India has summoned the Bangladeshi envoy to New Delhi and witnessed widespread protests following the brutal lynching of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, an incident that has severely strained diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring nations.
Details of the Mymensingh Lynching Incident
The crisis was triggered by the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The incident occurred on December 18. Das was reportedly beaten to death over accusations of blasphemy. In a horrific turn, his body was then tied to a tree and set on fire. This act of extreme violence sparked immediate outrage and condemnation within India.
Nationwide Protests and Diplomatic Fallout
In response to the killing, large-scale demonstrations were organized across India. Protesters gathered outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and its missions in Agartala and Kolkata. Further protests were reported in cities including Nagpur, Mumbai, Kanpur, Hyderabad, Jammu, Doda, and Vijaywada.
The protests were primarily led by activists from the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal, and the Bharatiya Janata Party. In Delhi, demonstrators breached barricades near the diplomatic enclave, raising slogans against alleged violence targeting the Hindu community and damage to religious sites in Bangladesh.
On the diplomatic front, India summoned Bangladesh’s envoy Riaz Hamidullah to press for a comprehensive investigation into the killing. Concurrently, India also raised the issue of the assassination of Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, amid rapidly deteriorating bilateral ties.
Suspension of Visa Services and Reciprocal Actions
The escalating tensions led to a series of retaliatory measures affecting consular services. Following an attack on the home of India’s Assistant High Commissioner in Chittagong, Indian visa operations in the city were suspended indefinitely.
In a counter-move, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi "temporarily suspended" all consular and visa services. Bangladesh also halted all visa and consular services in Tripura. The diplomatic strain was further highlighted when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma was summoned by the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka. He was urged to ensure the safety of Bangladeshi officials in India amidst the protests.
It is important to note that within Bangladesh, separate protests are ongoing seeking justice for the assassination of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi and an attack on another leader, Motaleb Shikdar.
