A diplomatic crisis is brewing between Bangladesh and its neighbour, India, following a series of protests and counter-protests over the alleged mistreatment of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. The unrest, which has lasted for several nights, has triggered harsh exchanges between the two countries, threatening to strain their once-close relationship.
The latest flare-up began last week when a Hindu monk, Chinmoy Krishna Das, was arrested in Bangladesh. His detention sparked outrage in India, leading to protests by Hindu activists, including members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The protests quickly escalated, culminating in an incident in the northeastern Indian city of Agartala, where dozens of protesters stormed the Bangladesh consulate, vandalizing the building. This incident has drawn severe criticism from Bangladesh, with the country’s foreign ministry condemning the attack as “heinous” and urging India to conduct a thorough investigation.
“Diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances,” India’s foreign ministry stated, emphasizing the importance of upholding international law. Security around Bangladesh’s diplomatic buildings in India has since been tightened, and police have arrested seven individuals in connection with the attack.
In response, Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser, Touhid Hossain, expressed outrage at the actions of Hindu extremists, calling the incident a direct assault on Bangladesh’s sovereignty. He also criticized Indian media for inflaming the situation, accusing them of spreading disinformation that paints Bangladesh in a negative light. “Indian media has gone berserk over the issue, portraying Bangladesh in the darkest possible way,” Hossain told the BBC.
The tensions between the two nations are exacerbated by the broader context of religious tensions within Bangladesh. Hindus, who make up less than 10% of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, have long faced discrimination and hate attacks, especially by Islamist factions and some political groups. The recent arrest of Chinmoy Das, a former member of the religious group Iskcon, has added fuel to the fire. Das was accused of raising a saffron flag—symbolic of Hinduism—above the Bangladeshi national flag, an act that led to violent protests and the death of a Muslim lawyer.
The fallout from Das’s arrest has left many Hindus in Bangladesh feeling insecure. According to Iskcon officials, several temples have been vandalized, although the government insists that it is providing security for minority religious sites. Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, reassured the public, stating that the government is taking measures to protect religious minorities, even as tensions rise.
Both governments have pointed fingers at each other, and there are growing fears that the situation could spiral further. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, a former Indian high commissioner to Dhaka, advised that India should focus on addressing internal lawlessness, particularly concerning the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi officials have urged India to focus on fostering peaceful relations, rather than allowing religious and political tensions to undermine the shared interests of both countries.
For ordinary citizens, the tensions are increasingly affecting daily life. People who travel between the two countries for business, tourism, or medical treatment are caught in the crossfire of this diplomatic dispute. One traveller, Muhammad Inayatullah, expressed his frustration after witnessing anti-Bangladesh slogans at the Petrapole border in West Bengal. “It’s not nice to hear people shouting slogans against your country when you cross the border,” he said.
The ongoing protests, including those by Hindu activists and students in both countries, have highlighted the volatility of the situation. Religious extremism and political instability are clearly influencing public sentiment, and both governments face mounting pressure to manage the situation before it escalates further. Experts urge both nations to tone down the rhetoric and focus on dialogue, as they are crucial partners in regional security, with cultural and linguistic ties that bind them together.
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