Delhi summons Bangladesh high commissioner over protests

The two countries are issuing back-and-forth summons over rising diplomatic tension

The Indian government has summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to New Delhi Riaz Hamidullah for the second time in a week amid daylong protests outside Bangladesh missions.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Bangladeshi envoy on Tuesday afternoon as tension grows between the two neighbours.

A ministry official said following the summons, Hamidullah met B Shyam, head of the Bangladesh and Myanmar division at the Indian foreign ministry.

Amid protests and heightened tensions outside Bangladesh missions across several parts of India throughout the day, Indian media outlet India Today, citing news agency ANI, reported the summoning of the Bangladesh high commissioner.

Earlier in the morning, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma.

During the meeting, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam conveyed Dhaka’s concerns over Saturday’s protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and vandalism at the Bangladesh visa centre in Siliguri.

This marks the second instance of reciprocal summons within 10 days.

Previously, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry summoned the Indian high commissioner in Dhaka on Dec 14.

India then issued a counter-summons to Bangladesh’s high commissioner in New Delhi on Dec 17.