The caretaker government in Bangladesh on Monday sent a formal note of protest to India against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments in which he described its nationals as “infiltrators”. reported India today.

Bangladesh’s foreign ministry has submitted a formal note of protest to India’s deputy high commissioner in Dhaka. The note described Amit Shah’s comments as “highly regrettable”. She also expressed serious reservations, saying she was “deeply hurt and extremely dissatisfied.”

“The Ministry expressed its serious reservation, deep sense of hurt and extreme displeasure and requested the Government of India to advise political leaders to desist from making such objectionable and unacceptable remarks,” the protest note said.

The Bangladesh government also asked India to warn its political leaders against making such “offensive and unacceptable” statements, it said Dhaka Tribune.

“The ministry also emphasized that such remarks coming from responsible authorities towards the nationals of a neighboring country undermine the spirit of mutual respect and understanding between two friendly countries,” it added.

What did Shah say in Jharkhand?

During an election campaign last week, Amit Shah claimed that the BJP will “hang any Bangladeshi invader upside down to teach him a lesson” if people vote the party to power in Jharkhand, ANI reported. He also claimed that a change of government would “eliminate” any invaders from the region.

“Infiltrators are the vote bank of Lalu Yadav, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and Rahul Baba’s Congress party. If you change the government, I promise that we will identify and expel every single intruder from Jharkhand,” news agency ANI quoted Amit Shah as saying.

“In our state, the number of encroachers instead of tribals is increasing. We have to put an end to this. Only the BJP can do this work,” Amit Shah added.