officials remain in touch with Bangladesh authorities and have conveyed to them our strong concerns at the attacks on minorities. We have also urged that the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of Das be brought to justice,” the MEA has said.
India tightened security outside the Bangladesh High Commission even as widespread violence spread across Bangladesh following the death of key student activist Sharif Osman Hadi. Large groups of protesters surged through Dhaka and several other cities as anger mounted.
Hadi, the spokesperson of Inqilab Mancha, and a known India-baiter succumbed to injuries after an assassination attempt in Dhaka, according to an official statement issued by the ministry of foreign affairs in Singapore. His death triggered massive uproar, with interim leader Muhammad Yunus vowing justice and “no leniency” for those responsible.
Amid this rising turmoil, a Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, was lynched by a mob in Mymensingh over alleged blasphemy, and his body was set on fire on Friday. Authorities in Bangladesh have now said that there is no evidence that Das said or did anything that can be considered blasphemous.
The brutal killing drew strong outrage and condemnation in India, leading to protests outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.