Indian envoy summoned in neigboring country as feud intensifies

A diplomatic row has erupted after a Bangladeshi mission in India was attacked

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma was summoned by Dhaka on Tuesday over an attack on a Bangladeshi diplomatic mission in northeast India, near the countries’ shared border.  

The mission in Agartala was attacked the previous day by a group of activists protesting against the arrest of a Hindu monk in Bangladesh last week. The incident further aggravated tensions over the treatment of the Hindu minority in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi foreign ministry expressed “deep resentment” over the attack, noting that members of the mission were left “with a deep sense of insecurity.” India’s Ministry of External Affairs described the incident as “deeply regrettable.”

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New Delhi has been raising concerns over violence against the Hindu community, which is a minority in Bangladesh, ever since the change of government in the country in August. Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who forged close ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, resigned on August 5 following weeks of violent protests. The interim government, set up days after Hasina’s ouster, is led by Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist.

While Dhaka has not released an official statement on summoning the Indian envoy, Verma was seen entering the foreign ministry building for a meeting with acting Foreign Secretary Riaz Hamidullah, The Daily Star newspaper reported. It then quoted Shafiqul Alam, Yunus’ press secretary, as saying Dhaka had “issued a protest letter and conveyed our concerns” to the Indian side. He also said the attack was a result of Indian media spreading misinformation about minority issues in Bangladesh, the report added. 

Yunus has previously dismissed concerns over violence against the Hindu minority, calling it “propaganda.” He said he conveyed the same message during his call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August. 

The Indian envoy, who spoke with local media after a meeting with the foreign secretary, said the wide-ranging relationship between the two nations “cannot be stuck on one issue.” He also stated that India wants to build a constant, stable, and constructive relationship with Bangladesh: “We are ready to engage with Bangladesh’s interim government and are committed to working together to achieve our shared aspirations in peace, security, and development.”

READ MORE: India questions Hindu monk’s arrest in Bangladesh