New Delhi: Thousands of Hindus took to streets in Dhaka on Saturday to protest against the alleged killing of minority Hindus and defacement of Hindu Temples in Bangladesh. This comes as Bangladesh remain on the boil, days after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India after being forced to resign, marking a new shift in country’s political landscape.
Visuals have emerged from the protest site where people from Hindu community were seen chanting ‘Hare Krishna Hare Rama’. ‘Hare Krishna’ chants echoed in the air as people raised hands in solidarity with minorities amid unrest in country.
This comes after reports surfaced that minorities, including Hindu were being targeted in the protest-hit nation. The protest against the 30% quota reserved for the descendants of the freedom fighter, initially dmanded the rollback of the reservation but it turned deadly leading to ouster of Sheikh Hasina from the government.
Following the reports of atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh, India voiced its concerns about the incident, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar saying that “what was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses, and temples also came under attack at multiple locations.”
Expressed hopes for a swift return to normalcy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi explicitly called for the protection of Hindus in Bangladesh. Amid the unrest, Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was sworn-in as the head of Bangladesh interim government.
In a congratulatory message, PM Modi extended best wishes Muhammad Yunus and affirmed that India’s ties with Bangladesh will remain intact while urging him to ensure the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. He wteeted, 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.”
BSF on High Alert
Meanwhile, the Border Security Forces (BSF) is on high alert after facing the daunting task of preventing thousands of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants entering India in the aftermath of the recent political turmoil in the South Asian country.
A spokesperson for the forces said that the personnel have successfully addressed a significant challenge at the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Cooch Beharb where almost 1,000 immigrants were trying to seek refuge in India.
