India on Friday said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is scheduled to visit Bangladesh for Foreign Office consultations on December 9. This visit comes at a time when the ties between Delhi and Dhaka have been hit. The Indian government has urged Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities following reports of violence against these communities.
The Ministry of External Affairs’ official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Friday, “The Foreign Secretary is scheduled to visit Bangladesh for Foreign Office Consultations on 9th Dec 2024. This is part of our structured interactions with the Bangladesh side.”
Bangladesh police on November 25 arrested Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari on sedition charges and a court denied him bail, prompting India to express “deep concern” and urge authorities “to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities” in Bangladesh.
The MEA spokesperson, when asked about the case, said on Friday, “We have spoken on this issue earlier. We would like to reiterate our expectation that relevant legal processes underway in Bangladesh are executed in a fair, just and transparent manner, ensuring full respect for the legal rights of concerned individuals.”
Das, who has been leading rallies demanding security for Hindus, was arrested from Dhaka’s main airport last week while travelling to Chattogram in southeastern Bangladesh. He faces charges of sedition filed in October after he led a rally in Chattogram in which he was accused of disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag. Das is a member of the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote group and is associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). A Bangladeshi court denied bail to Das, arrested on sedition charges, and sent him to prison, triggering protests by community members in various locations, including the capital Dhaka and the port city of Chattogram.
This led to a verbal duel between the governments in Delhi and Dhaka. The Indian government fired the first salvo.
“We have noted with deep concern the arrest and denial of bail to Shri Chinmoy Krishna Das, who is also the spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote. This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh. There are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities’ homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said.
“It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das,” the MEA added.
“We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression,” the statement further said.
Hours later, Dhaka reacted to New Delhi’s statement, calling the issue “internal affairs of Bangladesh”. It said that “such unfounded statements not only misrepresent facts, but also stand contrary to the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighbouring countries”.
This is the latest instance of New Delhi raising the issue of safety of Hindus in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously raised the issue in public statements and in phone conversation with Chief Adviser of the Bangladesh interim government, Prof Muhammad Yunus.
Former Prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has also joined the controversy after she too condemned the arrest of the Hindu leader on sedition charges and demanded his immediate release, saying that religious freedom and the security of life and property for all communities must be ensured.
Hasina also demanded punishment for those involved in the murder of a lawyer in Chattogram, saying that the “unconstitutional” government led by Muhammad Yunus has failed to provide security to common people.
Misri’s visit is expected to address these issues as he holds discussions with the Bangladesh government and the political class in Dhaka.
