As Bangladesh Burns, Indian Army Goes On Alert And Picks Up The Phone | World News
New Delhi: India is closely monitoring the developing situation in Bangladesh, which is gripped by violence and political unrest. High-level military channels between New Delhi and Dhaka are now active; The chiefs of staff of the two countries are speaking directly to assess the realities on the ground and prevent further deterioration along the border.
As reported, Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi met his Bangladeshi counterpart General Waker-Uz-Zaman. The emphasis in communication was on maintaining calm, ensuring stability on both sides of the border and preventing the spread of the crisis.
Reports indicate that the Bangladesh Army commander assured India that all Indian establishments and assets in Bangladesh remain completely safe. He also said that despite the tense atmosphere, Bangladesh security forces are determined to maintain law and order.
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Why Did Violence Break Out?
The situation in Bangladesh worsened after the death of radical anti-India activist Sharif Usman Hadi, who emerged as the prominent face of the July uprising. He was shot in Dhaka and was later flown to Singapore for treatment, where he died on Thursday, December 18.
Over time, it became a symbol of protesters opposing the interim government. Following the news of his death, violence broke out in many parts of the country. The offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, two of Bangladesh’s leading newspapers, were set on fire in Dhaka. The office of left-leaning cultural organization Udichi Shilpigoshthi was also vandalized. Incidents of arson and stone-throwing were reported from many regions, deepening the sense of instability.
In a particularly tragic incident that took place in the early hours of Saturday morning, December 20, a house belonging to the leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Lakshmipur Sadar upazila (local administrative division of Bangladesh) was set on fire. The leader’s seven-year-old daughter also died in the fire.
Growing Concern About Attacks
The resulting violence had a visible impact on India-Bangladesh relations. Since the interim government led by Younis came to power, India has repeatedly expressed concern over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, especially the Hindu community.
A Hindu youth was beaten to death on Thursday after being accused of blasphemy. His body was then tied to a tree and set on fire. Later details revealed that the blasphemy claim was false. It was reported that the young man was detained by the police and later handed over to a mafia.
These events increased anxiety in New Delhi; Indian authorities are monitoring the safety of Indian citizens as well as minorities in Bangladesh.
India summons Bangladesh High Commissioner
In this context, India recently summoned Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India, Muhammad Riaz Hamidullah, to lodge a strong diplomatic protest. At the meeting in New Delhi, India expressed serious concerns over the threats received by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka and strongly opposed anti-India statements by Bangladeshi leaders.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that India supports peace and stability in Bangladesh. It also made clear that ensuring the security of Indian missions, Indian citizens and vulnerable communities was the responsibility of Bangladesh’s interim government.
With violence continuing and emotions rising in the streets, the direct line between the two armies has emerged as a crucial channel to prevent further escalation of tensions and prevent the situation from spiraling out of control.
