The government of Bangladesh has expressed deep resentment over the violent demonstration and attack by members of the Hindu Sangharsh Samity at the premises of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala on Monday afternoon calling the attack a “pre-planned aggression”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said,“Accounts received conclusively attest that the protesters forcefully entered the premises by breaking down the main gate of the Assistant High Commission in a pre-planned manner. In the presence of local law enforcement agencies, they vandalized the flagpole, desecrated the national flag of Bangladesh, and damaged property within the mission.”
The ministry noted with concern that the local police, tasked with protecting the premises, failed to act promptly to prevent or control the situation from the outset.
The Foreign Ministry underscored that this attack follows a similar violent demonstration at the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata on November 28, 2024. “This heinous attack and desecration of Bangladesh’s national flag violates the inviolability of diplomatic missions, as enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961,” the statement added.
It further stated that members of the Assistant High Commission staff in Agartala now feel a profound sense of insecurity following the incident.
Bangladesh has urged the Indian government to take immediate steps to address the incident.
“The government of Bangladesh calls upon the Government of India to undertake a thorough investigation into this incident, ensure the safety and security of Bangladesh’s diplomatic missions in India, and prevent any further acts of violence,” the statement concluded.
The government also emphasized the need for ensuring the safety of diplomats, non-diplomatic staff, and their families residing in India, stressing that the host government is responsible for protecting foreign missions from any form of intrusion or damage.