Why Did the Bangladesh Envoy to India Rush Back to Dhaka?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- M. Riaz Hamidullah was summoned back to Dhaka amid rising tensions.
- Incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh have escalated.
- India has voiced serious concerns regarding the targeting of its diplomatic missions.
- Over 2,900 incidents of violence have been documented.
- The Yunus-led interim government must prioritize law and order.
Dhaka, Dec 30 (NationPress) M. Riaz Hamidullah, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, has returned to Dhaka following an urgent summons from the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs amid escalating tensions in diplomatic relations, as reported by local media.
According to sources within the Foreign Ministry, the prominent Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo confirmed that Hamidullah arrived in Dhaka on Monday night after receiving this significant directive.
Reports indicate that the envoy was called back from Delhi for critical discussions regarding the current state of bilateral relations with India.
The relationship has been strained due to increasing violence directed at Hindu minorities and the recent targeting of Indian diplomatic missions in Bangladesh under the leadership of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
Last week, India expressed serious concerns regarding the ongoing incidents of violence against religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, in Bangladesh, stating its vigilant observation of the evolving situation in the region.
"India is closely monitoring the developments and has voiced serious concerns over the continued aggression faced by minorities, particularly Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists. We condemn the recent murder of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and anticipate that justice will be served," stated the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaswal during a recent briefing in New Delhi.
Over 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities, encompassing killings, arson, and land seizures, have been documented throughout the interim government's tenure. These occurrences cannot be dismissed as mere media exaggerations or attributed to political violence, he added.
Condemning the ongoing hostility towards minorities in Bangladesh, India has also rejected the false anti-India narratives being propagated within the country, reiterating that ensuring law and order is the responsibility of the Yunus-led interim government.
"We categorically reject the false narrative being presented in Bangladesh. It is the duty of the Bangladesh interim government to maintain law and order and ensure security. Any portrayal suggesting otherwise is completely misleading, and we reject that notion," Jaiswal stated.
Earlier, on December 17, the MEA summoned the Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, to communicate New Delhi's strong apprehensions regarding the deteriorating security landscape in Bangladesh.
The MEA specifically highlighted concerns regarding certain extremist factions announcing intentions to jeopardize the security around the Indian mission in Dhaka.
India has also called for the Yunus-led interim government to uphold its diplomatic responsibilities by safeguarding Indian missions and personnel in Bangladesh.