Hoteliers’ associations in Darjeeling and Malda districts of West Bengal have decided to shut down their hotels and lodges to protest against the recent lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment factory worker, and the atrocities on minorities under the Muhammad Yunus regime. The decision is supported by a majority of members in both associations, with discussions ongoing on whether Bangladeshi tourists with medical visas will also be affected.
The two districts, Darjeeling and Malda, located in the northern sector of West Bengal with international borders with Bangladesh, are where the hoteliers’ associations have taken this stand. While the Darjeeling border area is smaller, Malda is known for its minority population. Local chambers of commerce in both districts have expressed approval for the associations’ decisions.
In Malda, the Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Association secretary, Krishenendu Chowdhury, stated that the unanimous decision to deny rooms to Bangladeshi tourists was made by all members. The ban does not currently impact any Bangladeshi tourists in the district, but a decision is pending on those with medical visas. Meanwhile, the Siliguri Hoteliers’ Welfare Association in Darjeeling has extended the ban to Bangladeshi tourists on medical and student visas.
Ujjal Ghosh, the Secretary of the Siliguri Hoteliers’ Welfare Association, criticized leaders in Bangladesh for their remarks on certain regions and highlighted the escalating atrocities against Hindu minorities. The brutal killing of Dipu Chandra Das and the wider mistreatment of minorities have sparked nationwide protests, with Hindu groups across cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Bhopal, and Hyderabad condemning the targeted violence in Bangladesh.
