Dhaka: Bangladesh foreign ministry today summoned Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma following the attack on Bangladesh Assistant High Commission premises in Agartala on Monday. Meanwhile, Bangladesh also suspended all visa and consular services at its Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Tripura, with immediate effect, following the attack. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Indian high commissioner was summoned by acting foreign secretary Reaz Hamidullah at the foreign affairs ministry. While asked for comments on summoning the Indian envoy, foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain told BSS, 'He (Verma) has been asked to come'. Verma, speaking to reporters after the meeting, expressed India's willingness to engage with the interim government of Bangladesh, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a stable and constructive relationship between the two nations. Verma asserted India's interest in collaborating with the Bangladesh government to achieve the two countries' shared aspirations for peace, security, and development. He described the bilateral relationship as "multifaceted and wide-ranging," highlighting that the focus should not be limited to a single issue or agenda. He further emphasized the numerous interdependencies between the two countries and expressed a desire to build on these for mutual benefits. In a statement released on Monday, Bangladesh foreign ministry expressed deep resentment over the violent demonstration and attack by a large group of protesters from the Hindu Sangharsh Samity on the premises of its Agartala mission office. The Bangladesh government underscored its concern about the security of its diplomatic mission and urged Indian authorities to take immediate action to ensure the safety of the premises and its personnel. The statement highlighted that the attack violated the inviolability of diplomatic missions as outlined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961.
