Mon Dec 09 23:52:19 UTC 2024: ## India Raises Concerns Over Bangladesh Minority Safety Amidst Diplomatic Tensions

**DHAKA, BANGLADESH** – India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri concluded a visit to Bangladesh on Monday, expressing serious concerns about the safety and security of minorities in the country following the recent student-led uprising that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The visit, the first by a high-ranking Indian official since the interim government took power, underscores the deteriorating bilateral relationship.

During meetings with Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Mohammad Jashim Uddin and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Misri conveyed India’s anxieties, citing recent events including the arrest and delayed trial of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a leader of a Hindu religious organization fighting for minority rights. Das’s arrest on sedition charges and subsequent denial of bail have sparked protests in India, including an incident where protesters vandalized the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala. This prompted Bangladesh to withdraw its mission heads from Agartala and Kolkata.

The Bangladeshi government, represented by Jashim Uddin, responded by expressing concern over the Agartala incident and asserting that the safety of minorities is an “internal matter.” They also pressed for the finalization of the Teesta water-sharing agreement and the renewal of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty.

Yunus, while acknowledging the student-led changes in Bangladesh’s political landscape, also raised concerns about Hasina’s statements criticizing the interim government from her refuge in India, saying it was causing tensions. Misri, while stating India’s desire for a positive relationship with Bangladesh, also highlighted “regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious and diplomatic properties.”

The visit comes amidst a complex backdrop. India has yet to fully reinstate visa services for Bangladeshi citizens, prioritizing medical tourists. Yunus appealed to European countries to relocate their visa centers from New Delhi to Dhaka to mitigate the impact of India’s visa restrictions. The interim government also announced plans to expand its advisory council. The overall situation reveals significant strain in the India-Bangladesh relationship, leaving the future of bilateral cooperation uncertain.

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