New Delhi: Bangladesh has assured the protection and security of Hindus and other minorities in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in a post on X today. PM Modi shared that Muhammad Yunus, the interim government’s chief adviser in Bangladesh, contacted him and provided this assurance.
In his Independence Day speech the previous day, PM Modi expressed hope that the situation in violence-hit Bangladesh would stabilize soon, noting that the safety of Hindus and minorities in the neighboring country was a concern for India’s 1.4 billion citizens.
“Received a telephone call from Professor Muhammad Yunus. Exchanged views on the prevailing situation. Reiterated India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, and progressive Bangladesh. He assured protection, safety, and security of Hindus and all minorities in Bangladesh,” PM Modi stated in his post.
On Tuesday, Mr. Yunus visited the Dhakeshwari temple in Dhaka and reached out to Hindus in Bangladesh. He vowed to bring to justice those responsible for the recent violence against minorities following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Numerous reports and visuals from across Bangladesh have depicted attacks on Hindus and other minorities, including the destruction of temples and assaults on men and women by mobs. Among the sites attacked were the Indian Cultural Centre and the ISKCON temple, which were both vandalized.
Opposition leader and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also commented on the attacks, expressing a non-partisan sentiment. He remarked that it was difficult for people in India to remain indifferent when symbols of the country’s friendship with Bangladesh were under attack. “It’s extremely tragic that what was hailed as a democratic, popular revolution has degenerated into anarchy and violence targeting the minorities and the Hindu minority… We in India must stand with the people of Bangladesh. But it’s difficult for us to be indifferent when every symbol of India’s friendship with Bangladesh is being attacked,” Mr. Tharoor told ANI on Wednesday.
Tensions escalated further on Tuesday when a clash broke out between Bangladesh army personnel and members of the minority Hindu community. The protesters, who were carrying posters of their family members who had gone missing during the violence, gathered outside Jamuna State Guest House in Dhaka, where Mr. Yunus is currently staying.
Sheikh Hasina, 76, who ruled Bangladesh for 15 years with a firm grip, resigned as Prime Minister following massive protests. What began as an agitation against a job-quota scheme evolved into a widespread movement demanding her removal from power. The controversial quota system reserved 30 percent of civil service jobs for families of veterans who fought in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
