India Forms Panel To Ensure Safety Of Minorities In Bangladesh
As reports regarding targeted attacks against minorities in Bangladesh emerge, the Union Government on Friday formed a committee to monitor the situation in the neighboring country. The committee, according to the government, will look into the current situation on the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB) and maintains communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Indian citizens and people belonging to minority communities.
“The committee will be headed by ADG, Border Security Force (BSF), Eastern Command, and will have IG, BSF Frontier HQ South Bengal, IG, BSF Frontier HQ Tripura, Member (Planning & Development), Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), and Secretary, LPAI, as its members,” the statement said.
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The nationwide students’ demonstration, started as a protest against the quota system in government jobs, turned out to be a massive people’s movement against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s regime, culminating in her resignation and fleeing to India for safety. The unrest claimed the lives of over 300 people, including protesters, security personnel, and members of the Awami League. After Hasina’s fleeing, the army took over the rein, announcing that it would form an interim government soon.
After Hasina’s resignation, protesters stormed her residence and carried out vandalism and looting. They also targeted her party leaders, killing several of them and destroying their properties. Notably, some Hindu leaders of the Awami League were also targeted, according to Gobinda Pramanik, General Secretary of the Bangladesh National Hindu Mahajot. He also rejected the media claims of systematic attacks against minorities and Hindus in the country.
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However, while there are some cases where minorities have been allegedly assaulted, there are several fake news stories going around on social media. Reporting on the development, news outlet The Wire exposed some of the fake stories, including the sexual harassment of Hindu women, among others.
After the president dissolved parliament, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus was sworn into office as chief of the Bangladesh interim government on Thursday.
Yunus, after taking over the position, called for the restoration of order, saying that it was his first task. “We cannot take a step forward unless we fix the law and order situation,” the new Bangladesh leader said.
