Bangladesh on Thursday rejected rejected attempts to link it to the recent communal violence in West Bengal ’s Murshidabad district, calling on Indian authorities to protect minority Muslim communities affected by the unrest.
Chief adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam said the interim government “strongly protested” India’s attempts to involve Bangladesh in the incident. “We strongly refute any attempts to implicate Bangladesh in the communal violence in Murshidabad,” he told BSS during a press interaction. He added, “We urge the Government of India and West Bengal to take all steps to fully protect the minority Muslim population .”
The violence erupted during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act and spread across Murshidabad, Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly, with incidents of arson, stone-pelting and road blockades.
On Thursday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the Centre for what she described as weakening the coordination between central and state agencies. “Earlier, areas from 15 km of the border were under the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF). Now, that has been extended to 50 km by the Union home minister,” Banerjee said. “Previously, we used to have access to information about people who were coming to the state from other countries and the purpose of their visit. But now, the MHA under the current Union home minister doesn't share such data or even allow our police to gather it.” She added, “The BSF monitors the border, CISF the land port. Why are we being dragged into all this?”
In response to the unrest, the Calcutta high court ordered the deployment of central forces in Murshidabad and directed the formation of a committee to assist in victim rehabilitation. It also barred political figures from making provocative statements.
Leader of Opposition in Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari has filed a petition demanding a probe by the National Investigation Agency, citing potential Bangladeshi involvement and a threat to national security. He claimed a Trinamool Congress spokesperson had admitted to a Bangladeshi link and urged the court to restrict rallies protesting the Waqf Act.
Chief adviser’s press secretary Shafiqul Alam said the interim government “strongly protested” India’s attempts to involve Bangladesh in the incident. “We strongly refute any attempts to implicate Bangladesh in the communal violence in Murshidabad,” he told BSS during a press interaction. He added, “We urge the Government of India and West Bengal to take all steps to fully protect the minority Muslim population .”
The violence erupted during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act and spread across Murshidabad, Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly, with incidents of arson, stone-pelting and road blockades.
On Thursday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the Centre for what she described as weakening the coordination between central and state agencies. “Earlier, areas from 15 km of the border were under the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF). Now, that has been extended to 50 km by the Union home minister,” Banerjee said. “Previously, we used to have access to information about people who were coming to the state from other countries and the purpose of their visit. But now, the MHA under the current Union home minister doesn't share such data or even allow our police to gather it.” She added, “The BSF monitors the border, CISF the land port. Why are we being dragged into all this?”
In response to the unrest, the Calcutta high court ordered the deployment of central forces in Murshidabad and directed the formation of a committee to assist in victim rehabilitation. It also barred political figures from making provocative statements.
Leader of Opposition in Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari has filed a petition demanding a probe by the National Investigation Agency, citing potential Bangladeshi involvement and a threat to national security. He claimed a Trinamool Congress spokesperson had admitted to a Bangladeshi link and urged the court to restrict rallies protesting the Waqf Act.
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