Amid reports of attacks on Hindu establishments in Bangladesh, Jaishankar calls situation ‘particularly worrying’

Kajol Debnath, Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council leader, said he has received reports that at least four Hindu temples were damaged across the country. “These are minor damages,” he said. However, some Hindu community leaders are afraid in the wake of the tense situation after Hasina’s ouster.

An Indian cultural centre was vandalised by an unruly mob in Dhaka on Monday, eyewitnesses said. The Centre, formally inaugurated in March 2010, promotes bilateral cultural linkages between India and Bangladesh by organising cultural programmes, cultural seminars, workshops and engaging India based Gurus professionals and trainers for Yoga, Hindi, Indian classical Vocal Music and Indian Dances such as Kathak and Manipuri.

Speaking on the issue in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “What was particularly worrying was that minorities, their businesses and temples also came under attack at multiple locations. The full extent of this is still not clear,” he said.

Expressing concern over the condition of minorities, he said the government was monitoring the situation. “There are reports of initiatives by various groups and organisations to ensure their (minorities’) protection and well being. We welcome that, but will naturally remain deeply concerned till law and order is visibly restored. Our border guarding forces have also been instructed to be exceptionally alert in view of this complex situation,” he said.

Jaishankar’s statement comes as Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust in a statement demanded that the Bangladesh Army and administration identify the perpetrators of the arson, vandalism, and lootings, and take appropriate steps for the security of the minorities.

Efforts by the army to bring the situation under control in the violence-hit nation partially succeeded as the country saw relative calm, with schools and shops reopening, buses and other public transport coming back into operation. However, at least 24 people, including an Indonesian national, were burnt alive by a mob at a starred hotel in Joshor district owned by a leader of Awami League party, local journalists and hospital sources were quoted as saying by PTI.

Jaishankar said there were 19,000 Indians in Bangladesh, of which 9,000 were students, and the government was in touch with the Indian community through diplomatic missions. “The bulk of the students have already returned to India in the month of July on the advice of the High Commission. In terms of our diplomatic presence, in addition to the High Commission in Dhaka, we have Assistant High Commissions in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet. It is our expectation that the host government will provide the required security protection for these establishments. We look forward to their normal functioning once the situation stabilises,” he said.

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