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Massive protests have rocked Bangladesh after the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu at Dhaka airport on November 25
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. (Reuters File Photo)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met PM Modi on Thursday afternoon amid growing concerns over attacks on Hindus in neighbouring Bangladesh. Sources said if both Parliament houses functioned smoothly, Jaishankar would make a statement on the matter soon.
Massive protests have rocked Bangladesh after the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu at Dhaka airport on November 25. Saiful Islam Alif, a lawyer, was hacked to death when thousands gathered outside a court in Chittagong demanding the release of an arrested Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu, who was later denied bail and sent to jail on charges of sedition.
Prabhu was a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and was recently expelled. He was denied bail on Tuesday, leading to further protests by the Hindu community who cited atrocities against them under the Yunus administration.
Chief Advisor to the interim Bangladesh government, Muhammad Yunus, condemned the killing of the lawyer in Chittagong and ordered an investigation into the incident.
What Opposition MPs said
As the House proceedings resumed on Day 4 of the Winter Session of the Parliament, TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sought the Centre’s action on the issue, saying, “Since this is a matter of another country, the Central government should take relevant action on this. We are with them (Central government) on this issue.”
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, “It seems very grave and troubling. All Indians are concerned because this is a next-door neighbour, whose wellbeing we are concerned about. It is not only the foreign ministry who is keeping an eye on the situation but all the concerned Indian citizens are worried about the reports that are coming in.”
Hindu American Groups Seek Sanctions Against Bangladesh
Condemning attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, several Hindu American groups have sought that US aid for the South Asian country be made contingent on its government taking measurable action to protect these populations.
Bangladesh’s minority Hindus, which constitute only about 8 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 5.
Vishva Hindu Parishad America (VHPA) president Ajay Shah said the news of Das’ arrest, vandalism of Kali Mandir in Chittagong and the rising attacks on Hindus across Bangladesh are disconcerting.
“Is this the human rights legacy the Biden administration wants to be remembered for,” he asked.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh seeks UN intervention
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Wednesday said the attack on Hindus in Bangladesh reflects that the interim government of that country was in the “clutches of fundamentalists” and sought the United Nations’ intervention in the matter. Singh said such attacks are acts against humanity.
The BJP, however, refrained from making any comment and said it stands by the “rightful stand” taken by the External Affairs Ministry on the issue.