In first high-level contact, Yunus dials Modi, assures security for Hindus, other minorities

Following their conversation Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, said Prime Minister Modi “reaffirmed India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh. He emphasised India’s commitment to supporting the people of Bangladesh through various development initiatives. Prime Minister also underlined the importance of ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities in Bangladesh.”

“Prof. Yunus, in turn, assured that the Interim Government would prioritise protection, safety and security of Hindus and all minority groups in Bangladesh,” it said.

The MEA said “the two leaders also discussed ways to take the bilateral relationship forward in line with the respective national priorities”.

In a series of posts on X, the handle of the Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh said Modi felicitated Yunus and invited him to join the Third Voice of Global South Summit to be virtually hosted by New Delhi on August 17. It said Yunus had agreed to join the summit virtually from Dhaka.

It said when Modi raised the issue of the protection of minorities, Yunus said his government is committed to safeguarding every citizen of the country including the minorities.

Yunus said reports of attacks on minorities have been exaggerated and he is inviting Indian journalists to visit Bangladesh and report from the ground on the issues of minority protection.

According to Yunus, the situation in Bangladesh has been brought under control and life is becoming normal across the country.

It said Modi expressed his desire to work closely with the interim government and praised the leadership of Yunus, saying he knew him for a long time.

The conversation between the two leaders took place a day after Modi, in his Independence Day address, said, “Whatever has happened in Bangladesh, as a neighbouring country, I can understand the concerns about it. I hope that the situation there will soon become normal. Especially, the concerns of 140 crore countrymen is that the safety of Hindus and minorities there should be ensured.”

“India always wants the neighbouring countries to walk on the path of happiness and peace. We have a commitment to peace, it is our culture. In the coming days, our good wishes will always be there in the development journey of Bangladesh because we are people who think about the welfare of mankind,” he said.

On August 14, Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain said the interim government wants to work closely with India to promote bilateral relations. He also underlined the commitment to ensure peaceful coexistence of different communities in Bangladesh including the minorities.

On August 12, Yunus had reached out to the Hindu minority community with a visit to the Dhakeshwari Temple where he met community leaders and assured “justice” and “equal rights” for all.

According to minority organisations, there have been at least five deaths and 205 incidents of attacks on Hindus in over 50 districts since the fall of the Hasina government on August 5.

While Dhaka witnessed some attacks, most happened in villages and in the hinterland, especially in the border areas.

A key reason behind the attacks was the absence of the police over the last week – most have abandoned the police stations fearing retribution by student protesters. The result: police FIRs or complaints could not be filed in many cases, and the community was left defenceless.

The reports of attacks have reinforced a sense of insecurity and foreboding among the Hindu community which, at about 8 per cent, is the largest minority population in the country of 170 million people. About 91.04% of Bangladeshis are Muslims, and the remaining 9 per cent comprise Hindus (7.95%), Buddhists (0.61%), Christians (0.30%) and others (0.12%), as per the 2022 Census.

Leaders said many of the Hindu families were targeted for being politically affiliated with the Awami League; some were attacked because people were looking for an “opportunity” in the absence of law and order; some incidents were traced back to old property disputes as well.