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

[Bilal9]

I think the future is rather foreboding for Indian business interests in Bangladesh, especially re: NE 7 sisters region, after what happened in Agartala VHP attack on Bangladesh Assistant Consulate there.

1. Indian access to all Bangladesh seaports from Kolkata and Vizag will be reviewed and possibly cancelled.

2. Tripura, Mizoram and other NE landlocked states will have no seaport access through Bangladesh

3. All transit access from WB to NE 7 sisters through Bangladesh highways such as Cargo shipments are now cancelled.

4. All bandwidth transit from Indian mainland to NE 7 sisters through Bangladesh is also cancelled.

5. Visa awarded to Indian citizens to visit Bangladesh will be severely curtailed going forward.

6. Indian citizens illegally overstaying their visas in Bangladesh will be sought out and deported from buying houses and Apparel factories.

 

[Saif]

I think the future is rather foreboding for Indian business interests in Bangladesh, especially re: NE 7 sisters region, after what happened in Agartala VHP attack on Bangladesh Assistant Consulate there.

1. Indian access to all Bangladesh seaports from Kolkata and Vizag will be reviewed and possibly cancelled.

2. Tripura, Mizoram and other NE landlocked states will have no seaport access through Bangladesh

3. All transit access from WB to NE 7 sisters through Bangladesh highways such as Cargo shipments are now cancelled.

4. All bandwidth transit from Indian mainland to NE 7 sisters through Bangladesh is also cancelled.

5. Visa awarded to Indian citizens to visit Bangladesh will be severely curtailed going forward.

6. Indian citizens illegally overstaying their visas in Bangladesh will be sought out and deported from buying houses and Apparel factories.

A well articulated response from you, Billal bhai Are you sure that all transit accesses from WB to NE 7 sisters through Bangladesh are now cancelled?

 

[Saif]

India doesn’t endorse Hasina’s criticism of the interim govt: Vikram Misri

She uses ‘private communication devices’ to make comments, while India neither provided nor facilitated any facility for her political activities from Indian soil.

en.prothomalo.com

India doesn’t endorse Hasina’s criticism of the interim govt: Vikram Misri
Prothom Alo English Desk
Published: 12 Dec 2024, 16: 30

India has clarified its stance on fallen prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent criticisms of the interim government in Dhaka, saying that New Delhi does not endorse her remarks and it remains a pinprick in the bilateral relationship.

Indian daily The Hindu reported that the Indian external affairs secretary, Vikram Misri, provided the clarifications while briefing their parliamentary standing committee on external affairs over his recent official trip to Bangladesh.

Misri told the committee on Wednesday that the bilateral relationship with Bangladesh transcends any ‘single political party’ or a government and that India was focused on the ‘people of Bangladesh.’

Regarding the fallen prime minister’s recent remarks while being sheltered in India, the secretary said she uses ‘private communication devices’ to make comments and the Indian authorities neither provided nor facilitated any facility for her political activities from Indian soil.

He reaffirmed the traditional practice of India to refrain from interfering in other countries.

In the face of a student-led mass uprising, Sheikh Hasina fled Bangladesh and took shelter in India on 5 August. Since then, multiple audio clips of her talking to the party activists were spread on social media platforms.​

 

[Saif]

India is responsible for instigating India-hatred in Bangladesh

India needs Bangladesh for security and other reasons. Bangladesh needs India too. If trust prevails between the two, it will be a win-win situation

en.prothomalo.com

India is responsible for instigating India-hatred in Bangladesh
India must understand that the July revolution was not of any one political party or group. This was a mass uprising. It was a mass movement and the fascist Sheikh ruler Hasina was forced in flee in face of this uprising of the people
Maruf Mullick
Published: 08 Dec 2024, 09: 34

Extremists launch an attack on Bangladesh assistant high commission building in Agartala Collected

India's relations with Bangladesh are not quite normal at the moment. Relations between the two countries began to deteriorate particularly after Sheikh Hasina fled in the face of the student-people's uprising in August. From India's behaviour it seems that they simply cannot accept Hasina's fall from power and her fleeing from Bangladesh.

Relations dropped even further with the arrest of the expelled ISKCON leader and spokesperson of Sanatani Jagoran Jote, Chinmoy Krishna Das. Extremist Hindutva followers attacked the Bangladesh assistant high commission in Agartala. They damaged the property and set fire to our national flag. The Bangladesh government summoned the Indian high commissioner in this connection.

A section of India's media is steadily spreading disinformation about Bangladesh. The Indian government has taken no action in this regard.

Such behaviour of the Indian extremists naturally hurt the sentiment of the Bangladeshis. Earlier a group of Indians had tried to stage a demonstration in front of the Bangladesh deputy high commission in Kolkata and launch an attack too. The Indian authorities should have taken due security measures after that incident. India has now expressed its regret after the Agartala incident and taken action against the security guards.

After 5 August Indian behaviour has not seemed friendly at all. Being a neighbour, India has extended its support to Awami League in a one-sided manner. This is gradually giving rise to anti-Indian feelings amongst the people here.

India must understand that the July revolution was not of any one political party or group. This was a mass uprising. While BNP, Jamaat, pro-Islamic elements, left-wing elements joined in the movement, it was a mass movement and the fascist Sheikh ruler Hasina was forced in flee in face of this uprising of the people.

India has displeased the people of Bangladesh by providing shelter to Sheikh Hasina. Though the people were angry, they initially didn't display any anti-Indian reaction. It was after the controlled behaviour of the Indians following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das that the Indian national flag was desecrated at an educational Institution.

But it all started from India's side. Sitting in India, Sheikh Hasina continues with her tirade of threats. She said she will suddenly slip back into the country, threatens to make a list and teach the persons a lesson. In a speech over video in New York, she said the massacre took place at chief advisor Dr Yunus' behest. After giving her shelter, India is provoking the anger of Bangladesh's people further by allowing her to freely make such statements.

A section of India's media is steadily spreading disinformation about Bangladesh. The Indian government has taken no action in this regard. Indian politicians also often make most objectionable remarks about Bangladesh. After the arrest of Chinmoy, West Bengal's BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari even threatened to lay siege to Bangladesh around its borders. He said they would stop sending onions and potatoes to Bangladesh. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee came up with the ridiculous call to deploy UN peacekeepers in Bangladesh.

The attitude of a certain group of Indian media and politicians indicates that they are simmering in fury. Are they furious because Sheikh Hasina was toppled from power? Perhaps Sheikh Hasina had given all to India with open arms. Her fleeing has affected Indian interests. But India should control its behaviour concerning an independent, sovereign county's domestic affairs.

The Indian foreign ministry issued a statement after the arrest of Chinmoy. Bangladesh never makes any statement if a Muslim religious or political leader is arrested in India. This is in keeping with diplomatic norms. But the Indian government and politicians do not give two hoots to such diplomatic norms.

Basically these are the reasons that the people are so irate with India. This anger has been sparked off by the behaviour of Indian politicians and persons in authority. India must move away from this. India must win the confidence of Bangladesh's people, not of Awami League. India must understand the minds of the common people.

Interestingly, the common people in all of the countries that neighbour India do not have a good impression about India. India should keep the goodwill of the countries around it for the sake of security. In attempting to do so, India instead tries to keep the governments of the neighbouring countries in its control, tries to keep those governments in power. That is not durable diplomacy. At one point or the other, the pro-Indian governments of the neighbouring countries have been ousted from power. And accordingly, the people grow a negative idea about India.

It does not look like India has learnt anything from all this. Quite to the contrary, the Indian politicians simply continue to fan the flames. However, it is encouraging to see no one is stepping into India's trap. The people have displayed unprecedented control and unity in the incidents following the arrest of Chinmoy. All race and religions united to keep the peace. The people protested about the Agartala incident, but did not lose control.

For the sake of security, India must do away with extremism and bring about a balance in its relations with neighbouring countries in the light of reality. In the interests of national security India must assure the people of South Asia that as a good neighbour, they will not be the cause of harm for their neighbours. If India can generate this belief in the minds of its neighbours including Bangladesh, then its security risks will automatically be ameliorated.

Since Bangladesh's independence, India has wanted to have monopolised control over the country. It has continuously killed Bangladeshis along its border, it has withdrawn water from its rivers upstream to keep Bangladesh under pressure and ensure its own interests. It has interfered in one election after the other. But if India halts the border killings, shares river water in the basis of bilateral talks, refrains from interference in Bangladesh's internal affairs, then the anti-Indian sentiment will automatically dissipate and the security threats will drop.

India needs Bangladesh for security and other reasons. Bangladesh needs India too. If trust prevails between the two, it will be a win-win situation. But if India unilaterally tries to ensure its own interests, agitation will increase in both countries. Bangladesh's security risks will increase and India's security risks will increase too. In the meantime, the common people of both countries will suffer.

• Dr Maruf Mullick is a political analyst
• This column appeared in the print and online edition of Prothom Alo and has been rewritten for the English edition by Ayesha Kabir

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Seek UN Peacekeeping help for Agartala mission security: Rizvi urges govt

BNP stages protest march in response to attack on assistant high commission

www.thedailystar.net

Seek UN Peacekeeping help for Agartala mission security: Rizvi urges govt
BNP stages protest march in response to attack on assistant high commission

View attachment 11345
Photo: Palash Khan

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed today urged the interim government to seek assistance from United Nations Peacekeeping to ensure security of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala.

"India's law enforcement agencies have failed to provide security to our High Commission. Officials and employees of the Bangladesh mission are feeling insecure," Rizvi said during a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan office.

He also said, "In this situation, the interim government should seek help from UN peacekeeping forces."

Rizvi also alleged that certain extremist religious groups, "instigated by India's BJP", were attempting to create instability in Bangladesh.

He said, "It is unfortunate that these small extremist groups are trying to disrupt peace. We urge the interim government to control these extremists."

However, he urged the Indian leaders to focus on their internal affairs.

"We urge Modi [Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi] and Mamata [West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee] to manage their own issues. Here in Bangladesh, all communities live in peace," he added.

Bangladesh has no hostility toward India's general people, he added.

"As neighbours, we extend the hand of friendship, but if hostility is shown, the people of Bangladesh will not accept it," he said.

He further said, "Anyone who feels insecure should inform the government, and the government will take appropriate measures."

The BNP leader also appealed to international human rights organisations to investigate alleged minority persecution in Indian states.

"We urge them to probe these incidents and take strict action against the perpetrators," he said.

After the press conference, the leaders and activists of BNP and its affiliated organisations staged a protest march in response to the recent attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission at Agartala.

The march, which began around 1:00pm from the party's office in Nayapaltan, witnessed a large turnout of BNP supporters.​

It was not at all a student revolution. It was a deep state plot to topple Hasina to eventually put a puppet government in BD and ultimately create a Christian state in south of BD to keep an eye on China and also India which has refused to obay the US line. All radicals in BD were in celebration mode but now they are facing realities. BD's textile business is down. Inflation is on rise. ISI is eager to revenge 1971. Boycott India has back fired. BD citizens are facing medical treatment crisis. Getting visa for medical treatment is getting difficult. Future of BD seems worse than the future of Pakistan.

 

[Bilal9]

A well articulated response from you, Billal bhai Are you sure that all transit accesses from WB to NE 7 sisters through Bangladesh are now cancelled?

I don't think cancellation is implemented yet by the interim govt. - though the serious process of review may have started.

It is rife in the Bangladeshi media though...

 

[Bilal9]

It was not at all a student revolution. It was a deep state plot to topple Hasina to eventually put a puppet government in BD and ultimately create a Christian state in south of BD to keep an eye on China and also India which has refused to obay the US line. All radicals in BD were in celebration mode but now they are facing realities. BD's textile business is down. Inflation is on rise. ISI is eager to revenge 1971. Boycott India has back fired. BD citizens are facing medical treatment crisis. Getting visa for medical treatment is getting difficult. Future of BD seems worse than the future of Pakistan.

Unless we can prove this deep state thing, can we claim it?

Also - Bangladeshis have already started going to Thailand Hospitals (increased, they were previously going too), Thailand has lowered visa and medical fees.

 

[Saif]

No sign of India changing its stance

The people of Bangladesh do not understand why now, after the fall of Hasina, India is behaving in this manner

en.prothomalo.com

No sign of India changing its stance
AKM Zakaria
Updated: 19 Dec 2024, 21: 06

Demonstrations in Dhaka against attack by Hindutva extremists on Bangladesh's assistant high commission in Agartala on the India state TripuraProthom Alo

The government in Bangladesh has changed in various ways at various times. But never before has India displayed such a reaction. That is why analysts are saying in their discussions and their writings that India has not been able to accept the student-people's uprising in Bangladesh.

It is very natural that India was not happy with Sheikh Hasina's downfall. There was nothing hidden about the interests involved in Sheikh Hasina's relations with India. There are certain concerns in Bangladesh-India relations, certain demands. Sheikh Hasina dispelled India's concerns and met many of their demands. In return, India fulfilled Sheikh Hasina's wants, ensured her stay in power. India had open support for Bangladesh three one-sided elections. The people of Bangladesh believe that if was because of India that Sheikh Hasina could forcefully remain in power for so long.

Sheikh Hasina's fall hit India hard. India may have even been seething within. But there is certain protocol and etiquette that two independent and sovereign countries must maintain. There has been a big change in Bangladesh. The students and the people united to bring an end to the autocratic rule. Does India have any rationale not to accept this change?

India was naturally not happy with the political change in Bangladesh on 15 August 1975. Bangladesh's high commissioner at the time had been Samar Sen. He had been in Delhi on the day of the incident. He returned to Dhaka the very next day. On 18 August he called upon the new president Khandakar Mushtaq Ahmed at Bangabhaban. He read out a diplomatic note from India to Mushtaq. No matter how much the 15 August incident pained India, they accepted the reality in Bangladesh at the time. It may not have been warm, but they maintained working relations with Bangladesh from day one.

India and many others had taken it for granted that Awami League would win the election in 1991. They were taken aback by the election results. It may have hurt them too. But after BNP came to power, India sent Muchkund Dubey as special envoy to take relations ahead. He came to Bangladesh and met with the prime minister at the time, Khaleda Zia. Again, when BNP came to power in 2001 and there were incidents of communal violence in the country, India sent its security advisor Brajesh Mishra to Bangladesh.

The people of Bangladesh do not understand why now, after the fall of Hasina, India is behaving in this manner.

an relations being maintained with the people of any country if visas are held up? Those who go from Bangladesh for medical treatment are in a fix. But if a problem persists, people look for alternatives
Certain Indian friends have come up with explanations. They feel that the India of 2024 is not the same India as that of 1975, 1991 or 2001. India is no longer the India that it used to be -- we can take that to mean India is much more powerful than before. India is now a big economic power and its clout in regional and global politics has increased significantly.

The question is, have there been any fundamental changes in India's foreign policy? Does this change in India mean an effort to maintain its dominance over neighbouring countries? More importantly, what has India achieved through this? India's relations with its neighbours have not just deteriorated, but have turned bitter. India had been maintaining relations with the Bangladesh government (not the people), by supporting Sheikh Hasina. But it has damaged those relations too by taking a stand against the new interim government after 5 August.

Around four months after this, India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri paid a visit to Bangladesh and observers want to view this as positive. During the trip, other than meeting with the Bangladesh foreign secretary, he also met with the chief advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus, foreign advisor Md Touhid Hossain and the army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman. The objective was to assuage the post-5 August tensions between the two countries and restore normalcy to relations.

Returning to his country, he told the parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs that he had told Bangladesh that India would work with the present interim government. He also said that India's relations with Bangladesh were not restricted to any one political party or one particular government. India places importance on relations with the people of Bangladesh.

Diplomats make diplomatic statements. In that sense there is reason to see his visit and statement in a positive light. But in reality are there any indications that India is changing its stance? There were certain incidents of political vengeance and clashes after 5 August. Certain members of the minority Hindu community also fell victim to this.

Such incidents are unfortunate and there were immediate efforts to address these politically and socially. But the Indian government and media exaggerated these incidents and blew them out of proportion, spreading fake news and disinformation. It does not seem that India has moved away from that stance.

It may be mentioned here that with a few exceptions, India's political parties, media and even intelligentsia speak in one voice on the question of foreign policy. They do not view anything critically.

Even when he came to Dhaka Vikram Misri conveyed India's concern about the safety of Bangladesh's minorities. The question is, how are the minorities living in the India that is so concerned about minority rights? Has Bangladesh ever raised this question? Or does only India have the unilateral right to raise such questions.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) regularly publishes a report, the last one coming out on 1 May this year. India is high up on the list of countries with the most violations of religious freedom.

Concerning India, the report said that religious freedom had deteriorated during the rule of prime minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government. The country's constitution upholds the right for everyone to practice their respective religions, but the anti-conversion act is also being applied extensively. According to the report, thousands of Christians and Muslims were attacked in 2023. They were threatened in all sorts of ways. Hundreds or churches and mosques had also been destroyed then.

In the updated report of 2 October (India Country Update), it was said throughout 2024 minorities had been tortured and killed by extremist groups, religious leaders had been arrested, their homes and places of worship destroyed. Government persons instigated these incidents. They made provocative speeches and spread fake news and disinformation.

However, the fact that the religious freedom of the minorities in India is being violated does not justify any form of attack or violence against minorities in Bangladesh. The incidents of attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh at various times are unacceptable and condemnable. The government says that so far 88 persons accused of involvement in such incidents after 5 August have been arrested. Now it is their responsibility to ensure that each and every incident is brought to justice.

In the meantime, at various meetings and demonstrations in various states of India, BJP and other political parties continue alleging that minorities are being repressed in Bangladesh. In Delhi, RSS carried out a siege programme outside the Bangladesh high commission. Earlier Bangladesh's missions in Kolkata and Agartala came under attack.

Just two days ago, on 17 December Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi in parliament demonstrated with her party members against the repression of minorities in Bangladesh. She carried a bag on which it was written 'stand with Bangladesh minorities' in English. In Hindi it read, 'stand with Bangladesh Hindu and Christians'.

It is the responsibility of anyone with a conscience to stand by minorities anywhere in the world. What is Priyanka Gandhi's stand on the minorities of India?

Did she not see the statement made by the Assam Christian Forum (ACF) on 28 November? The statement expressed concern about the continued attack on Christian individuals and organisations there for the past few years. They said that certain person were attacking Christian establishments, telling them to remove the statues and pictures of their faith. Their religious freedom and different beliefs were under attack.

Priyanka Gandhi, it is good of you to stand by Bangladesh's Hindu and Christian. Continue to stand. But please, stand by the Christians in India too!

The people of Bangladesh question how far India's concern about Bangladesh's minorities is sincere or how far it is a threat. There are all reasons to see India's present stance as motivated.

We recall the unfortunate incident of people of the Hindu community coming under attack during Durga Puja in 2021 during the rule of the Awami League. According to Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad, 117 temples and puja mandaps in 27 districts of the country had come under attack at the time and 9 people were killed. India did not react to that in 2021 as it is reacting now. Does India feel that it is not really a problem if the Hindu community comes under attack if Sheikh Hasina is in power?

India is a regional power. It has ambitions of becoming a global power. There is nothing wrong with such ambitions. But a country that wants to be big, must act like a big country too. There does not seem to be any reflection of this in India's foreign policy. After the 5 August change of government in Bangladesh, India's behaviour has no indications of being a big country. India's foreign secretary had said they give importance to relations with the people of Bangladesh. This must be proven.

India has held up issue visas to Bangladeshis for the past for months. People from here go to Bangladesh for business, tourism, shopping, studies and medical treatment. Medical visas are being issued on a limited scale. But can relations being maintained with the people of any country if visas are held up? Those who go from Bangladesh for medical treatment are in a fix. But if a problem persists, people look for alternatives. If things continue in this manner, Bangladesh's people will no longer keep India in their travel plans. Who will stand to lose in the long run?

Prime minister Modi's statement on social media made it clear how India views our liberation war or Bangladesh's victory. He wrote, “Today, on Vijay Diwas, we honour the courage and sacrifices of the brave soldiers who contributed to India’s historic victory in 1971. Their selfless dedication and unwavering resolve safeguarded our nation and brought glory to us. This day is a tribute to their extraordinary valour and their unshakable spirit. Their sacrifices will forever inspire generations and remain deeply embedded in our nation’s history.”

What does Modi's post prove? He claims the victory won through the liberation war on 16 December to be India's victory. Congress leader Priyanka said almost the same. Bangladesh's people do not take such statements easily. There really is no evidence that India gives importance to relations with the people of Bangladesh.

* AKM Zakaria is deputy editor of Prothom Alo​

 

[Saif]

India reacts to Mahfuj Alam's deleted FB post

India has strongly protested against the Facebook post of Adviser Mahfuj Alam, also an aide to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus

www.thedailystar.net

India reacts to Mahfuj Alam's deleted FB post

Photo: Collected

India has strongly protested against the Facebook post of Adviser Mahfuj Alam, also an aide to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.

The social media post taken down within hours of posting it on December 16, stated that Bangladesh would not be able to overcome its challenges in the current location and advocated for an expanded geographic existence comprising parts of several Indian provinces on India's eastern flank.

Responding to a question yesterday (December 20), Indian foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal said India had taken this up with the Bangladesh government. "We have actually strongly registered our protest on this issue. We understand that the post you referred has been taken down."

Jaiswal said, "We would like to remind all concerned to be mindful of their public comments."

He said while India has repeatedly signalled interest in fostering relations with people and interim government of Bangladesh "such comments underline the need for responsibility in public articulation".​

 

[Saif]

India will be responsible if Hasina allowed to do politics from there: Nahid

Information and Broadcasting adviser Nahid Islam today said India will be responsible if ousted Sheikh Hasina is allowed to conduct any political activities from there

www.thedailystar.net

India will be responsible if Hasina allowed to do politics from there: Nahid

Information and Broadcasting adviser Nahid Islam today said India will be responsible if ousted Sheikh Hasina is allowed to conduct any political activities from there.

"India gave shelter to Sheikh Hasina and they have some sort of explanation for this. We asked India to return Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh and that is a diplomatic issue. But if Sheikh Hasina try to do politics from there, if holds political meeting in India, then Indian government will be liable for this," Nahid said.

The adviser said this at a programme on the occasion of unveiling the cover of a book title- 'Sangbadpatra-e July Ovyutthan' (July Uprising on Newspaper) at poet Shamsur Rahman auditorium of Bangla Academy in Dhaka today.

Nahid said, "We, the student-people, will be on the streets to respond to any possible anarchy in the month of February and March."

"We will continue our resistance. We are always ready as attempts are going on to make people worry and create division in our unity," he said.

Nahid asked the editors of the newspapers who played controversial role during the July movement to clarify their role, saying, newspapers played both positive and negative rules during the July uprising.

During the movement newspapers were forced to release prescribed news but many newspapers house intentionally built narratives to support the regime.

"Those who were forced to publish the regime's version, should clarify their position to the public, otherwise they will lose credibility," Nahid observed.

The adviser asked the people to be united for the sake of the country's wellbeing.

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam also spoke on the occasion.​

 

[Saif]

Dhaka lodges protest with Delhi over Hasina’s statements from India

Bangladesh interim government on Thursday lodged a strong protest against the ‘false and fabricated statements’ made by the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina sheltered in India.

www.newagebd.net

Dhaka lodges protest with Delhi over Hasina’s statements from India
Staff Correspondent 06 February, 2025, 17:04

Bangladesh interim government on Thursday lodged a strong protest against the ‘false and fabricated statements’ made by the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina sheltered in India.

The foreign affairs ministry summoned the acting high commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Pawan Badhe, and handed a protest note over to him a day after Hasina’s audio statement was aired on social media and the demolition of the Dhanmondi 32 house of the country’s founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, by a large group of people, including student protesters.

‘We called the Indian deputy high commissioner to the ministry as the high commissioner was not here, and handed our protest note over to him,’ foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters at a briefing at his ministry in the capital Dhaka.

He said that Dhaka had previously urged New Delhi to prevent Hasina from engaging in such activities, but it did not receive any response from New Delhi.

‘The foreign ministry today once again conveyed its objections through the Indian acting high commissioner,’ he added.

Responding to a question, Touhid described Hasina’s statements as highly aggressive, which, he said, could have offended the sentiments of younger generation.

He said that India claimed they were not providing Hasina with a platform to give speeches online.

Responding to another question about the demolition of the Dhanmondi 32 house, the adviser said that they anticipated negative reactions, including concerns over the destruction of the Mujib’s residence at Dhanmondi. ‘But, we consider this as an expression of public anger,’ he added.

The adviser assured that the government would take measures to prevent recurrence of any such incidents.

The building of the Mujib Memorial Museum, which was vandalised and set on fire immediately after the ouster of the Hasina regime on August 5, on Dhanmondi 32 was razed to the ground on Wednesday night while many Awami League leaders’ houses were also bulldozed at places and set on fire on Wednesday night and Thursday, centring on Sheikh Hasina’s audio statement.

In the statement, the deposed prime minister mentioned the demolition of the Dhakamondi 32 house and houses of AL leaders at places and asked the people, ‘What is my fault?’

Hasina said that she had made Bangladesh a role model of development in the world, but there was now a conspiracy to destroy it.

Sheikh Hasina, also the president of the AL, fled to India for shelter amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024.

She is now facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Crimes Tribunal as more than 200 cases have been filed against her for murder, torture and incidents of enforced disappearances during her 15-year authoritarian rule.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh summons Indian envoy to stop Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh has lodged a strong protest with India regarding false and fabricated statements and remarks made by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, aimed at creating instability in Bangladesh through the use of social media and various platforms while staying in Delhi. On Thursday, the foreign...

en.prothomalo.com

Bangladesh summons Indian envoy to stop Sheikh Hasina
Diplomatic Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 06 Feb 2025, 18: 15

Foreign adviser Md. Touhid Hossain at a media briefing at the foreign ministry on 1 October 2024File photo

Bangladesh has lodged a strong protest with India regarding false and fabricated statements made by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, aimed at creating instability in Bangladesh through the use of social media and various platforms while staying in Delhi.

On Thursday, the foreign ministry summoned the acting high commissioner of India to Dhaka and handed him a letter of protest. The foreign ministry announced this in a statement.

In response to questions during a briefing at the ministry, foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain said Bangladesh had formally requested India in writing to prevent Sheikh Hasina from making such statements and remarks, as those are against the interests of Bangladesh.

He also said, "We have not got any response in this regard. Due to recent developments, Bangladesh has once again sent a protest note to India. Indian acting high commissioner was summoned and handed over the protest letter so that she (Sheikh Hasina) is prevented."

The foreign ministry stated that the note handed over to the acting high commissioner conveyed Bangladesh's deep concern, disappointment, and serious objections to such remarks, as those hurt the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh. It also pointed out that such actions by Sheikh Hasina are considered hostile towards Bangladesh and do not contribute to establishing a healthy relations between the two countries. The protest note stressed that this behaviour is not helpful for promoting friendly relations.

The ministry requested that India take immediate action based on mutual respect and understanding, urging them to prevent Sheikh Hasina from making false, fabricated, and inflammatory statements using social media and other platforms while in India.

In the past six months, Bangladesh has summoned Indian diplomats at least four times over various incidents, including an attack on the Bangladesh mission in Agartala and the killing of a Bangladeshi citizen at the border.​