The Bangladesh government has called the head of the country’s deputy high commission in Kolkata for an “urgent meeting” in Dhaka, sources said on Friday.
The Chief of Mission is Sikdar Mohammad Asharfur Rahman, who holds the portfolios of Minister (Political) and Head of Chancery. He arrived in Dhaka on Thursday night, sources said, adding that the Bangladesh government has not fixed any time frame for his return to Kolkata.
According to sources, the Bangladesh government is likely to ask for a report on the current situation in Kolkata in the backdrop of the protests at the Deputy High Commission’s office.
Bangladesh’s Deputy High Commission in Kolkata became the focus of protests after ISKCON monk Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested by Bangladesh police on November 25 on charges of sedition. Das was organizing a rally against atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh.
Protests have taken place in West Bengal and other parts of India against the arrests and atrocities in Bangladesh. A private hospital and some doctors in West Bengal have announced that they will not treat Bangladeshi patients, while hotels in Malda barred guests from neighboring countries.
In Kolkata, protesters, including state BJP leaders, marched to the office of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission and handed over the delegation.
On November 28, a Kolkata police officer was injured when members of a Hindu group clashed with police personnel during a demonstration at the Bangladesh Mission office.