Dhaka lodges strong protest as it summons Indian envoy over mission attacks
Bangladesh on Tuesday voiced strong and unequivocal concern to the government of India over a series of attacks and acts of vandalism targeting its diplomatic establishments, summoning Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.
According to officials, the Indian envoy arrived at the ministry around 9:40am and met Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam.
The meeting was brief, lasting less than five minutes, but carried significant diplomatic weight amid rising tensions following recent incidents in India.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma at least six times since August 5, 2024, when former prime minister Sheikh Hasina left for India amid political unrest, according to diplomatic sources.
Tuesday’s summon marks the second time within 10 days the envoy was called in, as Dhaka expressed concern over security incidents targeting Bangladeshi diplomatic missions in India. On December 14, Verma was summoned over cross-border security issues and related matters.
According to foreign ministry sources, these six summons cover various incidents and diplomatic grievances raised by Dhaka during the interim government’s tenure.
In a detailed press release issued after the meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Bangladesh government has strongly condemned what it termed “premeditated acts of violence and intimidation” directed at its diplomatic missions.
These include disturbances outside the premises and official residence of the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 20, as well as the vandalism of a Bangladesh Visa Centre in Siliguri on December 22 by extremist groups.
Dhaka also expressed deep concern over violent protests staged in front of several Bangladesh diplomatic missions across India, warning that such actions not only threaten the physical safety of diplomatic staff but also violate established norms governing diplomatic relations.
“The government of Bangladesh considers these incidents a serious breach of the principles of mutual respect, peace and tolerance,” the ministry said, adding that attacks on diplomatic missions undermine the very foundation of bilateral ties and contravene international conventions, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Bangladesh called upon the Indian government to conduct a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into all the incidents and to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.
It further urged New Delhi to take effective and preventive measures to ensure that such acts are not repeated in the future.
The Foreign Ministry emphasised that the host country bears the primary responsibility for ensuring the security, dignity and smooth functioning of foreign diplomatic missions.
In this context, Dhaka said it expects the Indian authorities to take immediate and appropriate steps to enhance security at Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions and related establishments across India.
Iterating its position, the Bangladesh government said it looks to India to fully uphold its international and diplomatic obligations and to act decisively to protect diplomatic personnel and properties, thereby preserving the norms of civilised interstate conduct and regional stability.