New Delhi:
A day after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri raised concerns over the safety of minorities during his Bangladesh visit, the local government has swung into action against the anti-social elements who vandalised and looted Hindu properties, and put them behind bars.
This comes after Misri met Bangladesh foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain in Dhaka and flagged India’s concerns over the safety of minorities in the country, in the wake of recent attacks on temples and violent attacks on the people of the Hindu community.
Bangladesh Govt Lists Out Data
As per the Bangladesh government data, a total of 88 cases have been filed and 70 individuals have been arrested in connection with rioting and vandalism since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Detailing the arrests, the government said that the Budha Christian Parishad reported incidents of violence between August 4 and 20, prompting the police to lodge 62 cases and arrest 35 people.
From August 5 to October 22, there were 26 reported cases of attacks on religious sites, leading to the arrests of 35 more rioters, according to government data.
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafikul Alam said that it is expected that the number of cases registered and arrests will shoot up as new incidents of violence have been reported in Sunamganj, Gazipur, and other areas.
Misri Reacts After Meeting
Misri said the talks in Dhaka gave India an opportunity to take stock of the situation after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina administration.
“We want positive relationship with Bangladesh, which will mutually benefit us. I emphasised that India desires a positive, constructive, and beneficial relationship with Bangladesh. We want people-centric relationship, and we have a desire to work closely with the current interim government in Bangladesh,” he said.
He said that he raised concerns over the safety of minorities in the country, in the wake of the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das and a spate of attacks on Hindus in recent months.
There has been a spate of attacks on the Hindu community and its religious places, drawing reactions from New Delhi. This led to strained relations between the two countries.
