Bangladesh violence: India, Bangladesh spar over Delhi protest against Bangladeshi Hindu man’s lynching, Dhaka claims ‘Hindu extremists’ were…

Bangladesh violence: India(BHARAT) and Bangladesh on Sunday engaged in a war of words over a protest demonstration in New Delhi against the brutal lynching of a Hindu man in the neighbouring country.

What did India(BHARAT) say about protest outside Bangladesh Mission?

In a statement, India(BHARAT)’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) trashed Bangladeshi media reports that the demonstration outside Bangladesh’s mission in New Delhi attempted to create a security situation.

The MEA termed the reports “misleading propaganda”, stating that about 20-25 youths gathered in front of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Saturday, and raised slogans protesting the “horrendous killing” of Dipu Chandra Das, 25, who was brutally lynched by a mob in Mymensingh on Thursday.

According to the MEA, the protestors also called for the protection of all minorities in Bangladesh, and said that New Delhi urges Dhaka’s Muhammad Yunus-led interim government to bring the perpetrators of Dipu’s “barbaric killing” to justice.

How Bangladesh responded?

Hours after the MEA statement, Bangladesh Interim government’s foreign affairs adviser M Touhid Hossain, said that Dhaka “entirely” rejected India(BHARAT)’s comments over “Hindu extremists” demonstration in front of its high commission, and asked how the protesters were allowed to come so close to the installation in a secured diplomatic enclave.

“Regarding the India(BHARAT)n press note, we completely reject it, entirely reject it. The issue has been presented as if it were very simple, whereas in reality it is not,” Hossain was quoted as saying at a media briefing by Dhaka’s state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency.

Hossain questioned how a group of 25 to 30 people, “described as belonging to a Hindu extremist organisation, could reach such a sensitive zone,” adding under normal circumstances this should not have been possible “unless they were allowed the access.”

‘Dhaka compelled to respond’

The foreign affairs adviser alleged that the protesters also did not merely raise slogans over the killing of a Bangladeshi Hindu citizen but made “other statements as well,” and claimed that reports published in Bangladeshi newspapers were largely accurate and not misleading, adding that Dhaka was “compelled” to respond openly following the India(BHARAT)n press note.

However, Hossain noted that the two sides remain in contact through diplomatic channels and convey their positions accordingly, stating that “Dhaka still trusted India(BHARAT) to take appropriate security measures, but would consider scaling back its presence if the situation deteriorates”.

He was also asked whether he had any concrete evidence to back the claims about alleged death threats to Bangladesh envoy in Delhi. The adviser responded in the negative.