In an escalating diplomatic row, India’s Foreign Ministry summoned Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commissioner, Nural Islam, today to discuss rising tensions between the two countries. This move comes a day after the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma to express concerns about India’s alleged attempt to construct fences at five specific locations along the 4,156-kilometre Indo-Bangladesh border.
The Bangladeshi government has claimed that these actions are in violation of an existing bilateral agreement that governs border activities between the two nations. According to reports, the border fencing is perceived by Dhaka as a breach of their understanding, which was meant to be mutually agreed upon by both countries.
The dispute over border fencing was discussed during a 45-minute meeting between Mr. Verma and Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin at the Foreign Ministry in Dhaka. Verma, while addressing the concerns, emphasized that India and Bangladesh had long-standing cooperation on border security issues, and that the Border Security Force (BSF) of India and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) had maintained communication over such matters. He reiterated India’s commitment to upholding the understanding between the two nations and combating cross-border crimes cooperatively.
“Issues related to border security and fencing have been under discussion between our two border security forces. We expect that this understanding will be implemented to ensure the safety and security of both nations,” said Verma.
Diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh have historically been stable. However, tensions have been rising due to various issues, including a recent extradition request. Last month, Bangladesh’s interim government under Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus formally requested India to send back former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to face charges of “massacres, killings, and crimes against humanity” related to a student-led revolution that led to her ouster years ago.
In response, India’s foreign ministry confirmed that it had received a formal note from the Bangladesh High Commission regarding the extradition request, but declined to comment further. Bangladesh had previously issued an arrest warrant for Hasina, who is expected to appear in court in November 2024. Alongside the arrest warrant, Bangladesh also plans to request an Interpol “red notice” for fugitive leaders associated with Hasina’s regime.
The extradition request comes as a result of the unrest during Hasina’s regime, when hundreds of lives were lost amid police crackdowns. Several of her allies have been detained over their alleged roles in the violence during the crisis.
While India is a member of Interpol, a red notice does not compel India to hand over an individual, as countries have the discretion to apply their own laws on whether an arrest should be made. India’s response to the extradition request will be crucial in shaping the future of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
This series of events highlights growing concerns over border security, regional stability, and unresolved historical issues between India and Bangladesh, which will continue to affect their bilateral relations in the coming months.
Sources By Agencies
