On Wednesday, December 4, Bangladeshi expatriates in Canada held a protest in front of the Indian High Commission in Ottawa. Despite severe weather conditions, Bangladeshi nationals organized this demonstration to protest the attack on the Bangladeshi Deputy High Commission in Agartala. The protest was organized by the Bangladeshi Community of Ottawa and featured slogans such as “Delhi or Dhaka, Dhaka Dhaka,” “Slavery or Freedom, Freedom Freedom,” and “Why attack the High Commission? Delhi, answer us!”

During the protest, Ashraf Uddin, a former Bangladeshi ambassador to the UK, stated that although India is obligated under the Vienna Convention to provide adequate security to foreign missions, it had disgracefully allowed the attack on the Bangladeshi High Commission by inciting RSS extremists in the presence of police. The attack included vandalism and the burning of the Bangladeshi national flag. He demanded an unconditional apology from India and an immediate cessation of anti-Bangladesh propaganda. He also remarked that the Bangladesh of Sheikh Hasina’s era is not the same as post-2024 Bangladesh, warning that if Bangladesh is not treated with respect, India will not enjoy unilateral regard either.

Misbahul Islam, a leader of the Bangladeshi Community of Ottawa, declared that the people of independent Bangladesh would no longer tolerate Indian aggression. He emphasized that people from all religions, communities, and ideologies in Bangladesh had united against the fabricated narratives of persecution against Hindus, and such falsehoods could not undermine this unity.

Abdullah Mashud, another community representative, criticized the lack of strong support from the Bangladeshi High Commission for this protest against Indian aggression. He stated that when approached, the High Commission did not provide the expected response. He reminded the High Commissioner and other officials that the community would not hesitate to protest against the Bangladeshi embassy itself if they failed to uphold the spirit of the 2024 revolution. He also called for all Bangladeshi embassies worldwide to take an active stance against Indian aggression.

Other community leaders present included Monwar Hossain Akash, Iftekhar Chowdhury Rocky, Anwar Hossain, Mustaim Billah Ratin, Nazrul Rahman, Yusuf Harun, and Ms. Shama, among others.