Bangladesh summons Indian envoy after consulate attack

DHAKA:

Bangladesh on Tuesday summoned New Delhi's ambassador after an attack on one of its consulates in India, the latest flare-up in strained ties between the neighbours.

Hindu activists on Monday attempted to storm a Bangladeshi consulate during a protest in Agartala, a small Indian city not far from the two countries' shared border.

India has condemned the breach and local police have arrested seven people.

After meeting Bangladesh foreign ministry officials, Indian High Commissioner (ambassador) Pranay Verma said his country was committed to engaging with the interim government, which took office after Hasina's ouster to implement democratic reforms. "This is a wide-ranging relationship, a multifaceted relationship," Verma told reporters.

"We remain interested in working with the government of Bangladesh to fulfil our shared aspirations for security and development."

Public sentiment in the Muslim-majority nation of 170 million continues to be stacked against India, which was Hasina's main international patron during her iron-fisted, 15-year rule.

Nahid Islam, a 26-year-old sociology graduate who played a key part in the protests against Hasina's regime and is now part of the interim cabinet, in a post on X accused "India's ruling elite" of "fostering hatred against Bangladesh".

"By continuing to provide refuge and support to Sheikh Hasina, a fugitive responsible for genocide and child killings, the Indian government risks undermining shared democratic values," he said. "India must not forget that its stability and integrity are closely interlinked with the stability and integrity of Bangladesh."

Bangladesh is currently seeking Hasina's extradition to face trial for a deadly crackdown on the protest movement that ultimately toppled her.