Amid reports of attacks on the minority Hindus in a strife-torn Bangladesh, the Centre on Friday constituted a committee to monitor the situation on the Indo-Bangladesh Border.
The committee, to be headed by ADG (Additional Director General) BSF (Eastern Command), will maintain communication channels with its counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Indian citizens as well as those belonging to minority communities there, according to an official communication issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In a post on X, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “The committee will maintain communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety and security of Indian nationals, Hindus, and other minority communities living there...”
Other members of the Committee include IG, BSF Frontier HQ Bengal, IG BSF Frontier HQ Tripura, Member (Planning & Development) LPAI (Land Ports Authority of India) and Secretary LPAI.
Massive unrest gripped Bangladesh after student protests over quota for relatives of veterans of Bangladesh’s war for independence in government jobs snowballed into a movement . Violence followed as police forces and civilians clashed leaving over 300 dead.
Protests intensified even after the country’s Supreme Court scaled back the quota, leading to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigning from her position. Dhaka has witnessed bloodbath on the streets with reports of lynching and vandalisation of Hindu temples.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged Prof. Mohammad Yunus, who was sworn in as the head of the interim government, to ensure the “safety and protection” of the minority communities in Bangladesh.
“We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfil the shared aspirations of both our people for peace, security and development,” PM said in a message to Prof Yunus.
The United Nations has also denounced the attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh.
In the meantime, an MEA spokesperson has clarified that it is for former PM Sheikh Hasina, who fled Bangladesh and is currently in India, to decide on his plans.
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