‘Interim govt in Bangladesh must protect all minorities’
India expressed concern over the escalating extremist rhetoric and rising incidents of violence in Bangladesh and urging the country’s interim government to fulfil its responsibility in protecting all minority groups.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on November 29 reiterated India’s consistent stance on the issue, while highlighting the increasing threats and “targeted attacks” against Hindus and other minorities.
“Our position is clear — the interim government must uphold its responsibility to protect all minorities,” Jaiswal said in response to a question during his weekly media briefing.
He emphasised concern over the growing extremism and violent incidents, stressing that these developments could not be dismissed as mere media exaggeration. “We once again urge Bangladesh to take all necessary steps to protect its minorities,” he added.
Regarding the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das by Bangladeshi authorities, Jaiswal noted that legal proceedings are underway in the case. “We expect that these legal processes will be handled justly, fairly, and transparently, ensuring respect for the legal rights of all involved,” he said.
The arrest of Das, a former member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), followed a sedition charge filed in late October.
Authorities in Bangladesh have also ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of 17 individuals connected to ISKCON, including Das, for a period of 30 days. This decision came after a court rejected a petition to ban the organization following a violent clash between Hindu community supporters and security personnel, which resulted in the killing of a lawyer.
According to media reports, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has instructed banks to freeze all transactions linked to the affected accounts. The financial unit also demanded updated transaction statements for businesses owned by these individuals.