India News
The relationship between India and Bangladesh has grown increasingly tense following provocative statements by Bangladesh's main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The BNP has raised claims that states like Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha historically belonged to Bangladesh. A viral video of a Bangladeshi army veteran suggesting the imminent occupation of Bengal has added fuel to the fire.
On December 4, a political gathering in Dhaka, attended by leaders from all major Bangladeshi parties, highlighted these sentiments. BNP General Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi warned, "If India's aggressive stance towards Bangladesh continues, we will demand the return of our territories like Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha." These remarks were followed by anti-India protests by Dhaka University students.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the inflammatory speeches by Bangladeshi leaders. In a session of the West Bengal Assembly, she retorted, "Do Indians sit back eating lollipops if foreign forces threaten to invade us?"
India has expressed concern over the safety of minorities in Bangladesh. During a meeting in Dhaka, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted the importance of constructive and mutually beneficial ties with Bangladesh. This comes amid increasing attacks on Hindus and the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, which have strained the bilateral relationship.
This situation marks the first visit by a senior Indian official to Bangladesh since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent exile to India. The developments underscore the fragile state of India-Bangladesh relations in light of rising tensions and sensitive domestic issues in both countries.
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