India has called in the Bangladesh High Commissioner following threats made against its envoy and diplomatic mission in Dhaka.

New Delhi: On Wednesday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to express a formal diplomatic protest regarding what it termed as inflammatory remarks made by Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of the National Citizen Party. Abdullah, speaking at a gathering at Dhaka’s Central Shaheed Minar on Monday, issued a warning that Bangladesh might provide refuge to anti-India factions, including separatist groups, and potentially disrupt the connection between India and its northeastern states—Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. His statement, which included a declaration of intent to “shelter separatist and anti-India forces,” was met with enthusiastic applause from parts of the audience. He further asserted that India should be aware that any support extended to entities undermining Bangladesh’s sovereignty and rights would elicit a response from his country. Abdullah also lamented that, despite 54 years of independence, Bangladesh continues to contend with what he referred to as ‘vultures’ attempting to dominate the nation, although he refrained from directly naming India. In response to these remarks, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized them as “irresponsible and dangerous,” emphasizing India’s stature as a significant global power and questioning how Bangladesh could entertain such notions. Historically, India has accused various militant and separatist groups in its northeastern region of utilizing Bangladesh as a haven and logistical support base, particularly during the late 1990s and early 2000s, when numerous insurgent organizations from Assam and Tripura operated across the border.