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The National Revolutionary Council on Thursday staged a protest outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, objecting to what it described as frequent meetings between Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi and Bangladeshi ministers and secretaries.
The political organisation demanded that the government summon the Indian envoy and warn him to stop what it described as activities beyond his diplomatic responsibilities.
The protesters submitted a written memorandum to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and gave the government a 15-day ultimatum to address their demands.
The memorandum called for summoning Trivedi and warning him that he could be expelled from Bangladesh if, according to the organisation, such activities continued.
It also demanded the publication and cancellation of what it termed “subordinate” agreements, protocols, memorandums of understanding and other arrangements signed between Bangladesh and India.
The organisation further called for the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty based on Bangladesh’s needs and dry-season realities, as well as the conclusion of water-sharing agreements for the Teesta and other common international rivers within specified deadlines.
The memorandum also called for Bangladesh to conduct relations with all neighbouring and friendly countries on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect, non-interference and a balance of interests.
National Revolutionary Council Member Secretary Dr Nabil Ahmed and Revolutionary Students Council Convener Abdul Wahed submitted the memorandum. An administrative official received it on behalf of the ministry as State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir was not in his office at the time.
Earlier, a rally was held in front of the National Press Club before the protesters moved towards the foreign ministry.
Addressing the rally, National Revolutionary Council Convener Khomeni Ehsan alleged that Trivedi had been visiting various ministries and government offices beyond what he considered the normal role of a diplomat.
Ehsan referred to the Vienna Convention and said diplomats should limit their activities to diplomatic communication and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the host country. He alleged that the Indian envoy’s visits to government offices were inconsistent with those principles.
He also criticised India over its continued hosting of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former minister Obaidul Quader, who, he alleged, should be extradited to Bangladesh.
Ehsan said the organisation would oppose what it described as Indian interference and called on the government to protect Bangladesh’s sovereignty.
The National Revolutionary Council had announced the October 1 programme at a rally on September 24, demanding an end to what it described as Trivedi’s unrestricted activities in Bangladesh and the cancellation of agreements with India that it considers unequal.
The protest comes as Trivedi, who was appointed India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh in April and assumed office after presenting his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin in June, has been engaging with senior Bangladeshi officials as part of bilateral diplomatic contacts.
Speakers at Thursday’s rally included Islami Oikya Jote Senior Vice-Chairman freedom fighter Mir Shawkat Amin, Secretary General Maulana Abdul Karim, Pan-Islamic Movement Chairman Advocate Mostafa Jamal Bhuiyan, Aggression and Corruption Prevention Front Convener Advocate Main Uddin, National Revolutionary Council Joint Convener Syed Qutb, Assistant Member Secretary Abdus Salam and Revolutionary Students Council Central Convener Abdul Wahed.
Among those present were Nawab Salimullah Academy Chairman Md Abdul Jabbar, National Revolutionary Council Member Secretary Dr Nabil Ahmed, members Md Saidul Islam and Sakib Samin, Shah Nazmul Hasan Ferdous and Revolutionary Students Council Assistant Member Secretary Md Ariful Islam.