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2024 attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in India

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Attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, Agartala
Part of Hindu extremism
Map
Agartala is located in Tripura
Agartala
Agartala
Agartala (Tripura)
Agartala is located in India
Agartala
Agartala
Agartala (India)
LocationBangladesh Assistant High Commission, Agartala, Tripura, India
Coordinates23°50′59″N 91°17′02″W / 23.84982°N 91.28398°W / 23.84982; -91.28398
Date2 December 2024 (2024-12-02)
Around 2.00 p.m. (UTC+5:30)
Attack type
Vandalism
PerpetratorsHindu Sangharsh Samity
MotiveTo protest and demand Chinmoy Krishna Das' release
Accused7

On 2 December 2024, an attack took place at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, the capital of the Indian state of Tripura. The attackers were identified as members of Hindu Sangharsh Samity, a far-right Hindutva group affiliated to the Vishva Hindu Parishad.[1][2]

Background

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Diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and India began to deteriorate after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, a strong ally of India, after the Students-Peoples' uprising in July–August 2024. As the Indian media began a disinformation campaign against Bangladesh, the Indian government repeatedly expressed concerns over what they perceive violent communal attacks on the Bangladeshi Hindus.[3][4][5]

On 25 November 2024, Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Bangladeshi Hindu community leader and spokesperson of Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Mancha was arrested on sedition charges, leading to widespread protests in India. Demanding the release of Das, on 27 November, Bharatiya Janata Party's West Bengal chief Suvendu Adhikari threatened to stage a blockade at the Bangladesh–India border on 2 December.[6] On 29 November, members of the Hindu organisation, Bongio Hindu Jagran, broke the police barricade and burned the national flag of Bangladesh and effigy of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the boundary of the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata, to which the government of Bangladesh expressed official condemnation.[7] In Assam's Karimganj District, around 40,000 members of the Sanatani Aikya Mancha, chanting Jai Shri Ram, attempted to cross the border with Bangladesh to "avenge alleged attacks on minority Hindus".[8]

Event

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Hindu Sangharsh Samity were holding anti-Bangladeshi protests for several days in Agartala, the capital of the Northeast Indian state of Tripura which shares a border with Bangladesh.[2] On 2 December, 2024, at around 2 p.m. IST, members of the organisation appeared at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala and entered its premises, chanting Jai Shri Ram.[9] The attackers "took down the Bangladesh flag, set it on fire, and caused some vandalism inside the building".[2]

Following the incident, all kinds of visa and consular services at the Assistant High Commission was closed for indefinite time by the Bangladeshi authorities.[10]

Reactions

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The Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an official statement expressing "deep resentment" and called the attack "pre-planned" which took place in the presence of the local law enforcement officials. The statement also noted that the attack was a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961.[11] The Ministry also summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Pranay Kumar Verma.[12]

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus called for national unity to counter the "misinformation" of Indian media.[13] Two advisers of the interim government, Nahid Islam and M Sakhawat Hossain, also criticised Indian government for the incident.[13]

Protests were held by different political and student organisations in Bangladesh, including Anti-discrimination Students Movement, Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Gono Odhikar Parishad and Jatiya Nagorik Committee, condemning the attack.[14][13]

On 10 December, Spokesperson for the US Department of State Matthew Miller expressed deep concern over the incident and urged both sides to resolve diplomatic disputes peacefully.[15]

Prosecution

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On 3 December, seven individuals were detained on suspicion of being involved in the attack and three policemen posted at the Assistant High Commission area were suspended for alleged negligence in duty.[16][10]

References

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  1. ^ "ISKCON row: Far-right outfits breach Bangladesh mission in Agartala". The Siasat Daily. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Bangladesh assistant high commission in Agartala attacked, flag torched". Prothom Alo. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  3. ^ প্রতিবেদক, নিজস্ব (11 August 2024). বাংলাদেশে হিন্দুদের ওপর হামলা নিয়ে ভারতে অপতথ্যের প্রচার. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Misinformation over Hindus being targeted in Bangladesh fuels Islamophobia fears". South China Morning Post. 23 August 2024. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Disinformation About Attacks on Minorities Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Bangladesh". The Diplomat. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
  6. ^ Nag, Jayatri (27 November 2024). "BJP Bengal unit-led Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari plans border blockade, demands halt on trade to Bangladesh over ISKCON monk's arrest". The Economic Times. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Dhaka condemns desecration of national flag outside Bangladesh mission in Kolkata". The Business Standard. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  8. ^ "'Chalo Bangladesh': Protesters nearly cross India's Assam border to avenge alleged attacks on minority Hindus". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  9. ^ Hasnat, Karishma (2 December 2024). "Security tightened after protesters enter Bangladesh mission in Agartala, MEA says 'deeply regrettable'". ThePrint. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Bangladesh Assistant High Commission shuts down visa, consular services at Agartala after mob breach". The Indian Express. 3 December 2024.
  11. ^ "Dhaka resents 'heinous attack' on Agartala mission". The Business Standard. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  12. ^ "MOFA summons Indian envoy Pranay Verma". The Business Standard. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  13. ^ a b c "Attack on Agartala mission: Protests mount, Yunus moves for national unity". The Daily Star. 4 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Students hold rally at DU protesting attack on Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala". The Business Standard. 2 December 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  15. ^ "ভারতে বাংলাদেশের কূটনৈতিক মিশনে হামলার বিষয়ে যা বলল যুক্তরাষ্ট্র". Daily Janakantha. 11 December 2024.
  16. ^ আগরতলায় বাংলাদেশের সহকারী হাইকমিশনে হামলার ঘটনায় ৩ পুলিশ বরখাস্ত. Daily Manab Zamin. 3 December 2024.
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