New Delhi/Dhaka: India summoned Bangladesh high commissioner Riaz Hamidullah on Wednesday to express strong concerns at the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh. In a statement, MEA said its attention was drawn, in particular, to activities of some extremist elements who have announced plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka, report Sachin Parashar & Ahsan Tasnim.In Dhaka, hundreds of protesters, under the banner of “July Oikya (July Unity)”, began a march towards the Indian High Commission on Wednesday afternoon, raising anti-India slogans and pressing several demands, including prevention of “anti-Bangladesh conspiracies” and the return of former PM Sheikh Hasina.Expect you to ensure safety of our posts, missions, India tells B’desh interim govtFormer PM Sheikh Hasina had fled Bangladesh last year following the “July Uprising” against her govt.Hamidullah was also told that India expects the interim govt to ensure the safety of missions and posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations.Officials in Dhaka said the protest march was stopped and security around the high commission strengthened.Earlier in the day, the Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka suspended its operations from the afternoon due to the prevailing security situation. Indian govt also completely rejected as false the narrative sought to be created by extremist elements regarding certain recent events in Bangladesh. “It is unfortunate that the interim govt has neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India regarding the incidents,” said the ministry.India reiterated it has close and friendly relations with the people of Bangladesh rooted in the liberation struggle, and strengthened through various developmental and people-to-people initiatives.“We are in favour of peace and stability in Bangladesh and have consistently called for free, fair, inclusive and credible polls, conducted in a peaceful atmosphere,” it said.Bangladesh foreign adviser Touhid Hossain, however, said summoning the high commissioner was a “normal diplomatic practice”. The Indian high commissioner had been summoned a few days earlier, he told reporters. “It is better to accept the reality that from the beginning of the interim govt till today, there has been tension with India”, but the govt is trying to build a good working relationship with India, he said.He also said Bangladesh does not want advice from India on how its elections should be conducted. The govt is committed to holding free and fair election, Hossain said, adding, “We know we will hold a fair election, and we will do so.” Referring to Hasina’s tenure, he said India did not issue similar calls for fair elections over past 15 years.
