Dhaka: Bangladesh on Thursday summoned the Indian High Commission in Dhaka to protest the territorial violation by an Indian Border Security Force (BSF) boat off the coast of Bhola. Bangladesh said the statement was a protest against statements made by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that it says have “damaged the sentiments” of the Bangladesh people. The Foreign Advisor said he was “extremely concerned, dismayed and very fairly protested” Hasina’s comments.
The Bangladeshi English website The Daily Star quoted Foreign Advisor Touhid Hossain as having told the media that the ministry had lodged a protest with India for the “repeated false and fabricated comments” by Sheikh Hasina on “different platforms like social media”. Hossain said that such statements are instigating instability in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh expressed its ”deep concern, disappointment and serious objection” in the letter deposited to India’s Acting High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pawan Badhe. Bangladesh claimed that “such statements are hurting the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh”. The ministry stressed that these activities amount to hostile acts against Bangladesh and are not conducive to fostering amicable relations between the two countries.
The External Affairs Ministry had urged the Indian government to take appropriate and immediate measures in the interest of mutual respect and understanding to prevent Hasina from making such false, fabricated and provocative statements on social media and other means of communication while in India.
Sheikh Hasina had stated during her visit to India, “The movement launched in Bangladesh is actually intended for killing me.” She accused the then Chief Adviser of the caretaker government, Muhammad Yunus, of being involved in a plot to kill her and her sister.