The Bangladesh government has officially protested West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent comments about providing shelter to people from violence-stricken Bangladesh. The neighboring country has submitted a formal note to the Indian government regarding the issue.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud clarified that while the relationship with West Bengal’s Chief Minister is generally positive, her remarks could cause misunderstandings. “We have sent a note to the Government of India because her comments could lead to confusion,” Mahmud said.
On July 21, amid increasing violence and protests in Bangladesh, Banerjee declared that West Bengal would offer shelter to "people in distress" from the neighboring nation. She justified her stance by referencing a United Nations resolution on accommodating refugees in adjacent regions of conflict. "If helpless people come knocking on the doors of West Bengal, we will surely provide them shelter," she stated at a rally.
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has requested a report from Banerjee regarding her statement. The Governor's office noted that matters related to foreign affairs fall under the central government’s jurisdiction. "A Chief Minister's public commitment to shelter individuals from another country raises serious concerns about constitutional authority," the Raj Bhavan said in a statement.
The violence in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka and other areas, has intensified, with student-led protests demanding changes to the quota system for government jobs. The unrest, which has seen clashes between protesters and police, has been ongoing for over a month and surged last week following police action at Dhaka University.