New Delhi: In their first conversation since former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned on August 5, Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the country’s interim government, called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. He offered assurance to safeguard Hindus in the country.
“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 posted on X after the call on Friday afternoon.
The continuing assaults on Bangladesh’s minority communities, particularly Hindus, pose a serious threat to Yunus’s interim administration, which assumed office on August 8.
“The two leaders also discussed ways to advance the bilateral relationship in line with the respective national priorities,” said a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
On the same day, Prime Minister Modi sent his best wishes to the 84-year-old microfinance Nobel winner and pioneer, saying that the new government would bring peace back and guarantee the safety of Hindus and other minorities living in the neighbouring country.
“My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development,” Prime Minister Modi said in a post on X on August 8.
While Yunus, after taking the oath, said that he would “uphold, support and protect the constitution and will perform duties sincerely”, there was a massive outbreak of violence in the country after Hasina left Dhaka, with goons creating huge unrest and targetting Hindus, their homes and places of worship.
Since August 5, horrifying incidents of violence against the Hindu population in Bangladesh have been documented.
Hindu families have faced violence and vandalism at up to 278 locations throughout 48 districts of the country since August 5, according to a statement released on Tuesday by the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajot (BJHM), a grand national alliance of 23 religious organisations in the country.
According to the alliance leaders, Hindus in Bangladesh are threatened to leave the nation and live in constant dread. In these uncertain times, they implored Yunus to “act fast”.
“Whenever there is a change in government, Hindus are the first to be attacked. Although there were fewer incidents in the past, they have increased recently. We want to live in this country with security. We were born here and have rights in this country,” said BJHM President Prabhas Chandra Roy.
Also read – Sheikh Hasina reflects negative intent and will only spoil India Bangladesh relations
That same day, Yunus went to a revered Hindu temple in Dhaka. He assured the Hindu community’s leaders that upholding freedom of speech and human rights continues to be one of his top priorities.
“Everyone has equal rights in the country. There is no discrimination between us. Please help, be patient and judge us later on what we did and what we didn’t. If we fail, then criticise,” Yunus was quoted as saying by the local media during his visit to the Dhakeshwari National Temple – one of the most significant places of worship for the Hindu community in the region for over 800 years.
Asif Nazrul and A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, the interim government’s legal and religious affairs advisors, also accompanied Yunus to the temple.
However, as there was no end in sight to violence, PM Modi, during his address to the nation on Independence Day on Thursday, once again expressed deep concern over the current situation in Bangladesh.
“Whatever is happening in our neighbouring nation (Bangladesh) is very concerning for us. I hope that conditions normalise there… All 140 crore Indians are worried about the safety of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. India always wishes for its neighbouring nations to walk on the path of peace and progress. We are committed to maintaining peace,” said PM Modi.
The Prime Minister also reiterated India’s support for Bangladesh’s stability and development: “In the coming days, we will always wish well for Bangladesh’s ‘Vikas Yatra’ (development journey) because we are the well-wishers of humankind.”
In an exclusive interview with IANS late Thursday, Abul Fayez Muhammad Khalid Hossain, the Advisor for Religious Affairs in the interim government, labelled India as Bangladesh’s “best neighbour”, which had helped the country “immensely” in gaining independence and assured that “work has begun” to take strict action against criminals involved in several incidents of violence and vandalism against the minority communities, especially Hindus.
“India is our neighbouring country, and we want to maintain peace and tranquillity in our country with the goodwill of India,” Hossain told IANS in an exclusive interview as the interim government continued to receive massive flak from all corners for failing to provide security to the Hindus in the country.
“India is our best neighbour, and it helped us immensely during our liberation. We want to grow relations between the two countries,” he added.
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“Sheikh Hasina Reflects Negative Intent and Will Only Spoil India & Bangladesh Relations”
–IANS
