TMC asks Centre to request UN peacekeeping force in Bangladesh amid turmoil

“Sir, I want to raise a very important issue. Our neighbouring country Bangladesh where the minorities and the Hindus are being tortured and being killed… Sir, Bangladesh is our neighbouring country attached with our state of West Bengal also. What we appeal is: let the Government of India appeal to the United Nations for sending peacekeeping forces to Bangladesh immediately. GOI is totally silent now for reasons best known to them,” Bandyopadhyay said.

He added, “Our appeal is: let the Minister of External Affairs come to Parliament and intimate us about the latest position of Bangladesh. Our Chief Minister yesterday adopted a resolution in the West Bengal Assembly that whatever decision the Government of India will take, the government of West Bengal will stand by that decision. We want to work together.”

Bandyopadhyay recalled past instances when many refugees used to crossover from Bangladesh and come to West Bengal – obliquely referring to the exodus from Bangladesh before the 1971 war and also for years after the Partition.

Speaking in Bangla after the TMC leader, BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar sought to know whether being a Bangladeshi Hindu was a crime, and spoke passionately about the plight of Bangladeshi Hindus in the Muslim-majority neighbouring country.

On Monday, Mamata Banerjee called for peacekeeping forces to be deployed in Bangladesh to ensure security for people of every religion and caste. She also sought a statement on the issue in Parliament, either from Jaishankar or Prime Minister Narendra Modi.