Bangladesh protests: Will provide shelter to anyone in distress, says Mamata

Responding to the ongoing violence in Bangladesh, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday suggested that she would keep the doors of her state open to people in distress from the neighbouring country and provide them shelter. Banerjee referred to the United Nations refugee resolution to justify her stand on the possible humanitarian crisis that could arise due to the severe breakdown in law and order that has hit Bangladesh in recent days. “I should not talk about the affairs of Bangladesh because it is a sovereign nation and whatever needs to be said on the issue is the responsibility of the Centre. But I can tell you this: if helpless people come knocking at the doors of Bengal, we will definitely provide them shelter,” Banerjee said at the TMC’s ‘Martyrs’ Day’ rally in Kolkata.
“This is because there is a UN resolution to accommodate refugees in areas adjacent to those in trouble,” the Bengal CM added, citing the example of the Assamese who were allowed to live in Alipurduars area of ​​north Bengal for a considerable period during the Bodo conflict in the northeastern state.

Assuring all cooperation to the residents of Bengal whose relatives may have remained stranded due to the escalation of violence east of the international border, it also extended assistance to Bangladeshis who came to Bengal but are facing difficulty in returning home.

Banerjee also appealed to the people of West Bengal not to get provoked by questions regarding the current situation in Bangladesh.

“We must exercise restraint and not indulge in provocations or excitement on this issue,” she said.

The Trinamool leader also expressed solidarity with those who have remained the main victims of the ongoing violence in the neighbouring country.

“We are sad to see the bloodshed and my heart goes out to the students who were killed,” she said.

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