Agartala, Dec 3: The Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala has suspended all visa and consular services indefinitely following a security breach on Monday, in which a group of Hindutva activists stormed the premises during a protest over the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmay Prabhu in Bangladesh.
In a notice issued Tuesday afternoon, Md. Al Amin, head of the mission and first secretary, stated, “Given the security situation, all visa and consular services at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission, Agartala will remain suspended until further notice. This comes into effect immediately. This is for intimation of all the Visa and Consular service seekers.”
The suspension of services has left many in Tripura, particularly those requiring urgent visas or consular assistance, in a state of uncertainty.
The suspension follows Monday’s incident where a mob breached security barricades, vandalized property, and removed the Bangladeshi national flag. The protesters were reportedly demonstrating against Prabhu’s arrest, which they claimed was unjust and politically motivated.
Diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh have already intensified following a breach at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission premises in Agartala. India has strongly condemned the incident, emphasizing that diplomatic and consular properties must remain inviolable under all circumstances.
The Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs too has also expressed deep concern over the violent attack on its Agartala mission. A statement issued on December 2 described how protesters forcefully entered the premises, vandalized property, and desecrated the national flag, all in the presence of local law enforcement.
“The evidence confirms that the protesters breached the premises by forcibly breaking the main gate in a premeditated manner. They vandalized the flagpole, desecrated the national flag, and damaged property inside the mission, while police officers present failed to intervene effectively,” the statement read.
Seven individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident, authorities confirmed. Security around the commission has since been significantly increased, with additional police forces deployed to prevent further unrest.
No official comment has been made by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs as of Tuesday evening, though sources indicate that diplomatic discussions are underway to address the situation and prevent further escalation.
The incident has certainly raised concerns about the safety of diplomatic missions and the broader implications for Indo-Bangladesh relations.
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