Hindu group protests atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh

AGARTALA: Hindu Sangharsh Samity, a right-wing organisation, conducted a demonstration on Monday before the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala. The protest addressed the oppression of minorities in Bangladesh, calling for the release of Iskcon member Chinmoy Das and cessation of religious persecution.

Numerous Hindu devotees gathered near the Gandhi statue along VIP Road, voicing their opposition to the persecution of Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians in Bangladesh. They urged the Assistant High Commissioner to convey India's concerns to Bangladesh authorities, warning about potential deterioration in bilateral relations.

"Chinmoy Das has been illegally detained by the interim government in Bangladesh. He has even been deprived of basic needs like food. It's not only illegal but also inhumane. We demand his immediate release and stand firmly against the ongoing violence targeting minorities in Bangladesh," said protesters.

The demonstrators emphasised how minority Muslim communities live peacefully in India, while drawing attention to the contrasting situation in Bangladesh. "We do not harm our Muslim brothers and sisters here in India. Then why are minorities in Bangladesh being targeted? This double standard is unacceptable. Our agitation will persist until the Yunus government frees Chinmoy Das and stops all atrocities," they said.

BJP vice-president Subal Bhowmik participated in the demonstration and expressed worry about increasing violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. He noted that such incidents have significantly increased under the present administration, and various Indian organisations and parties have united to protest this injustice.

"Md. Yunus is directly responsible for these attacks and for inciting hatred against the minorities," he added. Tripura, sharing an 856-km-long border with Bangladesh, has emerged as a centre for demonstrations against minority persecution in the neighbouring nation.

The protesters burnt effigies of Md Yunus during their demonstration and demanded restrictions on Bangladeshi nationals entering India. They also called upon the Indian govt to support Bangladesh's minorities, reminiscent of its role during the 1971 War of Liberation.