‘Deep feeling of hurt’: Bangladesh issues note of protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s ‘unacceptable’ remarks

Bangladesh News: The neighboring country’s government on Monday filed a note of protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, claiming his recent comments at a rally in Jharkhand were “unacceptable”.

Bangladesh’s foreign ministry said on its official Facebook account that it had handed over the protest note to India’s deputy high commissioner in Dhaka.

Last week, Amit Shah visited Jharkhand to address a rally ahead of the 2024 General Assembly elections. Addressing a rally in the state’s Sahibganj district, he said, “We will hang any Bangladeshi invader upside down to teach them a lesson,” and appealed to the people to “let BJP form the government.”

Bangladesh called on the Indian government to warn its political leaders against making such “offensive and unacceptable” statements.

“The ministry also emphasized that such statements coming from responsible authorities towards the nationals of a neighboring country undermine the spirit of mutual respect and understanding between two friendly countries,” the minister said Dhaka Tribune reported.

“Deep feeling of hurt”

Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry has also expressed its “deep sense of hurt” and “extreme displeasure” over Amit Shah’s comments.

“With the note of protest handed over to the Deputy High Commissioner of India in Dhaka today, the Ministry expressed its serious reservation, deep sense of hurt and utter displeasure and called on the Government of India to advise political leaders not to indulge in such indecency “and unacceptable remarks,” said a statement from the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry.

Amit Shah had also criticized the Jharkhand government for its “patronization” of Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators. He said they were “marrying our daughters, which will not be tolerated.” The BJP believes in politics of justice and not caste, creed or religion, Shah said.

Since the escape of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in July 2024, relations between India and Bangladesh have been at a difficult level.

Jamaat-e-Islami Party leader Shafiqur Rahman had also highlighted the need to improve ties with India during a meeting with representatives of the Indian Media Correspondents Association Bangladesh in August.