India on Friday said Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on December 9 for consultations with the Foreign Office. The visit comes at a time when relations between Delhi and Dhaka are strained. The Indian government has asked the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities following reports of violence against these communities.
“The Foreign Secretary is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on December 9, 2024 for Foreign Office consultations. This is part of our structured interaction with the Bangladesh side,” External Affairs Ministry official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday.
Bangladesh Police On November 25, Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishnadas Brahmachari was arrested He was charged with treason and the court denied him bail, prompting India to express “deep concern” and urge the authorities to “ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities” in Bangladesh.
When asked about the issue, an MEA spokesperson said on Friday, “We have already spoken on this issue. We would like to reiterate our expectation that the relevant legal processes underway in Bangladesh are executed in a fair, just and transparent manner, ensuring full respect for the legal rights of the individuals concerned.”
Das, who has been leading a rally demanding the protection of Hindus, was arrested last week at Dhaka’s main airport on his way to Chattogram in southeastern Bangladesh. He was accused of insulting Bangladesh’s national flag after he led a rally in Chattogram in October. Das is a member of the Sanatan Jagran Jot Group of Bangladesh and is associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). A A Bangladeshi court has denied bail to Das, who was arrested on charges of treason. And as he was sent to jail, community members staged protests in various locations, including the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram.
This led to a verbal conflict between the governments of Delhi and Dhaka. The Indian government struck first.
“We have also noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Mr. Chinmoy Krishna Das, the spokesperson of Sanatan Jagran Jot, a member of Bangladesh. The incident follows a spate of attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There are many documented cases of arson and looting of houses and business establishments of minorities as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
“While the perpetrators of these incidents remain absconding, it is unfortunate that charges have been brought against a religious leader who presented legitimate demands from a peaceful gathering. We also note with concern the attack on minorities who were peacefully protesting against the arrest of Mr. Das,” the MEA added.
“We urge the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” the statement added.
Hours later, Dhaka reacted to New Delhi’s statement, calling the issue “an internal matter of Bangladesh”. Such baseless statements not only misrepresent the facts but also contradict the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighboring countries.
This is the latest instance of New Delhi raising the issue of the security of Hindus in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier raised the issue in a public statement and in a phone conversation with Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh.
Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina is also in controversy She also condemned the arrest of a Hindu leader on charges of treason and demanded his immediate release, saying that the religious freedom of all communities and the safety of life and property should be ensured.
Hasina also demanded action against those involved in the killing of a lawyer in Chattogram, saying that the ‘unconstitutional’ government led by Muhammad Yunus has failed to provide security to the common people.
Mishri’s visit is expected to address these issues as he holds discussions with the Bangladesh government and political elite in Dhaka.