Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul has strongly condemned the recent attack and vandalism at the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala, India, as well as criticised remarks made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
He underscored that this incident reflects a failure on the part of Indian authorities to ensure the safety of foreign missions.
On Monday night (2 December) Dr Asif Nazrul expressed his indignation through a verified post on his Facebook account.
In his post, he stated: “Today, Bangladesh's Assistant High Commission in Agartala was ransacked, and the national flag of Bangladesh was set on fire. This heinous act was perpetrated by members of an organisation called Hindu Sangharsh Samiti. Imagine the uproar and aggressive propaganda India would engage in if a group called 'Muslim Sangharsh Samiti' carried out a similar act in Bangladesh.”
He went on to highlight India's responsibility under international law to provide complete security to foreign missions on its soil, stating, “The Indian government has failed to uphold its duty to ensure the safety of Bangladesh's Assistant High Commission. I strongly condemn this failure.”
Turning his attention to Mamata Banerjee's comments, Dr Asif Nazrul remarked, “I condemn West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statements. India, and Mamata in particular, should instead feel ashamed of the atrocities frequently committed against minority and Dalit communities across different regions of India.”
Concluding his post, Asif Nazrul reiterated Bangladesh’s stance on equal and respectful relations with India: “To India, we say, we believe in friendship based on equality and mutual respect. Sheikh Hasina’s government pursued a policy of appeasement to remain in power without elections. However, India must now understand that this is not Sheikh Hasina’s Bangladesh. This Bangladesh is independent, sovereign, and dignified. This is a Bangladesh emboldened by a fearless younger generation.”
The incident in Agartala has drawn widespread attention, raising questions about the safety of diplomatic missions and the implications of such acts on bilateral relations between the two countries.
