Bangladesh govt head urges unity to fight Indian aggression

Bangladesh's Chief Advisor and Nobel Laureate, Muhammad Yunus, called on political parties to unite against “Indian aggression,” criticising New Delhi's hostile stance as tensions between the two nations escalate.

Addressing a meeting of political parties on Wednesday, Yunus accused India of spreading false propaganda in the world against Bangladesh. He stated these efforts were aimed at thwarting the creation of “a new Bangladesh.”

Describing the ongoing political crisis as “a question of our existence,” Yunus emphasised the urgency of unity among politicians at this critical juncture.

Tensions between the two countries have bee exacerbated by India's allegations of the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. 

The situation further deteriorated following the arrest of a Hindu monk, Chinmoy Krishna Das, accused of hoisting a saffron flag, a symbol of Hindu nationalism, above Bangladesh’s national flag.

 On Monday, several Hindu activists stormed and vandalised Bangladesh's consulate in Agartala, a city in India's northeastern state of Tripura, sparking outrage in Dhaka.

While the Indian government condemned the incident, protests erupted across Bangladesh, with hundreds condemning the attack on their diplomatic mission.

Bangladeshi officials have accused Indian media of stoking hostility through disinformation campaigns.

“Unfortunately, Indian media has gone berserk over the issue. They are portraying Bangladesh in the darkest possible light. I don’t understand their motives or how this benefits either country,” said Mr Hossain, Bangladesh's de facto foreign minister, in an interview with the BBC.

India shares a long northeastern border with Bangladesh, making it a crucial partner for New Delhi.

Hindus constitute 10% of Bangladesh's population, and Dhaka has faced accusations of mistreating the minority community, particularly after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid.

Hasina, currently residing in India, has directed scathing criticism at the Yunus-led government.