WB News: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged the central government to seek the deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Bangladesh to address the ongoing tensions in the country. Banerjee also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and facilitate the return of persecuted Indians from Bangladesh.Demand for Parliamentary StatementIn addition to the peacekeeping request, Banerjee demanded that Indias stance on the situation in Bangladesh be clarified by the Union Minister of External Affairs (EAM) in Parliament. She emphasized that the statement should be made during the current winter session, or, if PM Modi is unavailable, by the EAM himself.Escalating Tensions in BangladeshThe situation in Bangladesh has been growing tense, with reports of alleged atrocities against Hindus and other minorities, as well as the arrest of Hindu priests. Banerjee, speaking in the West Bengal assembly, stressed that while commenting on bilateral issues between India and Bangladesh was beyond her jurisdiction, the reports of violence and persecution had compelled her to speak out.Appeal for International Peacekeeping ForcesBanerjee suggested that the Indian government should engage with Bangladeshs interim authorities and, if necessary, the United Nations, to deploy a peacekeeping force to restore normalcy. She expressed readiness to provide shelter and rehabilitation to persecuted Indians who have fled across the border, saying, We have no problem sharing our one roti with them if the need arises.The Bengal CM also highlighted the ongoing issue of 79 Indian fishermen detained by Bangladesh for allegedly straying into its waters. Banerjee criticized the central government for its silence on the matter, recalling that India had ensured the safe return of Bangladeshi fishermen who had entered Indian waters.Criticism of the Central Governments InactionBanerjee accused the central government of failing to act over the past ten days as tensions in Bangladesh escalated. In a pointed remark aimed at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she questioned why the party was not pressuring the Centre to take a more proactive approach to the crisis. She also addressed the issue of trade disruptions along the India-Bangladesh border, asserting that halting commodity movement was not within the states control, but was governed by guidelines from the Centre.
