Bangladesh Summons Indian Envoy, Suspends Visa Services at Agartala Mission after Attack

Bangladesh summoned India’s High Commissioner to Dhaka, Pranay Verma, on Tuesday following a violent incident at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Tripura. A mob had breached the mission’s security on Monday, leading to heightened diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring countries.

Verma met with Bangladesh’s Acting Foreign Secretary, Riaz Hamidullah, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka. After the meeting, Verma described the discussion as routine but emphasised India’s desire to maintain a stable, constructive relationship with Bangladesh, which both nations share in areas such as peace, security, and development.

“We have a multifaceted and wide-ranging relationship, and we cannot reduce it to just one issue,” Verma said. “We want to build a positive, stable, and constructive relationship moving forward. We are willing to engage with Bangladesh’s interim government and work together to benefit both nations through mutual cooperation.”

Suspension of Visa and Consular Services

In response to the security breach, Bangladesh immediately suspended all visa and consular services at its Agartala mission. Md Al-Ameen, the First Secretary at the Bangladesh mission, announced the suspension, citing the security situation. "Given the current circumstances, all visa and consular services at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala will remain suspended until further notice," Al-Ameen stated.

India’s Response and Arrests

India condemned the attack as “deeply regrettable” and reminded the public of the sanctity of diplomatic missions. Indian authorities arrested seven individuals connected to the attack and suspended three police officers for their failure to prevent the breach.
“Consular and diplomatic missions must be respected and protected. We regret this incident and are taking steps to address it,” a statement from the Indian government read.

Escalating Diplomatic Tensions

The Agartala incident comes amidst growing diplomatic tension between India and Bangladesh. The situation had already been strained following the arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh on sedition charges on November 25. In addition, Asif Nazrul, the Law Affairs Adviser in Bangladesh’s interim government, criticised India’s handling of the Agartala attack.

Nazrul, in a Facebook post, suggested that the breach reflected India’s failure to protect Bangladesh’s diplomatic presence in India adequately. He also noted the shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, emphasising that the country’s approach to India had changed with the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government.

“We believe in a friendship based on equality and mutual respect,” Nazrul wrote. “While Sheikh Hasina’s government followed a pro-India policy, India must recognise that this is no longer Sheikh Hasina's Bangladesh.”