New Delhi: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to New Delhi, on Wednesday, and registered a strong objection to what it described as provocative and irresponsible remarks made by a Bangladeshi political leader.
The diplomatic move followed comments by National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah, who recently issued warnings that Dhaka could provide shelter to forces hostile to India, including separatist groups. His remarks were widely viewed as crossing a sensitive diplomatic line, prompting a swift response from New Delhi, as reported by ANI.
The High Commissioner was summoned to register India’s protest and to underline the seriousness with which such statements are viewed, especially given the close and multifaceted relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
Abdullah had made his speech on Monday at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar, a site of deep national significance in Bangladesh. The NCP leader went further by claiming that Bangladesh could assist in severing India’s so-called ‘seven sisters’ – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura – from the rest of the country.
His remarks immediately drew attention for their sharp tone and far-reaching implications, particularly in a region where security concerns and cross-border sensitivities remain high. Indian officials viewed the comments as provocative, leading to the formal diplomatic démarche.
This is not for the first time that something of this nature has taken place after the ouster of former Bangladesh prime minister Sk Hasina in August 2024.
Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of the interim government in that country, during a visit to China, had spoken about separation of India’s northeastern states that are landlocked.
Later, Bangladesh released a book with a map of the country on its cover. This map showed India’s northeastern states as part of Bangladesh.
In the past, Bangladesh has allowed seperatist groups from India’s northeastern states, like the Ulfa, to set up camps in its territory. The country also provided shelter to Ulfa leaders like Paresh Barua and Arabinda Rajkhowa. These camps were finally disbanded during Hasina’s rule after repeated appeals by India.
