Siliguri: Hoteliers in Siliguri, West Bengal, announced on Monday that they would no longer accommodate Bangladeshi nationals, citing concerns over the rising attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh. Rajiv Das, president of the Greater Siliguri Hoteliers’ Welfare Association, expressed that any disrespect towards the national flag is not just an insult to the country but to all citizens.
This move follows similar actions in Assam’s Barak Valley and Tripura on December 2. It comes amid protests in Agartala over the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and ongoing violence against minorities in Bangladesh, which also led to a breach of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Kolkata. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemned the incident.
Siliguri, which serves as a crucial junction near the borders of Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, is an important hub for tourists travelling to Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Sikkim, and Dooars, and is located close to the Indo-Bangladesh border. The hoteliers in Siliguri acknowledged that this decision could cause financial setbacks for the industry but emphasized that national interests must take precedence over business.
The timing of this announcement coincides with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s visit to Dhaka for the annual foreign office consultations with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin. During the meeting, Misri reiterated India’s support for a peaceful, stable, and inclusive Bangladesh while promoting mutual trust and respect between the two nations.
In response, Jashim Uddin dismissed allegations of hostile treatment of minorities in Bangladesh, calling them based on “disinformation.” He stated that all communities in Bangladesh practice their religions freely and that it was inappropriate for other nations to comment on Bangladesh’s internal matters.