Bangladesh has pushed back against India’s characterization of a protest outside its high commission in New Delhi as “misleading propaganda”, calling the incident “highly regrettable”.
Bangladeshi media reported that around 20 to 25 individuals assembled outside the Bangladesh High Commission on Saturday evening. Mission officials said the protesters shouted anti-Bangladesh slogans and issued threats against Bangladesh’s High Commissioner, Prothom Alo reported.
Responding to the reports, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Sunday that India had taken note of “misleading propaganda in sections of the Bangladesh media on the incident”.
He stated: “The fact is that about 20-25 youth gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 20 and raised slogans in protest against the horrendous killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh, while also calling for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh.”
According to Prothom Alo, Das, a garment factory worker, was beaten to death on December 18 in Mymensingh on accusations of blasphemy, and his body was later set ablaze. The report said that 10 suspects had been arrested in connection with the killing.
Jaiswal said that “There was no attempt to breach the fence or create a security situation at any time. The police stationed at the spot dispersed the group after a few minutes.”
He added: “Visual evidence of these events is available publicly for all to see. India is committed to ensure the safety of foreign missions/posts in its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention.”
The spokesperson further said: “India continues to keep a close watch on the evolving situation in Bangladesh. Our officials remain in touch with Bangladesh authorities and have conveyed to them our strong concerns at the attacks on minorities. We have also urged that the perpetrators of the barbaric killing of Das be brought to justice.”
In its response, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry said the “unjustifiable incident at the Bangladesh High Commission residence in New Delhi on December 20 is highly regrettable and cannot be accepted as ‘misleading propaganda’”.
The ministry said “The miscreants were allowed to carry out their activities right outside the perimeters of the high commission, creating panic among the personnel inside the complex,” adding that the mission had not been informed about the protest in advance.
At the same time, the statement acknowledged the Indian government’s “commitment” to ensuring the security of Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India.
Bangladesh also dismissed “an attempt of the Indian authorities to depict an isolated attack on a Bangladeshi citizen, who happens to belong to the Hindu community, as attacks on minorities”.
The statement said the government had “promptly apprehended the suspects in this incident” and added that “the intercommunal situation in Bangladesh is better than in many other parts in South Asia”.
It further noted: “Bangladesh believes that it is the duty of all governments in the region to ensure protection of minorities in their respective countries.”
Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have remained strained since former Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India after a student-led uprising last year. Bangladesh has repeatedly sought her extradition to face trial over alleged crimes, while India has said it is reviewing the requests.
On Thursday, demonstrators demanding Hasina’s return were prevented from marching towards an Indian diplomatic mission. A day earlier, India’s foreign ministry had raised concerns about the “deteriorating” security situation in Bangladesh following protests sparked by the killing of a prominent youth leader.
