Bangladesh summons Indian High Commissioner over mission security concerns in New Delhi, Siliguri

Dhaka: Bangladesh summoned the Indian High Commissioner, Pranay Verma, on Tuesday to formally protest recent attacks on its diplomatic missions in New Delhi and Siliguri, expressing "grave concern" over the safety of its personnel.

Diplomatic Tensions and Arson

The diplomatic rift follows a series of incidents, including the vandalism of the Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22 and a demonstration outside the High Commission in New Delhi on December 20.

In a statement, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry condemned the "premeditated violence" and intimidation, asserting that such acts undermine international peace and the safety of diplomatic staff.

"Bangladesh condemns such acts of premeditated violence or intimidation against diplomatic establishments, which not only endanger the safety of diplomatic personnel but also undermine the principles of mutual respect and values of peace and tolerance", it added.

"The Government of Bangladesh called upon the Government of India to conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents, to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such acts and to ensure safety and security of Bangladesh's diplomatic missions," the ministry stated.

Suspension of Visa Services

Citing security risks, Bangladesh has officially halted visa processing at its New Delhi and Siliguri facilities. A foreign ministry official informed ANI that the New Delhi High Commission was surrounded by protesters, leading to an immediate suspension of services.

In Siliguri, the official alleged that members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) vandalised the private VFS office, which handles visa processing for Bangladesh, and issued threats, forcing the government to shut down operations there as well.

Conflicting Narratives

The Indian government has dismissed Dhaka’s allegations of security failures. New Delhi characterised the December 20 protest as a "brief" demonstration by 20–25 youths that posed no genuine threat to the mission's perimeter.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the media reports in Bangladesh as "misleading propaganda," clarifying that the protesters were expressing outrage over the "horrendous killing" of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu man in Mymensingh.

Background: The Mymensingh Killing

The bilateral friction is rooted in the death of Dipu Chandra Das on December 18. Das was reportedly beaten to death by a mob and his body set on fire following unverified allegations of blasphemy. The incident has drawn international condemnation and reignited deep-seated concerns regarding the protection of religious minorities in Bangladesh under the current interim administration.

With inputs from ANI