Set up unit to counter anti-India narratives: House panel to MEA

As per report, the ministry told the panel, headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, that it remains the nodal body for addressing perceptions and narratives in Bangladesh through coordinated efforts involving other ministries and agencies.

“Based on reports and inputs, including of trends on social media, correct facts are disseminated, and misperceptions addressed… on issues such as water sharing, flood data sharing, border security issues and incidents and sensitivities involving shared culture, language and religion,” the MEA said.

Recently, a group of radical Islamists, under the banner of “July Oikya”, organised a protest march near the Indian High Commission, pressing several demands, including the return of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The panel also noted the stay of Hasina in India, while asserting the country’s approach in this regard is guided by its “civilisational ethos” and “humanitarian tradition” of offering refuge to individuals facing ci­rc­umstances of grave distress or an existential threat. The pa­nel has recommended that the government should “continue to uphold its principled and humanitarian approach”, while ensuring that such situations are “managed with due sensitivity”.

It also expre­ssed concern over the expanding Chinese footprint in Bangl­adesh, particularly in in­­f­­r­astr­ucture, port development and defence-related cooperation, emphasising importance of safeguarding India’s strategic and security interests, particularly in sensitive regions such as the Siliguri Corridor and the Bay of Bengal.