The three BNP associate organisations--Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Swechchasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal--staged a long march from Dhaka to Agartala in protest against Indian aggression and demanding an end to the false campaigns against Bangladesh. The long march, which began at the capital’s Nayapaltan around 9:00 am, reached Akhaura Land Port by 4:00 pm and ended peacefully with a brief rally there. Speaking at the rally, Jubo Dal President Abdul Munayem Munna said BNP, together with the people of Bangladesh, will foil any plot against the country. He warned that BNP and its associate bodies would not compromise on the issue of Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty and would resist Indian aggression through united efforts. Munna also urged Indian politicians and media outlets to stop spreading false information and propaganda about Bangladesh. He said they earlier staged a road march in Dhaka, and submitted a memorandum to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka in protest against recent anti-Bangladesh incidents in India and the Indian media’s information terrorism. “Our protests will continue.” On the way to Akhaura, a roadside rally was also held at Bhairab intersection around 1:30 pm. At the rally, Swechchasebak Dal President SM Jilani said India could not be considered a friend of Bangladesh since it sheltered Sheikh Hasina, whom he called the "enemy of Bangladesh". “We would like to say that this is not Sheikh Hasina's Bangladesh. This is the Bangladesh of Shaheed Zia, Khaleda Zia, and Tarique Rahman. If they (enemies) even look at an inch of soil in this country, those eyes will be plucked out,” he said. Jubo Dal General Secretary Nurul Islam Nayan said the people of Bangladesh once thought of India as a friend. “But they (India) attacked our Assistant High Commission office and desecrated our national flag. Are these examples of friendship? Friendship with India cannot continue in this manner.” Describing India as a hegemonic state, he said the dictatorial rule of Sheikh Hasina repressed the people of Bangladesh for the past 16 years, with the backing of India. Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib said India is conspiring to create chaos in Bangladesh only to please Sheikh Hasina. “We will resist this with united efforts.” India doesn’t want democracy in neighbouring countries: Rizvi Talking to UNB, Dhaka District unit Jubo Dal President Yasin Ferdous Murad said their long march had ended with the rally in Akhaura. He said many common people who joined the long march on its way to Akhaura from Dhaka while many others were seen standing on the road side and chanting slogans in support of the march. Murad said that through this long march, they aimed to send a message that the people of Bangladesh, under the leadership of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, would build resistance against any plot or aggression against the country. Earlier in the morning, the three BNP associate bodies began their long march from Dhaka to Agartala to protest against Indian aggression. The programme also aimed to protest the attack on the Bangladesh mission in Agartala, the desecration of the country’s national flag, and the spread of false information and terrorism against Bangladesh by India. Several thousand leaders and activists from the three organisations formally began the long march with a huge motorcade from the party's Nayapaltan central office at around 9:00 am. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi formally inaugurated the programme. BNP’s associate bodies start long march towards Agartala

After the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government, the BNP's attempts to improve ties with India apparently failed, prompting the party to adopt a stronger, openly anti-India stance, according to senior party leaders. They said their party had to take this stance to retain its popularity, particularly in the face of widespread anti-Bangladesh propaganda and provocative statements from some Indian politicians and media outlets. The BNP leaders said anti-Indian sentiment is growing in Bangladesh as Sheikh Hasina took shelter there escaping the country in the face of a mass uprising while the people believe that India is actively trying to create chaos in the country through various ways, including the use of the religion card. “In such a situation, as the major and popular political party, the BNP cannot remain silent about what India is doing and the incidents happening there. If we stay silent, people will misunderstand us, and we may lose popularity as the Islamic party will take advantage of it. So, we’ve become vocal against India’s aggression,” said a BNP standing committee member, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He said the attack on the Bangladesh mission in Agartala, the desecration of the national flag, anti-Bangladesh statements by Indian leaders, and the ongoing propaganda and misinformation spread by Indian media have sparked strong resentment both among the people and within the BNP. “So, the anti-India position within the BNP has strengthened, prompting the party high command to instruct its three associate bodies to announce protest programmes against Indian aggression," the BNP policymaker said. BNP’s associate bodies to stage long march towards Agartala Wednesday On Sunday, three BNP associate bodies --Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Swechchasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal—staged a march towards the Indian High Commission and submitted a memorandum there to register their protest against the recent anti-Bangladesh incidents in the neighbouring country and demanding an end to misinformation about Bangladesh and ensuring the safety of Bangladeshi missions in India. They will also stage a long march towards Agartala from Dhaka on Wednesday to protest against Indian aggression. Another BNP standing committee member said their party took the initiative to improve ties with the Indian government and political parties after the ouster of the Awami League regime, but they have yet to receive any reciprocal response from India. He said Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, met with their party leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on September 22, during which they outlined ways to bring positivity and strengthen the relationship between Indian political parties and the BNP as a political entity. “We also tried to send a message to the Indian authorities to establish relations with the people of Bangladesh and the major political parties, urging them to move away from their exclusive ties with the Awami League. But we’re surprised that India has not budged even an inch from its position,” the BNP leader said. He said they still want to maintain good relations with the Indian government, political parties and people. “Through our current stance, we mainly aim to exert pressure on India to reconsider its anti-Bangladesh position and exclusive ties with the Awami League. If they change their stance, we will reciprocate, as we believe that friendship with India is crucial for maintaining regional stability.” The BNP leader said their party's acting chairman Tarique Rahman has been cautiously avoiding anti-Indian remarks as he is willing to mend ties with the neighbouring country and resolve past misunderstandings. “But now, it depends on India. If they don’t come forward, we will have to work out our strategy focusing on other regional partners, including China.” BNP leaders join luncheon with British High Commissioner He said although China supported the Sheikh Hasina government, it has already changed its position and is showing interest in warming ties with the BNP. The BNP leader, however, said as a moderate democratic party, the BNP does not want to be either an anti-Indian or pro-Indian party. “BNP will remain open to fostering a friendly relationship with India through diplomatic efforts, while also being vocal against India’s negative activities.” While exchanging views with local journalists in London on Saturday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said a political party devises its strategy based on the prevailing circumstances and ground realities and the interests of the country. He said BNP is now vocal against India because some political leaders in the neighbouring country and its media are unfairly spreading false propaganda against Bangladesh to destabilize the country and the interim government. When asked about Bangladesh's foreign policy towards India if BNP forms the government, he replied, "Our policy with India will depend on our needs and interests. But we won’t tolerate any assault on our sovereignty… We won’t accept any interference in our internal affairs." BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said India should try to understand the pulse of the Bangladeshi people and adjust its position accordingly. He said India has already strained relations with Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Pakistan. “Now they are turning against Bangladesh. India must consider how they will move forward alone if they lose relations with all the countries in South Asia.” BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said India is interfering in the internal affairs of Bangladesh. “They’re still backing Sheikh Hasina. The Indian politicians' statements and their media reports are spreading a kind of hatred against Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh are united against this hegemonic attitude of India.”

After Sunday’s road march in the capital, three BNP associate bodies --Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Swechchasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal--will now stage a long march towards Agartala from Dhaka on Wednesday to protest against Indian aggression. On behalf of the three organisations, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal President Monayem Munna made the announcement at a press conference at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office on Monday. “We’re announcing the long march from Dhaka towards Agartala on December 11 (Wednesday) to protest against Indian aggression and the spread of false information terrorism against Bangladesh," he said. Munna said they will begin their peaceful long march from Nayapaltan at 8am on Wednesday and it will end along Akhaura Indian border also to protest the attack on the Bangladesh mission in Agartala and the desecration of the country's national flag. He called upon students, youths and volunteers from all levels in Bangladesh to participate in the long march. Munna thanked the leaders and activists of the three organisations for making their Sunday protest march towards the Indian High Commission in Dhaka a success. Read: BNP submits memo to Indian High Commission, threatens further protests  He said they submitted a memorandum to the Indian High Commission on Sunday protesting the attack on the Bangladesh mission in Agartala, the desecration of the national flag, the ongoing information terrorism against Bangladesh by Indian media, and urging India to refrain from undue interference in Bangladesh's internal affairs. “We believe that the violent attack on Bangladesh's diplomatic mission is tantamount to an attack on the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh,” the Jubo Dal president said. After the fall of Sheikh Hasina, he alleged, India has taken a stand against the people of Bangladesh by spreading imaginary and baseless propaganda about minority persecution. Munna said the Indian government has given Sheikh Hasina the opportunity to embarrass the Bangladesh government by using its soil. “India has sheltered Sheikh Hasina, who carried out genocide. Many others accused of genocide have taken refuge in India. India has now become a haven for Bangladeshi criminals,” he observed. Read more: Police halt BNP’s protest march near Rampura Bridge The Jubo Dal leader alleged that some Indian politicians have made provocative statements about the internal affairs of Bangladesh that go beyond diplomatic etiquette. He said the arrest of former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, along with the investigation into his case and his trial, is entirely an internal matter of Bangladesh, as he is a Bangladeshi citizen. “But, efforts are being made to create chaos by making unwarranted comments on this internal affair of Bangladesh from various levels in India.” Munna also condemned the false propaganda about Bangladesh being spread by Indian media. Earlier, on Sunday, they submitted a memorandum to the Indian High Commission to register their protest against the recent anti-Bangladesh incidents in the neighbouring country and demanding an end to misinformation about Bangladesh and ensuring the safety of Bangladeshi missions in India. They went to the Indian High Commission in Baridhara, Dhaka, where they handed over the memorandum to a security official of the Indian mission. Earlier, police blocked a protest march arranged by three associate bodies of BNP towards the Indian mission near Rampura Bridge in the capital for the sake of maintaining law and order. Later, the six-member delegation of the protesters was allowed to go to the Indian High Commission to submit the memorandum.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata’s acting mission chief Sikder Mohammad Ashrafur Rahman has returned home and met Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday as part of “consultations.” Assistant High Commissioner in Tripura Arifur Rahman was also scheduled to return home following the recent incidents in Kolkata and Agartala, said a diplomatic source. Tensions between Bangladesh and India grow over attack on Agartala mission Tensions between Bangladesh and India escalated following Monday's attack by a Hindu religious group on the Bangladesh mission in Agartala, Tripura, prompting the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry to summon the Indian High Commissioner for a formal protest. Amid the evolving situation, Bangladesh authorities on Tuesday suspended all visa and consular services at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala. The government of Bangladesh said it "deeply resents" the "violent demonstration and attack" by a large group of protesters of the Hindu Sangharsh Samity of Agartala on the premises of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala. Visa, consular services at Bangladesh mission in Agartala suspended The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, underlined that this "heinous attack" on a diplomatic mission of Bangladesh and desecration of the national flag of Bangladesh comes in a pattern, further to a similar violent demonstration in Kolkata on November 28, 2024. "It is very clear that we want good relations, but it should be reciprocal. We need to work to that end," Adviser Hossain told reporters while responding to a question at the foreign ministry on Wednesday.

Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner in Agartala Mohammad Jobayed Hosen on Monday handed over 300 kgs of Haribhanga mangoes to Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Kumar Deb at his office Monday afternoon. The Chief Minister cordially thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for sending mangoes. Prime Minister Hasina Sunday sent 2,600kg mangoes as a gift for her counterpart Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and others. READ: Sheikh Hasina gifts 2,600kg mangoes to PM Modi, Mamata Banerjee Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and other Indian political leaders will also receive the mangoes. The mangoes were sent through Jashore's Benapole land port. Prime Minister Hasina will also send mangoes to Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Mango diplomacy has always been a tradition in South Asia. READ: Europe to soon feast on luscious Bangladeshi mangoes Bangladesh has already sent the fruit to the Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Lotay Tshering. The Bhutanese prime minister, a graduate of Mymensingh Medical College, had tasted Bangladeshi mangoes during his stay in Bangladesh.