[🇧🇩] Student revolution in Bangladesh-----how does it impact India?

[Saif]

‘Plot on to label Bangladesh as a communal country’

Stating that there is a plot to brand Bangladesh as a communal country by labelling false allegations of repression against minorities, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday urged all to remain alert to thwart such a move.

www.thedailystar.net

‘Plot on to label Bangladesh as a communal country’
Says Fakhrul; he leaves for London today to meet Tarique

Photo: AFP

Stating that there is a plot to brand Bangladesh as a communal country by labelling false allegations of repression against minorities, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday urged all to remain alert to thwart such a move.

"My only request is that what we have achieved should not go in vain, because there is a fascist sitting on the other side of the border," he said at a student convention held at the Krishibid Institute of Bangladesh (KIB).

The event, titled "Student Convention 2024," was organised by the Thakurgaon Chhatra Kalyan Parishad in Dhaka.

The BNP leader claimed that fascist forces, staying in India, are devising various conspiracies and instigating a series of untoward incidents.

"After orchestrating these incidents, they are spreading them worldwide to portray Bangladesh as a country of fundamentalists, where minorities are being persecuted."

Fakhrul said the Indian newspapers and social media relay such vile incidents as evidence of what is happening in Bangladesh.

"Actually, it is not. Who is doing these things? Why are they doing them? I am saying this because we have no time to be happy that we have won..."

The BNP leader said a sword is still above the heads of the democratic and pro-Bangladesh forces.

"They [fascist forces] are trying to take us back to darkness everywhere. So, we must stay vigilant and alert. Any hasty actions or chaos must be prevented to ensure that no one can instigate it."

The BNP leader also alleged that the Awami League had depleted the country's resources through widespread planning and corruption.

"The economy has been ruined, banks have been plundered, and looting, bribery, and corruption were rampant everywhere. We must put a stop to these things and build resistance against them."

Fakhrul also expressed frustration over the fact that students from different colleges were fighting against each other, despite having once united to overthrow an oppressive regime. "This is not acceptable in any way."

"We must stand against this, as it is a conspiracy...Your [students'] responsibility is to make people understand that this is not the way. I am deeply concerned when I see a lawyer killed on the road in the name of ISKCON, in the name of religion."

Fakhrul thanked the students for their crucial role in helping oust the fascist government through a mass uprising. "Fighting against fascism without resources is nearly impossible, but your courage made it possible."

Throughout Bangladesh's history, he said whenever the people, along with students, united in resistance, victory was always achieved.

FAKHRUL LEAVES FOR LONDON

Fakhrul is scheduled to leave for London, UK, today for a 10-day visit, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

According to BNP sources, Fakhrul is travelling to London to meet party acting chairman Tarique Rahman to discuss political and party matters.

Once Mirza Fakhrul returns, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia may travel to London for medical treatment.​

 

[Bilal9]

Dhaka slams desecration of nat’l flag in Kolkata

The government yesterday strongly condemned the desecration of Bangladesh’s national flag and the burning of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus’s effigy in Kolkata as “deplorable acts”.

www.thedailystar.net

Dhaka slams desecration of nat’l flag in Kolkata
Decries violent protest outside its mission

View attachment 11142

The government yesterday strongly condemned the desecration of Bangladesh's national flag and the burning of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus's effigy in Kolkata as "deplorable acts".

The foreign ministry in a statement decried the violent protests outside the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in the West Bengal capital.

Expressing "deep concern" over the incident, the ministry called upon the Indian government to take necessary measures to prevent such occurrences.

It also urged New Delhi to ensure the safety and security of all the diplomatic missions of Bangladesh in India as well as its diplomats and non-diplomatic members of staff.

A large group of protesters participated in the demonstration in the evening, organised by a Kolkata-based Hindu organisation "Bongio Hindu Jagran".

The protest turned violent as the demonstrators broke through police barricades and reached the boundaries of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, according to the foreign ministry statement.

"They set fire to the national flag of Bangladesh and burned the effigy of the Hon'ble Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh," the statement said.

Although the situation seems to be under control at the moment, there is a prevailing sense of insecurity among all the members of the Deputy High Commission, it added.​

I think it may be time to call in the Indian ambassador in Dhaka to the Bangladesh foreign ministry, and give him an earful before handing him a protest note.

If things get worse, then - recall Bangladesh' high commissioner/ambassador back home from New Delhi and Kolkata. No more visas allowed for Indians.

Both parties have to work at bilateral relations, Bangladeshis should not take this sort of insult lying down.

Indians are having a hard time accepting that the horses have left the barn and that ships have sailed.

 

[Saif]

Kolkata’s flag-burning incident must not recur

Such hostile acts will add fuel to the fire

www.thedailystar.net

Kolkata’s flag-burning incident must not recur
Such hostile acts will add fuel to the fire

Visual: Star

The burning of the Bangladesh national flag and the effigy of the chief adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata was a reckless and provocative act. This incident has the potential to inflame tensions between India and Bangladesh, exacerbating already strained relations. Such hostile displays only serve to deepen divisions.

According to Bangladesh's foreign ministry, violent protests erupted with demonstrators breaking through police barricades and reaching the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission's boundaries, creating a sense of insecurity among the staff. This kind of aggression threatens not only bilateral relations but could have far-reaching consequences, spilling over into social unrest and further instability in the region.

What makes this incident even more concerning is the involvement of certain Indian regional political figures who appear to be exploiting anti-Bangladesh sentiment for domestic political gain. The recent inflammatory rhetoric and actions by some politicians risk undermining India's own foreign policy and could have broader implications. India has long been a vocal advocate for the rights of minorities in Bangladesh, which the interim government has time and again committed to uphold.

One particularly dangerous narrative being peddled is the claim that the arrest of former ISKCON member Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari is an attack on the Hindu community in Bangladesh. This rhetoric is baseless and irresponsible. The arrest has been misrepresented by sections of the Indian media, which serves to stoke fears and fuel divisions. The tragic death of a lawyer during protests in Chattogram has further been distorted to fit this narrative. Initially, some outlets erroneously claimed that the lawyer, a Muslim, had been targeted because he was representing Chinmoy Das, but this was later proven false. Despite this, false narratives continue to circulate, amplifying tensions.

India and Bangladesh share a complex history, but they also share significant economic and strategic interests. The actions of a few individuals should not be allowed to undermine the broader relationship. It is time for both governments, and particularly the Indian media, to resist the temptation of inflammatory rhetoric and focus on strengthening the ties that bind the two nations. The stakes are far too high to allow such provocative incidents to escalate into something far worse.

We urge the Indian media, in particular, to exercise rigorous journalistic principles when reporting these incidents and to avoid taking them out of context, which may lead to exaggeration and misreporting.​

 

[Saif]

Attack on Agartala mission: Student bodies protest at DU

Students of Jagannath Hall join protest, condemn attack

www.thedailystar.net

Attack on Agartala mission: Student bodies protest at DU
Students of Jagannath Hall join protest, condemn attack

Photo: Star

Leaders and activists from various student organisations staged a demonstration tonight, strongly condemning the attack by a large group of protesters from the Hindu Sangharsh Samity of Agartala on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in India's Tripura.

The protest followed rallies held by several student groups, including the Anti-Discrimination Students' Movement and Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, near the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University.

Student leaders emphasised that the incident in Agartala violated the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, which protects the inviolability of diplomatic missions.

They also criticised India's approach, noting that the Indian government has maintained relations with the Awami League, but not with the people of Bangladesh.

They expressed concerns over India's dissatisfaction with the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, and the lack of condemnation from India regarding the mass killings of students and civilians in Bangladesh by Awami League.

The student leaders urged India to respect Bangladesh's sovereignty, stating that the safety and rights of all Bangladeshis, including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians, should be ensured by the Bangladeshi government, not by India. They also called on India to refrain from interfering in Bangladesh's internal affairs.

The leaders further accused India's media of exaggerating incidents of minority attacks in Bangladesh, claiming that India is attempting to politicise these issues. They stressed that Bangladesh enjoys religious harmony, with minorities living peacefully in the country.

Bin Yamin Molla, president of Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, urged all political parties in Bangladesh to unite against India's alleged interference and demanded a ban on Awami League politics, calling it an ally of India.

The protest concluded with students marching in procession across the campus.

During the protest, at least 30-40 residential students of Jagannath Hall, a dormitory comprised of non-Muslim students, went to Raju Memorial to voice their support.

One of the residents, Joy Pal said, "Forget the differences of religion, caste, race, and tribe. We are all Bangladeshis and that is our only identity."

"When it comes to the sovereignty of the country, we will all stand united. We have seen that, at different times, various conspiracies have been made against the Hindus of Bangladesh," he said.

"Not just Hindus, but conspiracies are being made against Bangladesh itself. We all must stand united against these conspiracies."

The attack on the Bangladesh consulate in India should be condemned by every citizen of the country, he added.​

 

[Saif]

Rally held in Ctg to protest Agartala mission attack

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement tonight held a rally in Chattogram protesting the attack on the premises of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala

www.thedailystar.net

Rally held in Ctg to protest Agartala mission attack

Photo: Collected

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement tonight held a rally in Chattogram protesting the attack on the premises of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala.

Speakers from the rally demanded an explanation from the Indian High Commission over the incident.

The rally, organised by the movement's Chattogram unit at the city's Sholoshohor Railway Station, was addressed by the student movement's Central Coordinator Russell Ahmed and Co-Coordinator Khan Talat Mahmud Rafi.

The speakers at the rally said, "Since independence, India has been trying to spread its hegemony in Bangladesh. During the rule of the dictator Sheikh Hasina, India's hegemony was deep-rooted. But on August 5, the student-led mass uprising uprooted Indian hegemony."

Citing recent recent violence and border killings, they said, "These incidents have been caused by a joint conspiracy between Awami League and India. They are yet again hatching conspiracies and plots. Our appeal to the countrymen is that you should unite. Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians -- we all have to maintain the harmony that exists among us. Together, we will resist this conspiracy," said the leaders of the movement.​

 

[Saif]

Dhaka slams 'heinous attack' on its Agartala mission

The government of Bangladesh today said it “deeply resents” the “violent demonstration and attack” by a large group of protesters of the Hindu Sangharsh Samity of Agartala on the premises of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala...The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in

www.thedailystar.net

Dhaka slams 'heinous attack' on its Agartala mission

The government of Bangladesh today said it "deeply resents" the "violent demonstration and attack" by a large group of protesters of the Hindu Sangharsh Samity of Agartala on the premises of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, underlined that this "heinous attack" on a diplomatic mission of Bangladesh and desecration of the national flag of Bangladesh comes in a pattern, further to a similar violent demonstration in Kolkata on 28 November 2024.

"This particular act in Agartala stands in violation of the inviolability of diplomatic missions, as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, asks for," the ministry said.

As it is the responsibility of the host government to protect the diplomatic missions from any form of intrusion or damage, Dhaka called upon New Delhi to take immediate action to address this incident and undertake a thorough investigation into the incident.

Bangladesh sought steps to prevent any further acts of violence against the diplomatic missions of Bangladesh in India, including the safety and security of the diplomats and the non-diplomatic members of staff and members of their families.

"The accounts received conclusively attest that the protesters were allowed to aggress into the premises, by breaking down the main gate of Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in a pre-planned manner," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

In the process, in the presence of the members of the local law enforcement agencies, they vandalised the flag pole, desecrated the national flag of Bangladesh and also damaged properties inside the Assistant High Commission, the government of Bangladesh said.

Regrettably, the ministry said, the local police persons present there to protect the premises were found not to be active in containing the situation from the beginning.

All members of the Assistant High Commission are left with a deep sense of insecurity, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The government of India, in a separate statement, said they are taking action to step up security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and their Deputy/Assistant High Commissions in the country.

"The incident earlier today of the breach of premises at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala is deeply regrettable," said the Ministry of External Affairs.

Diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances, the Indian ministry said.​

 

[Saif]

Agartala ‘security breach’ ‘deeply regrettable’: India

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, also said it is taking steps to step up security in diplomatic missions of Bangladesh across the country.

www.thedailystar.net

Agartala ‘security breach’ ‘deeply regrettable’: India
Indian foreign ministry says action taken to step up security for all Bangladesh missions across India

India today said the security breach of the premises at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, the capital city of the north eastern state of Agartala, is "deeply regrettable".

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, also said it is taking steps to step up security in diplomatic missions of Bangladesh across the country.

"Diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances," the MEA said in a statement amidst rising tensions in bilateral ties.

The comments by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) came hours after thousands of people took out a massive rally around the Bangladeshi mission in Tripura protesting the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.

According to PTI, over 50 protesters reportedly entered the premises of the Bangladesh mission in Agartala, triggering concerns among those present at the complex.

The rally was taken out under the banner of Hindu Sangharsh Samity, an affiliate of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

A memorandum was submitted to the Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Agartala, Arif Mohammad, over the issue, PTI said.

"The incident earlier today of the breach of premises at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala is deeply regrettable," the MEA said in a statement.

It said the Indian government is taking action to step up security for the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and other missions of the country in India.

"The government is taking action to step up security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and their deputy/assistant high commissions in the country," it said.

Last Friday, MEA spokesman Randhir Jaiswal had said that the interim government in Bangladesh must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities as it expressed serious concern over the "surge" of extremist rhetoric and increasing incidents of violence against Hindus.

Relations between India and Bangladesh have come under strain after the interim government headed by Professor Muhammad Yunus came to power following the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5.​