Dhaka has asked chiefs of two of its missions in India to return home for consultation after violent protests in Kolkata and Agartala against alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.

Acting Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata Shikder Mohammad Ashrafur Rahman has already returned to Dhaka, a foreign ministry official said yesterday.

Assistant High Commissioner Arif Mohammad in Agartala was also scheduled to return, the official said.

“They were asked to return to Dhaka for consultations on the recent attacks and demonstrations in India,” he added.

Protesters burnt Bangladesh’s national flag during a demonstration outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata on November 28, drawing condemnation from the interim government.

After the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala came under attack by members of a Hindu group on December 2, the Bangladesh foreign ministry summoned Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Pranay Verma to hand a protest note. The Agartala mission also suspended visa and consular services after the attack.

The developments come ahead of the Bangladesh-India Foreign Office Consultation which is expected to start in Dhaka on December 9 or 10.

This will be the first high-level meeting between the two countries since the fall of the Awami League regime in August.

Daily Star