- By Nidhi Giri
- Tue, 03 Dec 2024 07:04 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bangladesh Mission in Tripura stopped issuing visas on Tuesday amid escalating tensions with India. The move comes a day after a security breach incident at the Assistant High Commission office in Agartala’s Kunjaban area during demonstrations staged to protest attacks on Hindus and other minorities following the regime change in Dhaka.
“Given the security situation, all visa and consular services at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, Agartala will remain suspended until further notice," a notice hung outside the mission’s gates read.
Bangladesh Summons Indian High Commissioner
The Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Tuesday told the media that India and Bangladesh relations are multidimensional and that ‘there is no reason for Indo-Bangladesh ties to be stuck on one issue’ during his meeting with Bangladesh’s foreign ministry officials.
The Indian High Commission (IHC) in Bangladesh termed it as a “regular exchange".
Earlier in the day, Bangladesh summoned the Indian Envoy to the Foreign Affairs Ministry office in Dhaka. “He (Verma) has been asked to come,” Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain told the media in his brief comment.
The state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) said the Indian envoy entered the foreign ministry at 4 pm. The Indian High Commissioner was summoned by acting foreign secretary Reaz Hamidullah, the BSS said.
Police Officers Suspended, People Arrested In Tripura
Earlier in the day, four police officers faced suspension while seven people were arrested in connection with the breach, police said on Tuesday.
"A suo-motu case was registered at the New Capital Complex (NCC) police station over the incident. Seven persons have been arrested so far for their alleged involvement in the incident," news agency PTI quoted him as saying.
The incident took place when activists from the Hindu Sangharsh Samity were protesting the arrest of former ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das and atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh on Monday.
“During the protest rally, a group of youth tried to barge into the Assistant High Commission office of Bangladesh in Agartala. I condemned the incident. Peaceful protest can be allowed but such behaviour is not acceptable,” Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said over the incident.
MEA Reacts
The protesters reportedly barged into the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh and allegedly resorted to vandalism, an incident the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described as “deeply regrettable."
The tension between the two neighbours simmering since August 5, when deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India, aggravated further with the arrest of the Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das last week.