India summons Bangladesh envoy, conveys concern over security environment

India on Wednesday summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah to the foreign office and conveyed its strong concerns over the deteriorating security environment in the neighbouring country, particularly the activities of some extremist elements who have announced plans to create a security situation around the Indian Mission in Dhaka.

Senior Indian officials firmly told the Bangladesh envoy that New Delhi rejects the false narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh. ‘’It is unfortunate that the interim government has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents,” the MEA said in a statement after the meeting.

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The MEA noted that India has close and friendly relations with the people of Bangladesh, rooted in the liberation struggle and strengthened through various developmental and people-to-people initiatives. “We are in favour of peace and stability in Bangladesh and have consistently called for free, fair, inclusive, and credible elections, conducted in a peaceful atmosphere,” it added.

New Delhi said it expects the interim government in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations.

Amid deteriorating ties between the two nations, the summoning of the Bangladesh envoy came after a leader of Bangladesh’s National Citizens Party (NCP) threatened that Dhaka would shelter forces hostile to New Delhi and help sever India’s “seven sisters” (term used for North Eastern states).