CM of Centre On Bengal offers shelter to Bangladesh refugees amid violence

Mamata Banerjee, referring to the crisis in Bangladesh where dozens of people were killed in violent protests, said the doors of West Bengal were open to people in distress from the neighbouring country and shelter would be provided to them.

Protests in Bangladesh:The central government on Sunday called West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks “totally inappropriate”, hours after she offered shelter to refugees from Bangladesh amid violent protests in the neighbouring country.

Advertisement

Advertisement

According to central government sources, the state administration has no say in the matter as such matters are handled by the Union government and the comments made by Mamata Banerjee are “totally out of place”, PTI reported.

“In the Indian Union, these issues are handled by the central government. A state government has no locus standi on this issue and hence its comments are totally out of place,” the source said, according to PTI.

“Bengal’s doors open to Bangladeshi refugees”

Earlier, addressing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ‘Martyrs’ Day’ rally in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee, while referring to the crisis in Bangladesh where scores of people were killed in violent protests, said the doors of West Bengal were open to people in distress from the neighbouring country and shelter would be provided to them if they sought refuge.

Justifying her stand on the issue, Banerjee cited the UN refugee resolution and asserted that Bangladesh is on the brink of a possible humanitarian crisis that could erupt in the country due to the severe breakdown in law and order that has been witnessed there since the protests began.

“I should not talk about Bangladesh’s affairs because it is a sovereign nation and whatever needs to be said on the subject is the Centre’s responsibility. But I can tell you one thing: if helpless people come knocking at the doors of Bengal, we will definitely provide them shelter,” she said in her address at the ‘Martyrs’ Day’ rally.

Protests in Bangladesh

Violent protests and deadly clashes have rocked Bangladesh in recent weeks, with student protesters taking to the streets, demanding that the Sheikh Hasina-led government scrap a controversial job quota system.

The violent clashes, which erupted several weeks ago, have left more than 100 people dead so far, although the exact death toll is not yet known.

Security forces in Bangladesh have imposed a nationwide curfew as clashes between protesters demanding the removal of the employment quota system and police continue across the country.

(With contributions from agencies)