Responding to written questions in Lok Sabha about violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka was closely monitoring the situation. He reiterated that the primary responsibility for the safety of minorities in Bangladesh lies with the interim government in the neighbouring country.

“Our position on the matter is clear -- the interim government in Dhaka must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities. We are concerned at the surge of extremist rhetoric, and increasing incidents of violence and provocation. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggeration,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

While expressing concern over extremist rhetoric, MEA also called for a “fair, just and transparent legal process” in the case of religious leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, associated with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, who was arrested on sedition charges and jailed for 30 days. The MEA’s strong reaction came on a day when Bangladesh’s Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) ordered the freezing of bank accounts belonging to 17 Hindus, including Das.

Das, a spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, was taken into custody by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on November 25 and sent to jail by a Chittagong court a day later on charges of sedition. Hindus all over the world were shocked by the brazen incident that followed multiple attacks on the community and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh.

Amid calls in Dhaka for a ban on ISKCON, with which Das was associated earlier, the Indian government also threw in its lot with the group as MEA Spokesperson Jaiswal said that the group is a “globally well-regarded organisation with a strong record of social service”.

The MEA had spotlighted that there are several documented cases of arson and looting of minorities’ homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples, reported from Bangladesh. “It is unfortunate that while the perpetrators of these incidents remain at large, charges should be pressed against a religious leader presenting legitimate demands through peaceful gatherings. We also note with concern the attacks on minorities protesting peacefully against the arrest of Shri Das. We urge Bangladesh authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right of freedom of peaceful assembly and expression,” the MEA stated.

As far as cases against individuals were concerned, India took note of the legal processes that were underway. “We expect that these processes will deal with the case in a just, fair, and transparent manner, ensuring full respect for the legal rights of all concerned.”

In Lok Sabha, EAM Jaishankar said the Indian government has seen several reports of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, their homes and business establishments, and of attacks on temples and religious places, including in August 2024, across Bangladesh.

The Indian Government had earlier urged the interim Bangladesh government headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, asserting that New Delhi remains concerned with the increasing extremist rhetoric, incidents of violence and violence in the country.

“India has consistently and strongly raised with the Bangladesh government the threats and targeted attacks on Hindus and other minorities. Our position on the matter is very clear. The interim government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities,” Jaiswal said at the weekly media briefing.

“We are concerned about the surge in extremist rhetoric, increasing incidents of violence, and provocations. These developments cannot be dismissed only as media exaggerations. We once again call upon Bangladesh to take all steps for protection of all minorities,” the MEA spokesperson said in December.

Several leaders of the Bangladesh’s interim government and others, including Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, who led the so-called ‘Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’ that eventually resulted in the fall of government headed by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August - continue to orchestrate a disinformation campaign against Hindus and spiritual organisation Iskcon, calling it as an “agent of the Awami League” that should be banned in the country immediately.

“We see Iskcon as a globally well-regarded organisation with a strong record of social service. Regarding the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, we expect that the legal processes are being followed and it will be handled in a fair, just, and transparent manner,” remarked Jaiswal.