The Bangladesh government has said it deeply resents the violent demonstration and attack by a large group of protesters of the Hindu Sangarsha Samiti on Monday on the premises of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala, calling for immediate action and a thorough investigation into the incident.
The foreign ministry in a statement in the evening reminded the Indian government about the Vienna Convention and said it is the responsibility of the host country to protect diplomatic missions.
"As it is the responsibility of the host government to protect the diplomatic missions from any form of intrusion or damage, the government of Bangladesh calls upon the government of India to take immediate action to address this incident, to undertake a thorough investigation into the incident and to prevent any further acts of violence against the diplomatic missions of Bangladesh in India, including the safety and security of the diplomats and the non-diplomatic members of staff and members of their families," the foreign ministry said.
The Indian External Affairs Ministry earlier in a statement termed the attack "deeply regrettable" and said "diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances."
"Government is taking action to step up security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and their Deputy/Assistant High Commissions in the country," New Delhi said.
The Bangladesh foreign ministry said: "The accounts received conclusively attest that the protesters were allowed to aggress into the premises, by breaking down the main gate of Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in a pre-planned manner.
"In the process, in the presence of the members of the local law enforcement agencies, they vandalized the flag pole, desecrated the national flag of Bangladesh and also damaged properties inside the Assistant High Commission.
"Regrettably, the local police persons present in charge of protecting the premises were found not to be active in containing the situation from the beginning.
"All members of the Assistant High Commission are left with a deep sense of insecurity," the foreign ministry said.
"The government of Bangladesh would further like to underline 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.
"This particular act in Agartala stands in violation of the inviolability of diplomatic missions, as the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, asks for," read the statement.
