Bangladeshi actress, minister spark fresh round of controversy
Light-hearted comments by a Bangladeshi actress and minister have sparked to a fresh round of controversy this week.
Actress Apu Sarkar said on the microphone: "Across the world, we proudly identify ourselves as Bengalis."
She made the remark while she was addressing a cultural programme in India's Barpeta.
She then said, "I can see you all here are from Bangladesh, your roots are there," reports NorthEast Now, an Indian news portal.
Even those with roots in the neighbouring country were not happy by Apu's comment.
Local businessman Sabur Ali said, "She will only add to our trouble."
On Tuesday, a similar light-hearted comment by Commerce Minister of Bangladesh Tipu Munshi left the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), an Indian political party, embarrassed.
Munshi said Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb was 'half Bangladeshi' and "his heart was in Bangladesh though he was physically in India" while delivering a speech at the two-day India-Bangladesh stakeholders meeting at the Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati.
Deb, who makes no secret of his close ties with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina and ruling Awami League leaders, was unfazed.
However, BJP leaders, worried over the Opposition making an issue of Deb's 'doubtful' Indian nationality, were left embarrassed.