Bangladesh seeks swift action after India pledges protection of diplomatic missions

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.