The government of Bangladesh has expressed concerns over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent statements offering refuge to those affected by the ongoing civil unrest in Bangladesh. The neighbouring country has formally communicated its objections to New Delhi, emphasizing the potential for confusion stemming from Banerjee’s remarks.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, in a statement reported by Somoy TV, emphasized the close and warm relationship shared with West Bengal but stressed the problematic nature of the Chief Minister’s comments. “With due respect to the West Bengal Chief Minister, with whom we share a very warm and close relationship, we want to make it clear that her remarks have a lot of scope for creating confusion. Therefore, we have sent a note to the Government of India,” said Mahmud.
On Sunday, during the ‘Martyrs Day’ rally of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Kolkata, Banerjee addressed the escalating violence in Bangladesh, asserting her willingness to provide shelter to those in distress. She justified her stance by referencing the United Nations resolution on refugees, which supports accommodating individuals fleeing turmoil in adjacent regions.
“I should not be speaking on the affairs of Bangladesh since that is a sovereign nation and whatever needs to be said on the issue is the subject matter of the Centre. But I can tell you this, if helpless people come knocking on the doors of West Bengal, we will surely provide them shelter,” Banerjee stated.
She further highlighted historical precedents, such as the temporary refuge offered to people from Assam in West Bengal’s Alipurduar district during conflicts in the Bodoland Territorial Region.
Banerjee also assured residents of West Bengal of the state’s support for those whose relatives might be stuck due to the violence in Bangladesh. She extended assistance to Bangladeshis who had entered West Bengal but were facing difficulties in returning home.
In a call for calm, Banerjee urged the people of West Bengal to refrain from being provoked by the situation in Bangladesh. “We should exercise restraint and not walk into any provocation or excitement on the issue,” she advised.
Expressing her solidarity with those affected by the violence, Banerjee conveyed her sorrow over the bloodshed and the loss of student lives in Bangladesh. “We are sad to see blood getting spilled and my heart goes out to those students who were killed,” she lamented.
