News Desk :
Congress MP of India Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday responded to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s request for deploying a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Bangladesh, expressing doubts about her understanding of their role. “I am not sure if she fully understands the role of UN peacekeepers.
Having worked in UN peacekeeping myself for many years, I can say that peacekeepers are very rarely deployed within a country, except at the request of that country,” Tharoor told PTI.
He added that peacekeepers are only sent when a country faces complete collapse, and even then, the government of that country must formally request their presence. However, he agreed that it is important to monitor the situation closely.
Mamata Banerjee, speaking in the Bengal state assembly on Monday, urged the Indian government to approach the United Nations to consider deploying peacekeeping forces in Bangladesh, citing attacks on minorities.
“If required, an international peacekeeping force should be sent to Bangladesh after discussions with the interim government to help restore normalcy,” Banerjee said in the assembly.
The Chief Minister also called on the Indian External Affairs Minister to address Parliament on the nation’s position regarding the situation in Bangladesh.
Additionally, she sought intervention from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to repatriate persecuted Indians from foreign soil.
In response, the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, expressed surprise and concern over Banerjee’s remarks.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain said, “I don’t understand why Mamata Banerjee made such a statement. I know her personally and have visited her home several times.”
Hossain, however, emphasised that the issues could be resolved through dialogue. “Mutual interests must be preserved, and Bangladesh values a friendly relationship with India,” he said.
