Bangladesh has strongly condemned the violent protest outside its Deputy High Commission in Calcutta, India, during which the Bangladeshi national flag was allegedly set on fire, along with an effigy of caretaker government leader Muhammad Yunus.

The incident occurred on Thursday during a rally organized by the Bongio Hindu Jagaran Manch, a Hindu group protesting alleged attacks on Hindus and the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh.

In a statement on Friday, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry expressed “deep concern” over the incident and urged New Delhi to ensure the security of all its diplomatic missions and staff in India.

THE demonstrators allegedly broke through police barricadesreached the limits of the commission and committed acts that Dhaka described as “deplorable”.

The protest was sparked by the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, for sedition.

Das was denied bail earlier this week, sparking protests by members of the Hindu community in various parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka and Chattogram.

Bangladesh has called on the Indian government to take immediate steps to prevent such incidents in the future and to ensure the safety and security of its diplomatic personnel.

The Foreign Ministry’s statement highlighted the “sanctity of diplomatic premises” and stressed the need for prompt action to maintain peaceful bilateral relations.

“Although the situation currently appears to be under control, a feeling of insecurity prevails among the members of the Deputy High Commission,” the statement noted.

Meanwhile, India has expressed concerns over the treatment of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking in Parliament on Friday, urged the Bangladeshi government to ensure protection of minority communities and their places of worship, highlighting a “rise in extremist rhetoric and incidents of violence.”

Hindu groups in Bangladesh have long denounced atrocities against their community, which have intensified in recent months. Tensions have increased since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August, with continued reports of violence, even under the interim government led by Yunus.