Tarique urges restraint amid rising Dhaka-Delhi tensions

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called on all Bangladeshis to exercise restraint and avoid succumbing to provocations amidst escalating tensions between Bangladesh and India.  

In a statement shared on his official social media accounts (X and Facebook) on Tuesday (December 3), Tarique Rahman noted, "Since the fall of autocrat Sheikh Hasina, inflammatory media commentary and political rhetoric against Bangladesh have been increasing from certain Indian quarters."  

Expressing concern over the surge of misinformation, he remarked, "An echo chamber of disinformation is amplifying anti-Bangladesh sentiment, leading to a climate of division and discord among neighbours. The recent attack on the Bangladeshi consulate in Agartala underscores the destabilising effects of such disinformation."  

Tarique urged international stakeholders to recognise the potential risks of destabilising a nation with nearly 200 million people, stressing that this would not serve the interests of any country.  

He further elaborated, "It is essential to understand the factors that led to Hasina's ouster, the current situation in Bangladesh, and the importance of fostering people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and India, independent of any individual or political party."  

Reassuring the resilience of the nation, the BNP leader emphasised, "Bangladesh faces significant challenges but remains a land of religious harmony and territorial sovereignty. Here, the rights and freedoms of every citizen are upheld, irrespective of race, caste, or religion."