Government of Bangladesh recalled its top diplomats from the missions in Tripura and Kolkata to Dhaka on Thursday (December 5) to understand the originated situation. 

This decision was made due to worsening law and order in India and strained relations between the two countries.

The government had instructed Assistant High Commissioner Arif Mohammad from the Tripura mission and Deputy High Commissioner Shikder Md Ashraful Rahman from the Kolkata mission to return within 24 hours, they will now work from Dhaka until further notice.

With their return, Bangladesh no longer has a diplomatic presence in these two Indian Border States. While visa services are still available at the Kolkata mission, all operations at the Tripura mission have been suspended since an attack by Hindu nationalists on November 28.

Tensions between Bangladesh and India began to rise on August 5, after pro-Indian leader Sheikh Hasina was removed from power in a student-led uprising. Hasina was accused of prioritizing Indian interests over Bangladesh’s, harming the country’s sovereignty and security.

Her removal and the interim government’s review of controversial agreements with India reportedly led to hostile reactions from Indian leaders, including disinformation campaigns aimed at destabilizing Bangladesh’s interim government.

The situation worsened when Bangladeshi police arrested Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das on charges of undermining the country’s sovereignty and supporting alleged Indian territorial claims over parts of Bangladesh. Chinmoy’s supporters and Indian leaders claim the charges are false and part of a broader campaign against minorities following Hasina’s removal.

BDST: 2101 HRS, DEC 05, 2024
MSK