On Tuesday, Bangladesh summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma, following the protest lodged a day earlier over the alleged vandalism at its mission in Agartala, Tripura. The incident involved demonstrators breaching the premises of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, vandalizing property, and reportedly setting fire to the Bangladeshi national flag.
Verma arrived at the Foreign Affairs Ministry office before 4 pm, responding to concerns conveyed by Dhaka. A Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry official confirmed his visit, stating that Verma came after being informed about the situation.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Mohammad Touhid Hossain confirmed that the Indian envoy’s summoning was in response to the Agartala incident. Verma, after his meeting with Acting Foreign Secretary Riaz Hamidullah, reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Bangladesh. “India is keen to establish a stable, constructive relationship with Bangladesh, ensuring that no single issue hinders the progress of our ties,” Verma said.
India had earlier described the vandalism as “deeply regrettable.” The protesters were reportedly demonstrating against the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Dhaka. Verma emphasized the broad scope of Indo-Bangladesh relations, stating, “Our relationship is comprehensive and cannot be reduced to one single issue. India is eager to build on interdependencies for mutual benefits.”
In response to the incident, Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, voiced strong concerns. Law Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul criticized the vandalism, calling it India’s “failure” to ensure diplomatic security. In a Facebook post, he said, “We believe in a friendship based on equality and mutual respect. India must realize that this is not Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh.”
The diplomatic tensions come amid ongoing political instability in Bangladesh. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in August following mass protests against her government, and the interim administration under Yunus has since taken charge.
