India-Bangladesh Tensions Escalate as Envoys Summoned Amid Fresh Protests

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In a sign of deteriorating bilateral relations, India and Bangladesh summoned each other's envoys on Tuesday to protest recent incidents. Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma was called to the Bangladeshi foreign ministry to express concern over protests outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and vandalism at a visa centre in Siliguri. Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah was summoned to the Indian external affairs ministry, where he was informed of the need for a thorough investigation into the killing of Bangladeshi student leader Sharif Osman Hadi. The recent lynching of a Hindu garment factory worker, Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladesh has sparked anti-Indian protests, including a violent demonstration outside the Indian assistant high commission in Chittagong. The Indian government has expressed concern over the killing and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Bangladesh, however, has contested India's description of the incident, terming it an 'isolated attack'. The tensions between the two countries have been escalating since anti-Indian protests broke out in Bangladesh over the killing of Hadi. Bangladesh has suspended visa services at its missions in New Delhi and Agartala, while India has suspended services only at the mission in Chittagong. The caretaker administration in Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, has expressed 'profound sorrow' over Das's killing and extended condolences to his family. Bangladesh's de facto education minister CR Abrar has assured the family that authorities will ensure justice through due process and has arrested 12 people in connection with the lynching.