On Monday, Bangladesh lodged a formal protest with India over recent remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding Bangladeshi nationals during his visit to Jharkhand. Shah’s comments, which were made at a rally in Sahibganj district ahead of the assembly elections, have sparked diplomatic tensions between the two neighboring countries.
In a statement, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry expressed its “serious reservation, deep sense of hurt, and extreme displeasure” over Shah’s remarks. The protest note was handed over to the Deputy High Commissioner of India in Dhaka on September 23. The ministry also urged India to advise its political leaders to refrain from making such “objectionable and unacceptable” statements.
“The ministry also emphasized that such remarks, coming from responsible positions against the nationals of a neighboring country, undermine the spirit of mutual respect and understanding between two friendly countries,” the statement added.
During his address in Sahibganj, Amit Shah said, “There is no place for infiltrators in the state. They are marrying our daughters, grabbing land, and destroying rich tribal culture and heritage… we will drive each one of them out… Let the lotus bloom here.”
The comments have drawn criticism from Dhaka, with the Bangladesh government asserting that such rhetoric could harm the positive relationship between the two nations, which have historically shared close ties.
