What Did Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma Say About Bangladesh? Diplomatic Row Escalates With Dhaka

New Delhi: Diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh have escalated recently following a remark made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Taking strong objection to the matter, Bangladesh summoned India's Acting High Commissioner to register its protest and advised against making statements that could harm bilateral relations. Bangladesh is currently governed by a government led by Tariq Rahman.

What are the developments in the case?

Indian Diplomat Summoned: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Bangladesh summoned India's Acting High Commissioner to Dhaka, Pawan Badhe.

Dhaka Clarifies Its Stance: During the meeting with Pawan Badhe, Ishrat Jahan, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conveyed the Bangladesh government's official stance on the issue to India.

Bangladesh's Strong Displeasure: According to a diplomatic source, Bangladesh termed the Chief Minister's remarks as "demeaning" to India-Bangladesh relations and expressed its deep displeasure to India.

Bangladesh Advises Restraint: During the meeting, the Bangladeshi side emphasized several key points:

Impact on Relations: Bangladesh clarified that such public statements could create friction in the cordial relations between the two neighboring nations and are entirely unnecessary.

Need for Restraint: Dhaka also noted that while speaking publicly on sensitive bilateral issues concerning both countries, restraint should always be exercised to ensure that mutual relations are not harmed.

Was Any Official Statement Issued?

Notably, despite the strong protest lodged at the diplomatic level—specifically by summoning the Indian High Commissioner—no official press release or written statement regarding this matter has yet been issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) of Bangladesh. All information currently available has emerged through diplomatic sources.

What Was the Controversial Statement? 

The entire controversy stems from a statement made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on April 26. Sarma had stated that 20 foreign nationals were apprehended in Assam and subsequently deported back to Bangladesh. It is worth noting that earlier, on April 25, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the interests of every Indian are intertwined with the West Bengal Assembly elections, as Bangladeshi infiltrators are not only driving demographic shifts within the state but are also spreading into neighboring states. Sarma warned that if the BJP is not brought to power in West Bengal, there is a risk of "Bangladesh expanding" due to uncontrolled infiltration within the state.

In the recent Assembly elections held in Assam and West Bengal, the issue of "Bangladeshi infiltration" has emerged as the most significant and polarizing electoral issue. During the election campaigns in West Bengal, BJP leaders—and particularly Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma—adopted a highly aggressive stance regarding infiltration. They alleged that illegal infiltrators from across the border are being settled for the sake of "vote-bank politics," thereby dangerously altering the demographics of these states. Meanwhile, in Assam, Sarma made the "protection of the identity and soil of the indigenous people" his primary electoral weapon in his bid to retain power.