In a day of swift diplomatic exchanges, Bangladesh summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma and suspended visa and consular services at its Assistant High Commission in Agartala on Tuesday, following a breach of security by an unruly mob. The incident occurred as demonstrators protested the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh. In response, Indian authorities arrested seven individuals and suspended three police personnel connected to the breach.
“Given the security situation, all visa and consular services at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, Agartala, will remain suspended until further notice. This comes into effect immediately,” announced Md Al-Ameen, the first secretary of the Bangladesh mission.
On the same day, Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma was summoned by Bangladesh’s foreign ministry. Following his meeting with Bangladesh’s Acting Foreign Secretary Riaz Hamidullah in Dhaka, Verma emphasized the enduring bond between the two countries. “India and Bangladesh have a wide-ranging and multi-faceted relationship, and it could not be reduced to just one issue,” Verma stated, as reported by The Daily Star. He reiterated India’s desire to strengthen the “dependencies” for the mutual benefit of both nations.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Law Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul criticized the Indian government’s handling of the situation in Agartala, calling it a “failure”. In a Facebook post, Nazrul asserted, “India must realize that this is not Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh.” Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, fled to India on August 5, which has fueled ongoing tension between the two countries.
The unrest in Agartala on Monday saw thousands of protesters rallying near Bangladesh’s mission, voicing their anger over the arrest of the Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and attacks on the Hindu community in Bangladesh.
Addressing Verma’s visit, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain confirmed to the media, “He (Verma) has been asked to come.” According to state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), the Indian envoy entered the foreign ministry at 4 p.m., where he was summoned by Acting Foreign Secretary Reaz Hamidullah.
The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das has further escalated tensions between the neighboring nations. The monk, accused of sedition, had his bail hearing deferred by a Bangladesh court on Tuesday, as no lawyer appeared to represent him. The hearing has been rescheduled for January 2.
Swatantra Gauranga Das, an associate of the monk at the Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, claimed that legal representatives were intimidated into not appearing. He alleged that a “politically motivated lawyers’ group” had issued threats, leading to the monk’s absence of representation in court.
The current tensions highlight the complexities in the India-Bangladesh relationship, especially after Sheikh Hasina’s recent departure to India. Despite the diplomatic challenges, both countries have expressed a desire to continue cooperation and avoid reducing their broader relationship to isolated incidents.