India on Friday again asked the interim Bangladesh government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, saying that New Delhi remains concerned with the increasing extremist rhetoric, incidents of violence and violence in the country.
"India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities.
Our position on the matter is very clear. The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the weekly media briefing.
The MEA's strong reaction came on a day when Bangladesh's Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) ordered the freezing of bank accounts belonging to 17 Hindus, including jailed Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, for 30 days.
Das, a spokesperson of Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on November 25 and was sent to prison by a Chittagong court the following day for waging war against the state, or sedition.
Hindus around the world have been shocked by the latest incident that follows multiple attacks on the community and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh.
"We are worried about the rise in extremist rhetoric, growing instances of violence and provocations. These cannot be written off as media exaggerations. We again urge Bangladesh to take all measures for protection of all minorities," the MEA spokesperson said on Friday.
Several leaders of Bangladesh's interim government and others, including Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, who led the so-called 'Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' that eventually resulted in the fall of government headed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August - continue to orchestrate a disinformation campaign against Hindus and spiritual organization Iskcon, terming it as an "agent of the Awami League" that should be banned in the country at once.
"We view Iskcon as a globally respected organization with an excellent social service track record. On Chinmoy Krishna Das's arrest, we expect due process being followed and it should be addressed in a fair, just, and transparent manner," stated Jaiswal.
Earlier this week, after the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, the MEA had spotlighted that there are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples, reported from Bangladesh.
"It is regrettable that whereas the culprits behind these incidents are still on the run, cases should be brought against a religious leader who presents his demands with processions peacefully. We are equally perturbed by attacks on minorities protesting peacefully over the arrest of Shri Das. Bangladesh authorities are called upon to protect the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities including their freedom of peaceful assembly and expression," the MEA said.
Not just India but many of the prominent Bangladesh leaders have also raised an alarm on the fast-deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh, especially for the minorities.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had strongly condemned the "tortures" inflicted on common people by the interim government in Bangladesh and called for "immediate release" of the Hindu priest on Thursday.
"A top leader of the Sanatan religious community has been unjustly arrested, he must be released immediately," she said.
The Bangladesh Awami League (AL) president and daughter of the 'Father of the Nation' Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman also highlighted several incidents of persecution of members of minority communities that have been reported from across 52 districts of Bangladesh since her resignation on August 5, this year.
"A temple has been burnt in Chittagong. Previously, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries and houses of the Ahmadiyya community were attacked, vandalized and looted and set on fire. Religious freedom and security of life and property of people of all communities should be ensured," she stated.
"After killing innumerable Awami League leaders and workers, students and members of the law and order forces, harassment is going on through assaults and arrests. I strongly condemn and protest against these anarchist activities," Hasina added.
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