On Tuesday, July 23, the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh raised objections to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s remarks where she assured assistance and shelter to Bangladeshis amidst the ongoing violent protests over job quotas and potential humanitarian crises in Bangladesh.
The TMC Supremo had said that West Bengal will surely keep its door open for ‘helpless people’ who have been affected by violence in the neighbouring country and offer them shelter.
Responding to this remark of the West Bengal CM, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said that her remark has the scope of creating a lot of confusion. He also said that his government has sent an official note to New Delhi regarding the matter.
“With due respect to the West Bengal Chief Minister, with whom we share a very close relationship, we want to make it clear that her comments have a lot of scope for confusion. Therefore, we have given a note to the Government of India,” he said.
#Breaking: #Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud responds to #WestBengal CM #MamataBanerjee’s comment on “her heart goes out to the students killed in #Bangladesh violence”.
— Pooja Mehta (@pooja_news) July 23, 2024
He says, “With due respect, I want to say that we share a very good & warm relationship with the… pic.twitter.com/bMnbBGyRPn
On July 21, while addressing her party’s ‘Martyrs Day’ rally in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee, speaking in Bengali, said, “I cannot speak anything about Bangladesh as it is another country. The Indian government will speak about that. Jodi asohai manush banglar dorja thokthokai, amra tader asroy debo (But if helpless people knock on the door of Bengal, we will shelter them).”
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, "Don't worry if any of your family members or relatives are in Bangladesh for work or study. We're ready to help them in return back… I can't comment on Bangladesh (issue), as it’s a separate country. Whatever needs to be said, the Indian… pic.twitter.com/tcE0Ogp2xg
— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2024
The specific remarks could be heard around 3 hours and 16 minutes into the video shared by the official handle of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC).
She added, “That’s because there is a United Nations Resolution to accommodate refugees in regions adjacent to those under turmoil.”
Meanwhile, Banerjee has been asked to provide a report on her remarks by West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose. According to the Raj Bhavan, the Centre has the right to address any matter pertaining to external relations.
“Public statement by a Chief Minister undertaking the responsibility to provide shelter to people who may be coming in from a foreign nation implies Constitutional transgression of a very serious nature,” the Governor’s office said in a statement on Monday.
