Tensions between Bangladesh and India have reached a critical juncture, prompting the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Dhaka to take swift action. Two senior Indian diplomats have been urgently summoned for meetings addressing the rapidly deteriorating situation between the neighboring nations. This dramatic move follows a series of protests and escalating concerns over alleged atrocities against minority Hindu communities in Bangladesh.
The summoned diplomats are Shikder Mohammad Ashrafur Rahman, the Acting Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata (who also holds a ministerial position in Bangladesh), and Arif Mohammad, the Assistant High Commissioner in Agartala. According to reports in The Times of India, Rahman arrived in Dhaka late Thursday, while Arif Mohammad’s arrival is expected by Saturday. The urgency of the situation is underscored by reports indicating that the duration of their stay in Dhaka remains undefined, suggesting a potentially prolonged engagement.
The catalyst for this diplomatic escalation stems from the arrest of Iskcon priest Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari in Dhaka on November 25th on sedition charges. This arrest ignited widespread protests in both Kolkata and Agartala, cities bordering Bangladesh. The intensity of these protests led to protesters breaching the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission office in Agartala, resulting in the temporary suspension of consular services.
The Deccan Herald, citing diplomatic sources, reports that the envoys have been instructed to work from Dhaka until further notice. A senior official from the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, speaking anonymously to PTI, confirmed Ashrafur Rahman’s summons for urgent consultations, directly linking it to the ongoing protests outside their Kolkata mission. This official also revealed Rahman’s role in the upcoming foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries scheduled for next week, anticipating his return by mid-month.
The upcoming visit of India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Bangladesh next week for these crucial foreign secretary-level talks marks the first high-level interaction between the two nations since the Yunus-led interim government took office on August 8th, following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The situation remains volatile, and the outcome of these urgent diplomatic discussions will be closely watched as both nations navigate this period of heightened tension and uncertainty. The focus will be on de-escalation and addressing the underlying concerns that have fueled the recent unrest and strained bilateral relations.
