India on Tuesday summoned Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah and sought a thorough investigation into the killing of Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, as ties between the two countries continue to deteriorate.
India’s move came hours after its envoy to Dhaka, Pranay Verma, was called to the Bangladesh foreign ministry to lodge a protest over what it described as “regrettable incidents” outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi.
In recent days, protests have taken place outside the Bangladesh High Commission following the lynching of a Hindu worker in the violence-hit neighbouring country.
During the meeting at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Hamidullah was told that Bangladesh must conduct a proper and transparent probe into Hadi’s killing, officials familiar with the matter said.
India’s demand for a detailed investigation came amid unverified allegations suggesting an Indian role in Hadi’s death, which have fuelled anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh.
Following Hadi’s killing, protests were held outside Indian diplomatic missions in several parts of Bangladesh.
Last week, a group of protesters attempted to storm India’s Assistant High Commission in Chittagong. After the incident, India suspended visa services at the mission.
After summoning the Indian envoy, the Bangladesh foreign ministry said it conveyed its “grave concern” over incidents outside the Bangladesh High Commission and the envoy’s residence in New Delhi on December 20, as well as vandalism at the Bangladesh visa centre in Siliguri on December 22.
Bangladesh also expressed deep concern over violent protests held outside its diplomatic missions in different parts of India, the ministry said.
Bangladesh has seen fresh unrest since Hadi’s death last week. He was a prominent leader in the anti-government protests that eventually led to the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.
Amid the renewed violence, a Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was killed in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh.
India had also summoned Bangladesh envoy Hamidullah last Wednesday and raised strong concerns over extremist elements announcing plans to create security threats around the Indian mission in Dhaka.
That action followed announcements by certain extremist groups to hold protests near the Indian High Commission in the Bangladeshi capital.
In a statement, the MEA said India “completely rejects the false narrative” being spread by extremist elements regarding recent developments in Bangladesh.
"It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents," it had said.
Also Read: Dhaka summons Indian envoy as ties with India strain
Follow us
