BD shocked by Banerjee's call for UN force

Bangladesh's interim government expressed shock on Monday at a politician in neighbouring India's call to deploy UN peacekeeping forces in the country to protect Hindus and other minorities.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of India's West Bengal state urged New Delhi on Monday to petition the UN to address their concerns. "They can send the peacekeeping force to Bangladesh and rescue our people," Banerjee said.

Bangladesh's de facto foreign minister Touhid Hossain expressed dismay over what amounted to one of the biggest censures of his country's leadership by India since Hasina's ouster.

"I don't know, I can't understand why Mamata Banerjee made such a statement. I know her personally, I have visited her home several times," he told reporters.

Touhid accused Indian media of spreading disinformation about the status of Hindus in Bangladesh but offered a more conciliatory note to the neighbouring government.

"Problems can be solved," he said. "Mutual interests must be preserved, and Bangladesh seeks a friendly relationship with India.