West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee urges supporters to stay calm, not get provoked by developments in Bangladesh

New Delhi, July 21

Stating that doors of West Bengal are open for refugees from Bangladesh, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday urged her supporters to keep calm and not get provoked by developments taking place in Bangladesh.

More than 100 agitators have died in firing by the security forces in Bangladesh where students are protesting against reservation in government jobs for descendants of freedom fighters.

Addressing the Shahid Divas rally organised by Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Kolkata, Mamata said she was keeping a close watch on the situation in Bangladesh.

“I won’t say anything because it is another country. But I will certainly say this much that if helpless people knock our doors, we will give them shelter. There is provision for this in the guidelines of the United Nations,” she said.

The TMC supremo said when Bodo tribal refugees from Assam took shelter in Alipurduar, West Bengal Government did not object and she also visited the refugees in their camps.

Appealing to supporters to not fall prey if anyone tries to fan up emotions citing developments in Bangladesh, Mamata said she was sad that blood of students was being shed in Bangladesh.

She said the state government would help in the return of Indian students enrolled in institutions in Bangladesh.

Similarly, Bangladeshi patients getting medical treatment in India would also receive help from the state government if required, she said.