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[🇧🇩] Indo-Bangla Relation: India's Regional Ambition, Geopolitical Reality, and Strategic Options For Bangladesh

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[🇧🇩] Indo-Bangla Relation: India's Regional Ambition, Geopolitical Reality, and Strategic Options For Bangladesh
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‘India stayed silent for 15 years, now offers advice on election’

Foreign Adviser Touhid says India's advice on Bangladesh’s election not acceptable

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Photo: Collected

Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain has said that India's "advice" on Bangladesh's election is not acceptable.

"In the latest statement they have given, some advice has been given to us. I do not think there is any need for us to be advised this way. We do not seek advice from our neighbours on how the election will be in Bangladesh," he told reporters at the foreign ministry today.

In a statement today, Indian Ministry of External Affairs said India is in favour of peace and stability in Bangladesh and have consistently called for free, fair, inclusive and credible elections, conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

Touhid said the interim government has clearly stated from day one that it wants to create an environment where people can go and vote in a highly standard manner -- an environment that did not exist for the past 15 years.

March to Indian High Commission: Police block July Oikya procession in North Badda
"India is now advising us on this, and I find it completely unacceptable," he said. "For the past 15 years, when the government they enjoyed an extremely close relationship with conducted farcical elections, they did not utter a single word."

Touhid said the interim government is now moving towards a good election and there is no need to advise the government at this moment.

"We know what we will do. We will hold a good election where people can vote and those whom they vote for will be elected, which did not happen in the last 15 years," the foreign adviser said.

Touhid was also asked to comment on other countries, including the European Union, that offer advice on elections.

In response, he said the situations were not exactly the same. "We are always in communication with them, and they also maintain contact with the Election Commission, because we want them to send their observers here," he said.

"Issuing a statement and advising that the election must be like this or that is something different," he added.

"We cannot accept this advice, especially because this sentiment was not visible from them for the past 15 years. Why did it suddenly emerge now?" the foreign adviser said.​
 
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Why would extremists be allowed to enter that area: Foreign affairs adviser

Diplomatic Correspondent Dhaka
Published: 21 Dec 2025, 19: 19

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Foreign adviser Touhid Hossain at the secreatariat todayProthom Alo

Foreign affairs adviser Touhid Hossain has questioned why members of an extremist Hindu organisation were allowed to gather in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi. He stated that, following the incident, the family of the Bangladesh High Commissioner posted in Delhi has been feeling at risk.

Responding to newspersons at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday afternoon over the protest that took place in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi on Saturday night, adviser Touhid Hossain said that the Bangladesh mission is located in a highly secure area within the diplomatic zone in Delhi. He questioned how Hindu extremists could have entered that area, suggesting that it seemed as if they had been allowed in, which should not normally be possible.

Late on Saturday night, a group of people staged a protest in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi under the banner of ‘Akhand Hindu Rashtra Sena’. The group, numbering around 20 to 25, displayed a banner for roughly 20 minutes and shouted various slogans against Bangladesh. During the protest, the demonstrators reportedly threatened Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah.

Touhid Hossain said, “They claim it was a group of 20–25 people. How could a small group of 25 or 30 Hindu extremists enter such a sensitive area? Were they allowed to? Normally, they should not have been able to get in. They did not simply protest against the killing of a Hindu citizen; they said many other things, which we are aware of.”

The Foreign affairs adviser added, “I do not have proof, but we have heard that threats were made against the High Commissioner. Why would anyone come there just to threaten him?” He also stated that since the incident, the High Commissioner’s family in Delhi has been feeling threatened and unsafe.​
 
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India-Bangladesh relations moving towards crisis

Foreign adviser questions why Indian authorities allowed protest near Bangladesh High Commission.

The India-Bangladesh ties, which came under strain following the August 5 political changeover, have deteriorated further, with both countries voicing concerns over security of their missions.

Yesterday, the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in Chattogram city suspended its operations until further notice, citing the recent security situation at the Assistant High Commission of India (AHCI) in the port city.

Last week, the IVACs in Dhaka, Khulna and Rajshahi remained partially closed for one day each, citing security concerns amid protests in the three cities.

Dhaka and New Delhi issued conflicting statements yesterday over a demonstration near the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.

The Indian external affairs ministry said a group of 20-25 youths protested on Saturday against the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a garment worker, by a mob in Mymensingh, and called for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh, but did not create any security situation.

At a media briefing, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Indian external affairs ministry, said they noticed misleading propaganda by some sections of the Bangladeshi media regarding the incident.

He said there was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation at any time, and that the police stationed at the spot dispersed the group after a few minutes.

In Dhaka, at a press briefing at the foreign ministry yesterday, Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain questioned why the Indian authorities allowed protesters to enter and demonstrate in the secure diplomatic zone where the Bangladesh High Commission is located.

He rejected the Indian press note regarding the event, and said the matter was not as simple as it was portrayed.

"Our mission, the Bangladesh mission, is located deep within the diplomatic area. It is not situated on the outskirts or at the entrance of the diplomatic zone," he said.

"How could a group of 25 or 30 people from a Hindu extremist organisation manage to reach so far into a secure area?"

Touhid said those individuals normally would not have been able to enter in this manner unless they were permitted.

"Standing there, they did not just give slogans protesting the killing of the Hindu man; they said much more."

He said the information he received suggested that death threats were issued to Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah, who resides there with his family. They felt threatened and panicked due to inadequate security as only two guards were present.

"Therefore, we believe it is the responsibility of that country to handle the situation more effectively."

Usually, when a protest group marches toward such a secure area, police stop them at a considerable distance from the zone. This is standard practice everywhere, including in Bangladesh, he said.

Touhid further said a Bangladeshi citizen was brutally murdered, and there is no justification for equating this with minority security issues here. Bangladeshi authorities took immediate action.

"Such incidents occur not just in Bangladesh; they happen across all countries in this region, and it is every country's responsibility to take appropriate measures. Bangladesh is taking such measures; others should do the same."

Referring to New Delhi's statement, he said Dhaka has taken note of India's commitment to ensuring the security of all Bangladesh missions in India.

He said both countries are maintaining regular contact regarding the security of their missions.

Asked whether Dhaka is considering reducing the number of staff in the mission, Touhid said they would do so if such a situation arises. For now, Dhaka trusts that India will take appropriate security measures.

Earlier, India had drastically restricted visa issuance and trade with Bangladesh following the August 5 changeover, when deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi. On the other hand, Dhaka imposed restrictions on the import of Indian yarn through land ports.

While Delhi repeatedly expressed concerns over alleged attacks on minorities after the August changeover, Dhaka said these were internal matters and political in nature, and India should not intervene. Dhaka also spoke of exaggeration of certain incidents and the spread of misinformation and disinformation by sections of the Indian media.

Bangladesh repeatedly called on India to prevent Hasina from making incendiary comments, arguing that such remarks were creating instability in Bangladesh.

It also requested India twice -- once in December last year and again in November this year -- to extradite Hasina after the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced her and ex-minister Asaduzzaman Khan to death.

In a recent media interview, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said it was up to Hasina to decide whether to return home -- a statement analysts view as an indication that India is unlikely to extradite Hasina anytime soon.

The latest escalation in Dhaka-Delhi tensions followed the shooting and subsequent death of Inqilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi. There were news reports that the alleged shooter reportedly fled to India.

On December 14, Bangladesh's foreign ministry summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma and drew attention to "anti-Bangladesh activities" by fugitive Awami League members currently based in India.

"These activities include planning, organising and facilitating terrorist acts inside Bangladesh with the objective of disrupting the forthcoming elections," said the ministry statement.

The ministry also said Hasina has been calling on her supporters to engage in terrorist activities aimed at destabilising the country and derailing the election.

It urged New Delhi to ensure the immediate arrest and extradition of suspects involved in the shooting of Hadi -- a key figure of the July uprising -- should they enter Indian territory.

Delhi rejected Dhaka's assertions the same day, saying India "never allowed its territory to be used for activities inimical to the interests of the friendly people of Bangladesh".

On December 17, the Indian foreign ministry summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner to India to express strong concerns over the "deteriorating security environment" in Bangladesh.

In a statement later that day, it said, "India completely rejects the false narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh."

"It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents."

Delhi also said it supports peace and stability in Bangladesh and has consistently called for free, fair, inclusive, and credible elections conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

In reaction to the statement, Touhid said that no advice was needed from India, which did not speak about any elections during the AL regime.

The same day, the IVAC at the Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka was shut at 2:00pm, citing security situation.

The announcement came as people under the banner of July Oikya planned to lay siege to the Indian High Commission, demanding repatriation of Hasina and her aides who fled to India. Police intercepted the march at Rampura.​
 
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Bangladesh ‘suspends’ visa services at Delhi, Agartala missions

bdnews24.com
Published :
Dec 22, 2025 21:03
Updated :
Dec 22, 2025 22:55

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Bangladesh has reportedly suspended visa services at its missions in India.

On Monday, the foreign ministry officials, who declined to be named, said notices about the suspension have been affixed at the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi and the Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Tripura.

The suspension comes amid a spate of tensions and conflicting statements about allegations of a commotion and threats outside the Bangladesh missiion in Delhi.

The move follows a series of protests in Dhaka on Thursday night over the killing of Sharif Osman bin Hadi, the convenor of the Inqilab Moncho.

That night, two newspaper offices and the Chhayanaut building were attacked in the capital.

Meanwhile, in Chattogram, a group of people protested outside the Indian Assistant High Commission, reportedly hurling stones at the mission.

As a result, operations at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) in the port city were suspended from Sunday until further notice.

On the same night in Bhaluka, a factory worker, Dipu Chandra Das, 28, was beaten to death following allegations of religious blasphemy. His body was then tied to a tree branch and set on fire.

On Saturday night in Delhi, 20–25 members of an organisation called the “Akhand Hindu Rashtra Sena” protested outside the Bangladesh High Commission.

They reportedly shouted slogans against Bangladesh and allegedly threatened High Commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah.

Citing the high commission’s Press Minister Md Faisal Mahmud media reports on Sunday said the protestors spoke in a mix of Bengali and Hindi, raising slogans such as “Hindus must be protected” and “catch the high commissioner”.

“They shouted at the main gate briefly before leaving,” he added.

In response, Indian foreign ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said a small group of around 20 to 25 people gathered outside the mission on Dec 20 to protest the killing of Dipu Das in Mymensingh and to call for the protection of minorities in Bangladesh.

“There was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation at any time,” Jaiswal said, adding that police officers stationed at the spot dispersed the group after a few minutes and that video footage of the incident was publicly available.

India’s foreign ministry said it remained committed to ensuring the safety of foreign diplomatic missions in line with its obligations under the Vienna Convention.

Jaiswal said India was “closely monitoring” developments in Bangladesh and remained in contact with Bangladeshi authorities.

He said New Delhi had conveyed “strong concerns” over attacks on minorities and urged that those responsible for the killing of Dipu Chandra Das be brought to justice.

Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain rejected India’s account, saying the protesters from a “Hindu extremist organisation” were allowed to reach the Bangladesh mission, which is located deep inside a diplomatic zone.

“We completely reject what has been said in the Indian press note,” Touhid said. “The issue is not as simple as it has been presented.

He questioned how a group of 25 or 30 people from an “extremist organisation” could gain access to such a highly “sanitised” zone.

The advisor said the protestors did more than raise slogans about the killing of Dipu Das, and media reports suggesting otherwise were partially “misleading”.

“They did not just stand there and raise slogans protesting the killing of that Hindu citizen and then leave. They said many other things as well, we are aware of that,” he said.

Raising questions over security arrangements, Touhid said protest groups are usually informed in advance and stopped at a distance by police, with only two representatives allowed to submit documents if necessary.

“This is the norm everywhere, including in our country,” he said.

Responding to India’s call for ensuring the safety of minorities in Bangladesh, Touhid said the brutal killing of a Bangladeshi citizen should not be framed as a minority issue.

“He was a Bangladeshi citizen who was murdered, and Bangladesh has taken immediate action. Several arrests have already been made,” he said.

“Such incidents do not occur only in Bangladesh. They happen across the region. It is the responsibility of every country to take appropriate action, and Bangladesh is doing so. Others should do the same. The way this has been presented is not acceptable,” he added.

Touhid also said normal security protocols were not properly followed at the Bangladesh High Commission. “We believe the usual security rules were not properly enforced. India has said it ensures security at all missions, and we have taken note of that.”

Asked if the government would consider scaling back operations at the mission to ensure diplomats’ safety, he said such steps would be taken if the situation warranted it.

“For now, we still trust that India will take appropriate security measures.”

On whether there were security lapses at the mission, Touhid, who previously served at the Delhi mission, said the issue went beyond slogans being raised.

“A family lives inside the mission. The high commissioner and his family reside there.

“They felt threatened and alarmed because adequate security was not in place. There were only two guards, and they stood by without intervening,” he added.​
 
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Bangladesh seeks swift action after India pledges protection of diplomatic missions

bdnews24.com
Published :
Dec 23, 2025 20:07
Updated :
Dec 23, 2025 20:07

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In response to protests targeting Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions in India, Dhaka has sought tangible follow-up to a security pledge from New Delhi.

On Tuesday afternoon, foreign ministry spokesperson SM Mahbubul Alam said the high commissioner of India in Dhaka was summoned, and the interim government “formally expressed its deep concern and protest”.

“India assured us that the matter would be treated with the utmost seriousness. Bangladesh hopes this assurance will soon translate into concrete action,” he said.

When asked about the response received from India following the summons, the foreign ministry reiterated that the issue was taken “seriously” by Delhi.

The unrest began on Saturday night, when activists of an extremist Hindu group demonstrated outside the Bangladesh High Commission and the high commissioner’s residence in Delhi, issuing threats.

Protests continued on Monday in Agartala outside the Bangladeshi mission and at the visa centre in Siliguri, escalating to vandalism.

On Tuesday morning, in line with scheduled actions by the Vishva Hindu Parishad, or World Council of Hindus, and its youth wing Bajrang Dal, the Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma was summoned by the foreign ministry to address the concerns in Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai.​
 
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Bangladesh High Commissioner summoned in Delhi on pretext of tea invitation

Diplomatic Correspondent Dhaka
Updated: 23 Dec 2025, 22: 36

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Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, Mohammad Riaz HamidullahBangladesh High Commission, New Delhi website

India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Delhi, M Riaz Hamidullah, by extending a tea invitation.

The meeting took place on Tuesday afternoon.

This marked the fourth instance in the past 10 days in which the two countries have summoned each other’s diplomats to convey protests and express concerns over various issues.

Tensions between Bangladesh and India continued today, Tuesday for the fourth consecutive day. At the start of the day, India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka. During the meeting, Bangladesh conveyed its deep concern to the Indian government over the protests and threats outside the Bangladesh High Commission and the High Commissioner’s residence in New Delhi on 20 December, as well as the vandalism carried out by members of several Hindutva organisations at the Bangladesh visa centre in Siliguri on 22 December.

In response, India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, M Riaz Hamidullah, in Delhi in the afternoon. According to diplomatic sources, Joint Secretary B. Shyam of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs told the Bangladeshi High Commissioner during the meeting that Bangladesh had recently been reacting unreasonably and irrelevantly to several issues. Rejecting the allegation, the Bangladeshi High Commissioner said that Bangladesh was presenting its positions on various issues based on ground realities.

Since the mass uprising in July last year that led to the fall of the Awami League government, relations between Bangladesh and India have been marked by tensions. However, in these 16 months, this is the first time that on the same day, a diplomat from one country was summoned in the morning, followed by a diplomat from the other country being summoned in the afternoon.​
 
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Bangladesh-India ties under further strain
Protests flare in India after Indian envoy summoned
Staff Correspondent 23 December, 2025, 16:10

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Security personnel try to stop Vishva Hindu Parishad activists along with others during a protest march near the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Tuesday. | AFP Photo

Several hundreds of Hindu protesters on Tuesday demonstrated before the Bangladesh missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Agartala along with other places in India hours after the Bangladesh foreign ministry in the morning summoned the Indian high commissioner amid escalating tension in bilateral relations over a series of recent incidents.

Holding saffron flags and shouting slogans against the lynching of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, hundreds of supporters of the Vishva Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal broke barricades and clashed with police near the fortified Bangladesh high commission in Delhi on Tuesday, Indian newspaper The Hindu reported in the afternoon.

Protesters forced several barricades down as police struggled to contain the surge protesting at the lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, according to the reports available online.

The protesters raised slogans and held banners against the Bangladesh government. ‘Hindu rakt ki ek ek boond ka hisaab chahiye (You must be held accountable for each drop of blood of a Hindu),’ a placard read as reported by the local media.

Meanwhile, foreign secretary Asad Alam Siam conveyed Bangladesh’s grave concern to India summoning the Indian envoy, Pranay Verma, at the ministry at around 10:00am over incidents outside the Bangladesh high commission and diplomatic residences in New Delhi on December 20.

Concerns were also expressed over the acts of vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on 22 December, the ministry officials confirmed.

Amid growing tensions between Dhaka and Delhi, India on Tuesday, too, summoned Bangladesh high commissioner Riaz Hamidullah, which the United News of Bangladesh reported in the evening.

This is the second time the envoys to India and Bangladesh were summoned amid the tensions between the two countries following a series of incidents in the two neighbouring countries.

‘The foreign affairs ministry summoned the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma today to convey the Bangladesh government’s grave concern to the Government of India over the regrettable incidents outside the perimeter of the Bangladesh High Commission and residence in New Delhi on December 20 and the acts of vandalism at the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22 by different extremist elements,’ said foreign ministry spokesperson and public diplomacy wing director general SM Mahbubul Alam at a media briefing at the ministry, reading out a written statement.

He said that the visa services at Bangladesh high commission in New Delhi, Assistant high commission in Agartala and the visa centre in Siliguri of West Bengal remained suspended over security concerns.

‘Visa services would resume soon after the situation becomes normal,’ the official added, responding to a question.

The foreign ministry statement said that Bangladesh condemned such acts of premeditated violence or intimidation against diplomatic establishments, which not only endangered the safety of diplomatic personnel but also undermined the principles of mutual respect and values of peace and tolerance.

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.

Bangladesh expects 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, according to the statement.

A sea of banners and placards bobbed in the air, reading denunciatory messages against the Bangladesh government, The Hindu reported from New Delhi.

The area had been secured with three layers of barricading and more force from the police and paramilitary forces, the report mentioned.

On December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched by a mob and his body was set afire over alleged blasphemy in Mymensingh.

Protesters in Dhaka and some other divisions also held anti-India protests near Indian missions recently following the death of Inquilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman Hadi, a critic of the ‘Indian hegemony’, from bullet injuries.

Massive protests were also held in Jammu and Kashmir to protest the violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, NDTV reported.

Hundreds of protesters tried to march to the Bangladesh deputy high commission office in Kolkata, shouting slogans against alleged violence on minority Hindus in the neighbouring country.

The protest march titled ‘Hindu Hunkar Padayatra’ was organised under the banner of ‘Bangiya Hindu Jagaran’. The march started from Sealdah and was proceeding towards the Bangladesh deputy high commission office when it was stopped by the police in the Beckbagan area of Kolkata.

A huge police force was deployed near the Bangladesh deputy high commission office.

The protesters raised slogans ‘Hindu Hindu Bhai Bhai’, ‘safety for Hindus in Bangladesh’ and over the lynching of the Hindu youth in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh assistant high commission in Tripura capital Agartala has suspended all visa and consular services since Tuesday for an indefinite period due to ‘unavoidable circumstances’.

A series of incidents in the recent time dampened the bilateral relations between the two nations already strained since the interim government of Professor Muhammad Yunus took over following the July uprising that forced the fall of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024.

Hasina fled to India on the day and has been staying there since.

The Indian Visa Application Centre in Bangladesh capital Dhaka was closed for hours from 2:00pm on December 17 amid a march towards the Indian high commission, which the police intercepted on its way to the high commission.

The Indian assistant high commission in Chattogram has also suspended its visa services for an indefinite period since Sunday, citing security concerns.

Around 20–25 activists held demonstrations near the Bangladesh mission in Delhi on December 20, chanting anti-Bangladesh slogans.

Bangladesh foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday said that ‘normal security’ was not maintained at the Bangladesh mission in India while the high commissioner, who was staying there with his family, felt threatened.

Rejecting India’s press statement on Saturday’s demonstration before the Bangladesh high commission in New Delhi, he said that Bangladesh would rely on the host country for the security and expected that the incident in Delhi would not be repeated in the future.

About the lynching of the youth in Mymensingh, the Bangladesh foreign adviser said that the murder of an individual was not an issue of minority and it might happen anywhere.

The victim was a Bangladeshi citizen and the important thing was that prompt actions were under way in the case, he mentioned.

The government of Bangladesh has promptly apprehended the suspects in this incident, the foreign ministry release said.

In early December, 2024, a group of Indian protesters launched an attack on the Bangladesh mission in Tripura capital Agartala forcing authorities to shut it temporarily.​
 
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