India summons Bangladesh High Commissioner

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah. He was summoned on Wednesday (December 17) afternoon, NDTV reported.

Earlier, on Monday (December 15), Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma was summoned to the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry. Two days later, the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Delhi was summoned.

According to the NDTV report, the step was taken to protest the recent threats made to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and the 'anti-India' remarks made by some political leaders in Bangladesh.

The main reason behind the summons is the recent statement made by a leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP). The leader had threatened that Dhaka would shelter anti-Delhi forces and help separate the North-Eastern states of India (Seven Sisters) from the mainland.

NDTV reported that during the 55th Victory Day celebrations of Bangladesh, Hasnat Abdullah made a statement saying, “Seven Sisters will be separated from India.”

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, “We hope that the interim administration of the Bangladesh government will take all necessary steps to maintain internal law and order and make arrangements for peaceful elections.”

New Delhi: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has summoned the appointed Bangladesh High Commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah. He was summoned on Wednesday (December 17) afternoon, NDTV reported.

Earlier, on Monday (December 15), the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Prannoy Verma, was summoned to the Bangladesh Ministry of External Affairs. Two days later, the Bangladesh High Commissioner in Delhi was summoned.

The NDTV report said that the move was taken to protest against the recent threats to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and the ‘anti-India’ remarks made by some political leaders in Bangladesh.

The summons was prompted by a recent statement by a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), who had threatened that Dhaka would provide shelter to anti-India forces and help separate the North-Eastern states of India (the Seven Sisters) from the mainland.

NDTV reported that Hasnat Abdullah had made a statement during Bangladesh's 55th Victory Day celebrations, saying, "The Seven Sisters will be separated from India."

India's Ministry of External Affairs said, "We hope that the interim administration of the Bangladesh government will take all necessary steps to maintain internal law and order and make arrangements for peaceful elections."