'Comments that might hurt bilateral ties': Bangladesh summons Indian envoy over Assam CM's remarks
By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Bangladesh on Thursday asked India to “avoid comments that might hurt bilateral ties” after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made remarks on the repatriation of individuals from Assam.
According to reports, Bangladesh summoned acting Indian High Commissioner Pawan Badhe to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to formally convey its protest over the remarks.
During the meeting, Bangladeshi officials said public statements of such nature were “counterproductive” and had the potential to strain relations between the two neighbouring countries.
The diplomatic protest followed Sarma’s statement on April 26 in which he said 20 foreign nationals had been apprehended in Assam and subsequently “pushed back to Bangladesh”.
In a post on X cited by media reports, the Chief Minister wrote: “Rude people don't understand soft language. We continuously remind ourselves of this prophetic line when we expel infiltrators from Assam who don't leave themselves. For instance, these 20 illegal Bangladeshis who were PUSHED BACK last night.”
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry also stressed the need for restraint while addressing sensitive bilateral issues to preserve cooperative relations between the two countries, the report said.
India and Bangladesh share close historical, cultural and security ties dating back to the 1971 Liberation War and have expanded cooperation in trade and connectivity in recent years.
However, bilateral relations have also witnessed evolving political and diplomatic dynamics following recent political developments in Dhaka in 2026.