Bangladesh summons Indian envoy over border tensions

Bangladesh's foreign ministry on Sunday summoned Indian high commissioner Pranay Verma over border tensions, even as local police admitted to political motives behind killings of minorities since August 2024. Verma was summoned hours after Bangladesh alleged that India was trying to construct fences at five locations along the border in "violation" of bilateral agreements.

The current interim regime has alleged that some boundary agreements reached between India and Bangladesh under Sheikh Hasina are against interests of Dhaka and therefore must be annulled. Bangladesh home affairs adviser, who headed the border force when BNP was in power between 2001 and 2006, is known for his hardline stand on border issues.

Following his meeting in Dhaka on Sunday, Verma said, "I just met foreign secretary to discuss India's commitment to ensuring a crime-free border, effectively addressing challenges of smuggling, movement of criminals and trafficking. We have an understanding with regard to fencing the border for security. BSF and BGB have been in communication in this regard. We expect that understanding will be implemented and there will be a cooperative approach to combating crime."


Meanwhile, the interim regime has claimed that 98.4% of 1,415 reported incidents of attacks and vandalism against minorities were politically motivated, while 1.59% occurred due to communal reasons. This information emerged from a police probe into incidents between August 4 and August 20.

'Political motivation does not justify any killing'
As of December 8, 2,200 incidents of killing and attacks on minorities were reported since August 5. The interim government then denounced these reports as media exaggerations and refused to take responsibility, sources said, adding, political motivation does not justify any killing and must be probed.