Agartala: The Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala witnessed a grave breach of diplomatic protocol when hundreds of activists, reportedly affiliated with Hindu right-wing groups, stormed the premises, pulling down the national flag of Bangladesh.
The protestors claimed to be expressing solidarity with the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, accusing the interim government led by Chief Advisor Md Yunus of failing to protect their rights and allegedly targeting outspoken Hindu leaders by imprisoning them.
The protest escalated as demonstrators shouting slogans against Md Yunus forced their way into the High Commission’s compound and desecrated the national flag.
“Around a hundred protestors entered the office compound, but there was no damage to the property, and no officials were harmed. The police intervened promptly and removed all protestors before the situation could escalate further,” a senior police officer stated on condition of anonymity. The officer confirmed that the flagpole had been vandalized and the national flag of Bangladesh taken down during the protest.
While the Tripura government remained silent several hours after the incident, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement expressing regret and assuring heightened security for Bangladesh’s diplomatic establishments across India.
“The incident earlier today of the breach of premises at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala is deeply regrettable. Diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances. The government is taking action to step up security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and their Deputy/Assistant High Commissions in the country,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal tweeted.
Bangladesh responded strongly, issuing a statement condemning the incident.
“The Government of Bangladesh deeply resents the violent demonstration and attack by a large group of protesters of the Hindu Sangharsh Samity of Agartala this (2 December 2024) early afternoon on the premises of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala,” the statement read.
Bangladesh also criticized local law enforcement, alleging their inaction during the incident.
“The accounts received conclusively attest that the protesters were allowed to aggress into the premises by breaking down the main gate of Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in a pre-planned manner. In the process, in the presence of members of local law enforcement agencies, they vandalized the flagpole, desecrated the national flag of Bangladesh, and damaged properties inside the Assistant High Commission. Regrettably, the local police present and in charge of protecting the premises were found not to be active in containing the situation from the beginning,” the statement alleged.
The Bangladesh government urged India to take stringent action against the perpetrators and ensure the safety of its diplomatic staff and properties.
“All members of the Assistant High Commission are left with a deep sense of insecurity. The Government of Bangladesh would further like to underline that this heinous attack on a diplomatic mission of Bangladesh and desecration of the national flag of Bangladesh comes in a pattern, further to a similar violent demonstration in Kolkata on 28 November 2024. This particular act in Agartala stands in violation of the inviolability of diplomatic missions, as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, asks for.
As it is the responsibility of the host government to protect diplomatic missions from any form of intrusion or damage, the Government of Bangladesh calls upon the Government of India to take immediate action to address this incident, undertake a thorough investigation into the matter, and prevent any further acts of violence against the diplomatic missions of Bangladesh in India, including ensuring the safety and security of diplomats, non-diplomatic staff, and their families,” the statement concluded.
The incident has raised concerns about the state of diplomatic safety in India, and the MEA’s assurances of corrective measures will likely be closely monitored by Bangladesh and the international community.
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