The leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, announced on Friday that a rally would be held in Calcutta on December 16 to celebrate Bangladesh Vijay Dibas (Victory Day) and trucks transporting items between India and the neighbouring country would be blocked at the Petrapole border on Monday.

Adhikari’s announcement signals the saffron ecosystem’s intent to keep the Bangladesh issue boiling and continue protests against the arrest of monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and alleged oppression of minorities in the neighbouring country.

“We will organise a mega rally here (Calcutta) on Bangladesh Vijay Dibas on December 16. True Indians will give a proper reply (to Bangladesh), from this Bengal,” Adhikari told journalists outside the Bengal Assembly.

“Around 17,000 people, including 3,000 Indian soldiers, sacrificed their lives in the liberation war of Bangladesh,” he added.

Victory Day is a national holiday in Bangladesh, celebrated with much fanfare since December 16, 1971, to commemorate the defeat of Pakistan armed forces in the Bangladesh liberation war with the help of the Indian Army, which led to the country’s independence.

India’s Eastern Command celebrates Victory Day annually to honour the valour and sacrifices of Indian military personnel in the war.

Last week, the Eastern Command organised a motorbike rally to kickstart this year’s celebrations.

Although the Nandigram MLA did not elaborate on the details of the celebrations or whether it would be officially organised by the BJP, a party insider revealed that Adhikari had taken the lead in planning the event on a grand scale.

Although Adhikari did not mention whether the BJP would organise the rally, a party insider said they wanted to use recent developments in Bangladesh as a major political tool in Bengal.

“This is not just about celebrating Bangladesh’s Victory Day for the first time. Suvendu-da has clearly indicated that the party will remain active on the streets at least until December 16,” said a BJP leader.

Since the arrest of monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh on November 25, the BJP has wasted no time in raising the issue on the streets of Bengal. The party has highlighted how minority Hindus were allegedly oppressed under the interim regime of Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh.

The BJP’s Bengal unit amplified its response after the Narendra Modi-led central government issued a strong statement on the monk’s arrest.

Adhikari also announced plans to lead a team of MLAs to the Petrapole border on Monday and block goods vehicles transporting items between India and Bangladesh.

Multiple saffron platforms have already held protests across Bengal, demanding the monk’s unconditional release.

On Saturday, two mega rallies are planned: one in Jadavpur, Calcutta, and another in Barasat, North 24-Parganas. Adhikari is expected to participate in the Jadavpur rally.

“This is the right time for Indians to give a fitting response to Bangladesh. We should all boycott Bangladeshis now,” said Adhikari.

Thousands of Bangladeshis visit India, particularly Calcutta, for medical treatment. Adhikari said doctors should not treat the patients from Bangladesh, who are involved in oppression and disregarding the country.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday that while she was appalled by the incidents in Bangladesh, the state’s role in international matters was “very limited”.

BJP motion

The BJP brought an adjournment motion in the Bengal Assembly on Friday to highlight alleged curbs on religious freedom in Bengal.

When the Speaker disallowed the motion, BJP legislators walked out in protest. They claimed the motion addressed several incidents of attacks on religious places and recent communal clashes in Murshidabad’s Beldanga.