India's comments on attacks on Hindus 'uncalled for', says Bangladesh interim govt

Days after India flagged systemic violence against Hindus and other religions minorities in Bangladesh, the interim government rejected it as an “uncalled assertion” and dubbed it “baseless”.

Following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government in early August, cyclic violence against Hindus and other minorities has enveloped Bangladesh. Temples, public places associated with Hindus, and common Hindu citizens as well as public figures have been attacked.

Such systemic violence, which coincides with the resurgence of extremist Jamaat-e-Islami and caretaker premier Mohammed Yunus releasing convicted terrorists from jail, was also reported during the recent Durga Puja festivities.

After India last week flagged such violence as “deplorable”, Bangladesh rejected the Indian statement as “uncalled for” and baseless", according to The Times of India.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry referred to Durga Puja festivities in around 32,000 mandaps and said it vindicated the commitment to liberalism and democracy in the country.

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“Communal harmony and peaceful coexistence remain a time-honoured feature of liberalism and democracy in Bangladesh that unites all people. Government attests in strongest terms that every individual, regardless of his/her faith, religion or belief, has the right to establish, maintain or perform respective religious rituals or practices… This was vindicated by peaceful observance of Durga Puja in over 32,000 mandaps,” said the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, as per the newspaper.

The Indian statement had come after multiple incidents related to the Durga Puja. In one incident in Dhaka, a crude bomb caused a fire at a mandap. In another incident, a handcrafted golden crown gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was stolen from a Hindu temple in Satkhira district.

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Following the incidents, India said, “These are deplorable events. They follow a systematic pattern of desecration and damage to temples and deities that we have witnessed over several days now.”

Last week, even as the Durga Puja festivities were ongoing, the Dhaka Tribune reported that at least 17 persons had been arrested and around a dozen cases had been registered regarding around 35 incidents related to Durga Puja festivities in Bangladesh.

Inspector General Md Moinul Islam told the newspaper that these incidents led to in 11 cases being filed, 24 general diaries registered, and 17 persons arrested.