- Tuesday, March 11, 2025
The hoteliers’ association said this was in response to the desecration of India flag in Bangladesh and oppression of minorities by by a section of fundamentalists
By: Shajil Kumar
A HOTELIERS association in Tripura has said its members would not serve Bangladeshi guests in view of the insult meted out to the Indian flag in the neighbouring country.
The All Tripura Hotel & Restaurant Owners’ Association (ATHROA) general secretary, Saikat Bandyopadhyay, said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting held on Monday.
“We are a secular country and have respect for all religions. Our national flag has been desecrated and minorities are facing oppression by a section of fundamentalists in Bangladesh. Earlier too such incidents used to take place but now it has crossed the limit,” he said.
“The prevailing situation in Bangladesh is really worrisome. We serve the people who are coming to Tripura for various purposes. We condemn the treatment meted out to minorities in Bangladesh,” he added.
Earlier, ILS Hospital, a multi-speciality private hospital, announced it would not treat any patients from Bangladesh in protest against atrocities on minorities in the neighbouring country.
The hospital has been a popular destination for patients from the neighbouring country due to its proximity and affordable treatment costs.
ILS hospital chief operating officer Gautam Hazarika said, “We extend full support to the demand of suspension of treatment to people from Bangladesh at our health facility. Our help desks at Akhaura check post and ILS hospitals have been closed from today onwards.”
Hazarika’s remarks came in response to a group of people who had staged a protest at the hospital, demanding that the facility stop providing medical services to Bangladeshi citizens, citing disrespect towards the Indian flag and growing concerns over the treatment of Hindus in the neighbouring country.
On Friday, JN Ray Hospital in Kolkata stopped treating patients from Bangladesh.
“Seeing the tricolour being insulted, we have decided to stop treating Bangladeshis. India has played an important role in their independence but despite that, we are witnessing anti-India sentiments. We hope other hospitals will support us and take similar steps,” JN Ray Hospital official Subhranshu Bhakt said on Friday. (PTI)
