Protests in Kolkata Against Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh
Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal assembly and a prominent figure in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), organized a protest in Kolkata against the recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. Joined by Hindu saints, Adhikari urged the international community to intervene and protect the minority communities in Bangladesh.
"The attacks on our temples and Hindus in Bangladesh should be stopped, and the world community should intervene to protect the minority communities of Bangladesh; this is our demand," Adhikari stated. "This movement will continue until the atrocities on Hindus stop."
These protests come amidst allegations of atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh under the current interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. The situation has strained ties between India and Bangladesh, prompting a visit by India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Bangladesh on December 9.
During his visit, Misri will meet his Bangladeshi counterpart and participate in Foreign Office Consultations, a structured engagement between the two nations. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has expressed hope that the legal rights of individuals involved in the attacks will be respected and that any trials will be conducted fairly and transparently.
The arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das on November 25 on charges of sedition has further fueled tensions. Das, associated with the Sammilita Sanatani Jagaran Jote, was arrested following a complaint that he and others disrespected the Bangladeshi national flag during a Hindu community rally. A Bangladesh court has set January 2, 2025, as the next date of hearing in the case.
The Indian government has reiterated its position that the legal rights of individuals involved in the attacks should be respected and that any trials should be conducted fairly and transparently. The upcoming visit by Foreign Secretary Misri and the ongoing dialogue between the two nations offer a crucial opportunity to address the concerns of the minority communities in Bangladesh and work towards a peaceful resolution.