Pressmediaofindia
Related Articles
07-12-2024
Bureau Report + Agencies
NEW DELHI: India-Bangladesh ties have been frosty since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India after her removal in a student-led mass uprising in August, but diplomatic tensions have soared in recent days after the two South Asian neighbours traded accusations of alleged ill-treatment of the Hindu minority.
The war of words escalated after Bangladeshi authorities arrested Hindu religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das last week on sedition charges, setting off protests across several places in India. On Monday, a Bangladeshi mission in Agartala in the northeast Indian state of Tripura was attacked, eliciting a furious reaction from Dhaka.
A day later, Dhaka summoned the Indian envoy in Bangladesh after condemning the attack.
“This particular act in Agartala stands in violation of the inviolability of diplomatic missions, as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, asks for,” Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, calling on the Indian government to investigate the incident.
New Delhi said the attack was “deeply regrettable”. Indian authorities have since arrested seven people and suspended three police officials in connection with the attack.
The arrest of Das, the Hindu leader, seems to be the latest trigger, but tensions have simmered since Hasina was granted asylum by India. Bangladeshi opposition and activists hold a grudge against India for its support of Hasina’s 15-year rule, marked by a crackdown on dissent and human rights abuse.
Anti-India sentiments have increased since August as Hasina has used her base in India to criti
cize the interim administration headed by Muhammad Yunus, a highly respected economist and Nobel laureate.
On Wednesday, Hasina accused Yunus of being involved in “genocide”, adding fuel to the diplomatic fire.
“Today, I am being accused of genocide. In reality, Yunus has been involved in genocide in a meticulously designed manner,” she said in her first public address since August.
Bangladesh’s demand for the extradition of the removed prime minister seems to be the biggest diplomatic irritant between the two countries. “We will seek the return of the fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina from India,” Yunus said last month.
New Delhi’s vocal stand on minority rights has further irked Dhaka.
Yunus has said Bangladesh does not discriminate between citizens based on their faith. According to local media reports, security around Hindu temples and neighborhoods has been increased.
Minorities, particularly Hindus, who form 10 percent of the country’s 170-million population, have borne the brunt of attacks since Hasina’s removal, as they were associated with her Awami League party. Hindus and other minorities now feel vulnerable as right-wing forces are on the rise.
In recent days, India has expressed concern at “the surge of extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence and provocation” against minorities.
“Our position on the matter is very clear, the interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday, referring to the case against Das but Dhaka has instead accused New Delhi of exaggerating the attacks.
