India summons Bangladesh diplomat, mobs assault extra homes in Dhaka
India on Friday summoned probably the most senior Bangladeshi diplomat in New Delhi to protest the “persistent negativity” created by the statements of the management in Dhaka, marking one other downturn within the already fractious bilateral ties whilst assaults on homes of Awami League leaders continued throughout Bangladesh.
The summoning of Bangladesh’s appearing excessive commissioner Mohammad Nural Islam by the exterior affairs ministry was apparently a response to the calling in of India’s appearing envoy by the overseas ministry in Dhaka on Thursday to protest towards “false and fabricated” statements by former premier Sheikh Hasina, at the moment in self-exile in India.
Nural Islam was summoned to South Block at 5pm and advised it’s “regrettable that common statements made by Bangladesh authorities proceed to painting India negatively, holding us liable for inner governance points”, the exterior affairs ministry mentioned in an announcement.
The Indian aspect contended that Dhaka’s stance was liable for bilateral relations being at a low level. “These statements by Bangladesh are in truth liable for the persistent negativity,” the assertion mentioned.
Nural Islam was additionally advised that “India needs a optimistic, constructive and mutually helpful relationship with Bangladesh”, and this has been reiterated a number of occasions in latest high-level conferences.
In a response to Bangladesh’s protest on Thursday about Hasina’s remarks made throughout a web-based speech, the exterior affairs ministry mentioned her feedback had been “made in her particular person capability by which India has no position to play”. The assertion added: “Conflating this with the Authorities of India’s place is just not going to assist add positivity to bilateral relations.”
Whereas the Indian authorities “will make efforts for a mutually helpful relationship”, it expects Bangladesh to “reciprocate equally with out vitiating the ambiance”, the assertion added.
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In on-line speeches on Wednesday and Thursday, Hasina launched scathing assaults on Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the top of Bangladesh’s interim authorities, and accused him of indulging in an influence seize and conspiring to kill her and her sister Sheikh Rehana.
Hasina made the speech on Wednesday as a large mob started demolishing the historic residence of her father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh, within the coronary heart of Dhaka. The interim authorities sought accountable Hasina for the violence, saying folks had been offended by her “provocative speech”.
Following the demolition of Rahman’s residence within the central Dhanmondi neighbourhood of Dhaka, protesters attacked and torched the houses of leaders of Hasina’s Awami League occasion and demolished or defaced murals of Rahman had been demolished throughout Bangladesh on Thursday and Friday.
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When overseas secretary Vikram Misri was requested at a media briefing on Friday in regards to the violence in Bangladesh and a reported risk to the Indian mission in Dhaka, he described the demolition of Rahman’s residence as “unlucky” and mentioned: “We might additionally wish to level out that the security of diplomatic premises is the accountability of the host authorities and I’ve little question that the Bangladesh authorities are absolutely conscious of their tasks.”
Requested if the scenario in Bangladesh will determine at conferences throughout Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s go to to the US subsequent week, Misri mentioned, “There shall be discussions on the regional and worldwide scenario. I’d think about this may be one of many points that may come up.”
The house of Awami League presidium member Sheikh Selim in Banani space of Dhaka was set on hearth on Friday, whereas the home of Obaidul Quader, basic secretary of the Awami League and a former minister, in Noakhali area was ransacked and burnt on Thursday.
In Rajshahi, about 100 protesters set the three-storey residence of former deputy overseas minister Shahriar Alam on hearth, whereas a mob torched the house of Awami League chief Abu Sayeed in Pabna on Thursday.
Interim authorities head Yunus responded to the violence on Friday by calling on all Bangladeshi residents to “instantly restore full regulation and order” and to make sure there are not any additional assaults on properties related to the household of Hasina and politicians of the Awami League.
The “anger of the activists who’ve attacked properties is comprehensible” however all residents ought to abide by the regulation, mentioned an announcement issued by Yunus’s spokesperson Shafiqul Alam. The assertion once more sought accountable the violence on Hasina, saying activists had been outraged she “continues to attempt to mobilise her militants” from “her refuge in New Delhi”.
The interim authorities is working with safety forces to protect regulation and order and to guard the lives and property of all Bangladeshis, the assertion mentioned. Regulation enforcement will take strict motion towards anybody creating chaos and anarchy and the interim authorities will deliver these accountable to justice, the assertion mentioned.
