The Foreign Ministry today summoned Nural Islam, Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, to address the rising tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka.
On Sunday, the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma after claims emerged that India was trying to build fences at five designated sites along the 4,156-kilometre Indo-Bangladeshi border.
These actions were reported to violate a bilateral agreement that regulates border activities.
Verma reached the Foreign Ministry’s headquarters in Dhaka at approximately 3:00 pm local time. His discussion with Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin took around 45 minutes, as reported by the state-operated Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) news agency.
“Dhaka and New Delhi possess agreements concerning the fencing of the border for safety. Our two border enforcement agencies – BSF and BGB (Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh) – have been in touch on this matter. We anticipate that this comprehension will be put into action and that there will be a collaborative strategy to tackle crimes at the border,” Verma stated.
Historically, the diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh have remained stable. However, the removal of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following her government’s collapse during a student-led uprising, led to her taking refuge in India, which strained ties between the two countries.
Last month, the provisional Bangladesh administration headed by Muhammad Yunus asked India to return Ms. Hasina to stand trial.
India’s foreign ministry responded saying the request had been received. “We confirm that we have received a Note Verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today in connection with an extradition request,” a spokesperson for the ministry said, adding, “At this time, we have no comment to offer on this matter”.
