India and Bangladesh Face Heightened Tensions Following Protests

Verbal exchanges between Bangladesh and neighboring India risk escalating significantly, prompted by demonstrations and counter-demonstrations concerning the purported mistreatment of Hindu minority groups within Bangladesh. The diplomatic ties between these neighboring nations, formerly close allies, have been strained since August. This period saw former prime minister Sheikh Hasina depart Bangladesh following a popular uprising; she is presently residing in India. The recent catalyst for this unrest was the apprehension of a Hindu monk last week. This incident sparked demonstrations across India, involving activists from various Hindu organizations and political figures, notably members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). On Monday, an incident that proved embarrassing for India occurred when dozens of demonstrators breached the consulate building of Bangladesh in Agartala, a city in India’s north-east, and caused damage to the property. Several hours subsequent to this, hundreds of students and activists gathered in Dhaka to protest the intrusion into the consulate. The government of India has disavowed the assault, characterizing it as “deeply regrettable”. India’s foreign ministry declared in a statement that “Diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances,” further stating that it was enhancing security measures for Bangladesh’s diplomatic premises within India. Authorities have apprehended seven individuals regarding this event. However, Dhaka has expressed strong indignation. The foreign ministry of Bangladesh labeled the attack as “heinous” and urged Delhi to conduct a comprehensive investigation and “to prevent any further acts of violence against the diplomatic missions of Bangladesh”. Touhid Hossain, who serves as the foreign affairs adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, informed the BBC: “It is very unfortunate and it’s an unacceptable situation… Hindu extremists broke into the premises, pulled down the flag stand and desecrated the [Bangladeshi] flag. Our officers and other staff were extremely scared.” Officials from Bangladesh assert that the demonstrations in India—some of which occurred close to the shared border—were instigated by misinformation and fervent reporting on the matter by various Indian media organizations. Mr. Hossain, who functions as the de facto foreign minister, commented: “Unfortunately, Indian media has gone berserk over the issue. They are trying to portray Bangladesh in the darkest possible light. I don’t know why they are doing it and how it will benefit either Bangladesh or India, I fail to understand.” Nevertheless, experts in India contend that events unfolding in Bangladesh would naturally have consequences in the adjacent nation. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, a former Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh, informed the BBC: “Feelings are running high in India. Bangladesh should first address the lawlessness there, particularly the attack on minorities.” Bangladesh represents more than just a neighboring nation for India; it is a strategic partner and ally vital for India’s border security, especially in its north-eastern states. Both countries also maintain strong cultural and linguistic connections. Hindus comprise under 10% of Bangladesh’s 170 million inhabitants. Community leaders have consistently reported instances of discrimination and hate-motivated assaults targeting them by Islamists and certain political factions. Following the tumultuous removal of Hasina from power in August, numerous individuals who supported her were targeted, among them members of religious minority groups traditionally perceived as her constituents. Subsequent to several weeks of comparative tranquility, the atmosphere has once more grown tense following the apprehension of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das. He faced arrest on charges including sedition after organizing a demonstration in Chittagong in October, advocating for minority rights. During this event, he was accused of hoisting a saffron flag—a color linked to Hinduism—above the Bangladeshi national flag. Last week, a court in Chittagong rejected his bail application, which incited confrontations resulting in the fatality of a Muslim lawyer. Dozens of individuals have been taken into custody concerning the death and associated unrest. The monk’s bail hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed until 2 January because no legal counsel appeared on his behalf. Chinmoy Das had previously been affiliated with the religious organization Iskcon. However, Hrishikesh Gauranga Das, a senior official of Iskcon in Dhaka, informed the BBC that the monk was removed from the organization earlier this year due to disciplinary reasons. The official stated: “Some students complained that Chinmoy Das misbehaved with them. So, we sent letters asking for his cooperation to investigate the matter. But he refused to cooperate”. Chinmoy Das is currently incarcerated and cannot be reached for comment, though a supporter informed the BBC that the accusations were unfounded and stemmed from “an internal feud between Iskcon leaders in Dhaka and Chittagong”. Swatantra Gauranga Das, the supporter, additionally refuted claims that Chinmoy Das had shown disrespect to the Bangladeshi national flag. The sudden escalation of tensions concerning the arrest has further contributed to the strained environment in Bangladesh. Hrishikesh Gauranga Das conveyed that minority groups in Bangladesh are “living in fear”. He remarked: “They don’t know what will happen. The government is trying [to provide security] but it’s difficult to control most people”. He reported that three Iskcon temples sustained minor damage after being vandalized by perpetrators in recent days. Bangladesh’s interim government asserts its awareness of the delicate situation and states that it ensures equitable treatment for all communities. Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus, stated: “We have deployed additional forces to provide security to Iskcon and Hindu temples and where religious minorities live. There may have been some stray incidents but there are no orchestrated attacks on minorities.” However, religious tensions are a recurring issue in the region, and activists from both nations are concerned that a continuation of inflammatory rhetoric and demonstrations could lead to an uncontrollable escalation of the situation. Hasina’s presence in India has already emerged as a significant point of contention in bilateral relations, and the increasing protests in both nations are expected to worsen the overall climate. Analysts highlight that India and Bangladesh are interdependent neighbors, suggesting that it is time to de-escalate the rhetoric. The demonstrations have also affected everyday individuals who journey from Bangladesh to India for purposes such as business, tourism, or medical care. Earlier this week, as Muhammad Inayatullah crossed into India to visit friends, he observed a protest by Hindu activists at the Petrapole border, located in the Indian state of West Bengal. Mr. Inayatullah conveyed to BBC Bengali: “It’s not nice to hear people shouting slogans against your country when you cross the border.” Further reporting was contributed by Amitabha Bhattasali, BBC Bengali, from the Petrapole border. For more updates, follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.