India on Wednesday summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah, expressing concern over the security situation in Bangladesh, according to a statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
In the statement published on the MEA website, India said it conveyed “deep concern” over what it described as a deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh and drew the high commissioner’s attention to the activities of “certain extremist groups.” The ministry claimed these groups have announced plans that could create security risks around the Indian mission in Dhaka.
The statement said India “completely rejects” the narrative allegedly being promoted by extremist quarters in Bangladesh in connection with several recent incidents. It added that, regrettably, the interim government has yet to conduct full investigations into those incidents or share meaningful information and evidence with India.
The MEA reiterated that India maintains close and friendly relations with the people of Bangladesh, rooted in the shared struggle of the 1971 Liberation War and strengthened over the years through development cooperation and people-to-people initiatives. India, the statement said, supports peace and stability in Bangladesh and continues to call for free, fair, inclusive and credible elections in a peaceful environment.
India also said it expects the interim government of Bangladesh to ensure the security of diplomatic missions and posts in the country in line with international diplomatic obligations.
The development comes days after Bangladesh summoned Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pranay Verma on Sunday. In a statement issued then, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it sought India’s cooperation to prevent suspects in the attempted killing of Inqilab Mancha convenor Sharif Osman Hadi from fleeing to India and called for their swift arrest and repatriation if they enter Indian territory.
The Bangladeshi statement also alleged that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was inciting her supporters to disrupt the upcoming parliamentary elections and expressed concern that India was providing her space to do so. It further called for the extradition of Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan in the interest of justice.
