External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on Thursday, briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of attacks on Hindus and other minorities, recent arrest of a monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and vandalism of a temple in Chattogram district in Bangladesh. Jaishankar is likely to update both houses of Parliament on Friday regarding these issues.
Meanwhile, India on Thursday said it is Bangladesh’s responsibility to ensure safety of minorities including Hindus there and places of worship.
Making this assertion in Parliament, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh condemned the recent attacks on minorities there and expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in Bangladesh since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina -led government.
Responding to a question on the issue in Rajya Sabha, he said “Several incidents of desecration and damages to Hindu temples and deities in Bangladesh have been reported in the past few months. The Government of India has expressed its concerns about such incidents, including the attack on a Puja Mandap in Tantibazar, Dhaka, and the theft at the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple at Satkhira during Durga Puja 2024.”
The minister reiterated India’s stance, urging Bangladesh to uphold the protection of life and liberty for all its citizens, especially minorities.
“The Government has also called upon the Government of Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities and their places of worship.
The primary responsibility for the protection of life and liberty of all citizens of Bangladesh, including minorities, rests with the Government of Bangladesh,” Singh added.
Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday condemned the murder of a lawyer in Chittagong and the arrest of monk Chinmoy Krishna Das, demanding his release.
Calling for justice, she said, “I am expressing strong protest against this murder. Those involved in this murder will have to be found and punished quickly.”
Sheikh Hasina accused the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, which she described as having unconstitutionally seized power, of failing to protect human rights. “Human rights have been severely violated through this incident,” she said. “A lawyer had gone to fulfill his professional duties, and he was beaten to death in this manner. They are terrorists. Whoever they are, they will be punished,” she added.
She warned the government of consequences if justice is not served. “If the government, which has unconstitutionally seized power, fails to punish these terrorists, then it will also have to face punishment for violating human rights,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina urged citizens to unite against violence and insecurity. “I appeal to the countrymen; everyone should stand against this kind of terror. Stand united,” she said. “It is important to ensure the safety of life and property of common people. The present power grabbers are showing failure in every field.”
She also condemned the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das and demanded his release. “A top leader of the Hindu community has been wrongfully arrested,” she said. “He will have to be released immediately.”
Referring to incidents of religious violence, she said, “A temple has been demolished in Chittagong. Earlier, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries, and houses of the Ahmadiyya community were attacked and destroyed. They were looted and set on fire.” She called for the protection of religious freedom and the security of life and property for all communities.
In a related development, Ministry of External Affairs(MEA)officials will brief the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs on the situation in Bangladesh on December 11, panel’s chairperson Shashi Tharoor said on Thursday, expressing concern over the “troubling” developments in the neighbouring country.
Asked whether the panel has sought a briefing from the MEA on the Bangladesh situation, Tharoor said, “Yes, we have, we will be having a briefing on Bangladesh in a couple of weeks time on December 11. Next week, there are pending issues on which the foreign secretary will brief us on.”
Bangladesh’s minority Hindus, which constitute only about eight per cent of the 170 million population, have faced over 200 attacks in 50-odd districts since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August five.
Things took a turn for the worse this week after Hindu spiritual leader Das was arrested in a sedition case. He was later denied bail by a court, triggering protests by community members in various locations, including the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram. Das was a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and was recently expelled.
