Narayan Chatterjee, a member of the group, expressed deep concern over the reported persecution of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, stating, "We are pained at what is happening to our minority Hindu brothers and sisters in Bangladesh. They are being tortured and killed. This should be stopped. Nation always comes first."
The 'Salute Tiranga' group has pledged to extend their protests to other private hospitals in Kolkata, indicating that similar actions have already been initiated elsewhere.
This demonstration follows decisions by certain hospitals in West Bengal to refuse treatment to Bangladeshi patients. Earlier this month, a 141-bed hospital in Kolkata announced it would no longer admit patients from Bangladesh, citing alleged disrespect towards the Indian national flag amid turmoil in the neighboring country.
Another hospital in Durgapur has reportedly adopted a similar stance, refusing admission to Bangladeshi patients due to the current atrocities against minority Hindus in Bangladesh.
These developments coincide with the absence of Bangladeshi participation in several major cultural events in Kolkata. Notably, stalls from Bangladesh were missing from the Kolkata International Book Fair and the Bidhannagar Mela Utsav, both significant cultural fairs in the city. Furthermore, the 30th International Film Festival in Kolkata proceeded without representation from Bangladesh, reportedly due to visa complications.
The situation has also impacted academic exchanges. A two-day Bengali literary festival at Visva-Bharati University's Bangladesh Bhavan saw no participation from Bangladeshi poets and writers, following reports of visa denials amid escalating political tensions between India and Bangladesh.