Amid the alleged attacks against the minorities in Bangladesh, the head of the interim government Muhammad Yunus called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday and assured the safety and security of Hindus.
Modi said that Yunus assured the “safety, protection and security of Hindus” in Bangladesh over the telephone. “Reiterated India's support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh," Modi added.
The conversation also explored avenues to further strengthen the deep-rooted ties between the two neighbours. Both leaders agreed to work collaboratively towards advancing the bilateral relationship while aligning with the national interests of their respective countries' shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous South Asia.
Bangladesh saw a spike in violence against the Hindu community after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government. The former Bangladesh PM fled to India on August 5 following massive protests, which initially began as the quota reform movement. Later violent protest erupted in the country demading Hasina's resignation.
According to the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance, a non-political Hindu religious organisation, the minority community has faced threats and attacks in at least 278 locations across 48 districts since Hasina fled the country.
The organisation has pointed out that this was an “assault” on the Hindu religion.
Amid the increasing attacks against Hindus in Dhaka, hundreds, including BJP leaders, women and professors took part in a protest march held in Delhi on Friday.
On August 14, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma met Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Mohammed Touhid Hossain at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka. "We are interested in advancing our relationship with Bangladesh," Verma told the media after the meeting.
This was Verma’s first meeting with Hossain, after the formation of the interim government. Verma had also attended the oath-taking ceremony where Yunus took over as head of the interim government.
Despite the strong anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh, Verma’s meeting with Hossain and other undisclosed diplomatic outreaches could have resulted in Yunus’s phone call to Modi.
Another case filed against Hasina
In the latest addition to the charges filed against her, Hasina was charged with the murder of a teacher, Selim Hossain (35). Along with Hasina, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and 99 others faced multiple charges over the death of Hossain.
Reportedly, Hossain, a resident of Shibganj Upazila, was killed on August 4 during the clashes between protesters and Awami League party activists. According to the complaint, the party leaders attacked the protesters and hacked Hossain to death with sharp weapons.
Earlier, a murder case was lodged against her over the death of a grocery shop owner on August 13. On August 14, another case of enforced disappearance was filed against Hasina on the charge of kidnapping a lawyer in 2015.
Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday started an investigation against Hasina on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity that took place from July 15 during the students' mass movement against her government.
A team of UN experts will be visiting Bangladesh next week to investigate the killings of the protesters.
