- By Vivek Raj
- Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:56 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Bangladesh government has sent a formal note to New Delhi, addressing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent remarks about offering ‘shelter to helpless people’ from neighbouring country amid violent protests in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud expressed concern that Banerjee's remarks could cause confusion and mislead people.
"With due respect to the West Bengal Chief Minister, with whom we share a very close relationship, we want to make it clear that her comments have a lot of scope for confusion. Therefore, we have given a note to the Government of India,” Hasan Mahmud said, as quoted by United News of Bangladesh.
During the Trinamool Congress (TMC) annual Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee offered to shelter individuals from Bangladesh who are facing difficulties amid ongoing unrest in their country.
ALSO READ: Oppn INDIA Bloc To Protest Against ‘Discriminatory’ Budget At Parliament Today
“I should not speak on the affairs of Bangladesh as it is a sovereign nation, but if helpless people come knocking on our doors, we will surely provide them shelter,” Banerjee had said.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose criticised Banerjee's remarks and said that matters related to external affairs are under the jurisdiction of the central government. The Raj Bhavan in Kolkata has requested a report from Banerjee regarding her statements.
“Public statement by a Chief Minister undertaking the responsibility to provide shelter to people who may be coming in from a foreign nation implies Constitutional transgression of a very serious nature," a statement from the Governor's office read.
Bangladesh has recently experienced violent clashes between police and protesters demanding the removal of a quota system that reserved 30 per cent of government jobs for relatives of war veterans from the 1971 Independence War. Over 130 people have been reported dead, though no official death toll has been confirmed.