2,200 attacks on minorities in B’desh: MEA in Parl
There have been 2,200 cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh this year and India has shared its concerns with the neighbouring country, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a written reply to Lok Sabha on Friday.
The government has taken serious note of these incidents and shared its concerns with Bangladesh. India expects Dhaka to take all necessary measures to ensure safety and welfare of Hindus and other minorities, Minister of State in the MEA Kirti Vardhan Singh said in reply to question from Arvind Dharmapuri, a BJP MP from Telangana.
The data presented in the Lok Sabha shows a steep rise in violence this year. In 2022 and 2023, the cases of violence against minorities were 47 and 302, respectively.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during his visit to Bangladesh on December 9 had also raised the matter. The MEA said India had expressed its concerns about the demolition of Jagannath Temple in Bangladesh, attack on a Puja mandap in Tantibazar, Dhaka, and the theft at the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple at Satkhira during Durga Puja 2024.
“In Pakistan, the cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities in Pakistan this year stood at 112 till October 2024,” the MoS said.
The minister said the Indian government has urged “Pakistan to take steps to prevent religious intolerance, sectarian violence, systemic persecution and attacks on minority communities and ensure their safety, security, and well-being.”
He added, “India continues to highlight the plight of minorities in Pakistan at appropriate international fora.” Cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities in other neighbouring countries (except Pakistan and Bangladesh) is "nil," the minister said.
(With inputs from PTI)
Yunus, Pak PM meet in Cairo, discuss 1971 issues
Bangladesh has asked Pakistan to settle the issues of 1971 to help Dhaka move forward with its relationship with Islamabad “once and for all for the future generations,” state-run news agency has said.
Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also discussed the revival of the the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and called for a strategic relationship between Dhaka and Islamabad.
Yunus and Sharif met on the margins of the D-8 Summit at Cairo on Friday when the two leaders agreed to strengthen relations through increased trade, commerce, and exchange of sports and cultural delegations, state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) said.
Yunus urged Sharif to settle the issues of 1971 to help Dhaka move forward with its relationship with Islamabad and said, “The issues have kept coming again and again. Let’s settle those issues for us to move forward.” Sharif said the 1974 tripartite agreement involving Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India settled things, “but if there are other outstanding issues,” he would be happy to look at them, according to the BSS. Yunus said it would be nice to resolve things “once and for all for the future generations.” Yunus and Sharif also discussed the revival of the SAARC. Sharif urged Yunus to work on the possibility of holding a summit of the regional body.
Calling for a strategic relationship between Dhaka and Islamabad, Sharif said, “We are really looking forward to strengthening our relationship with our brother-in-country Bangladesh.” Pakistan’s state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) quoted a press release from the prime minister’s office and said Sharif expressed gratitude for the facilitation of trade and travel between Pakistan and Bangladesh, including waiving off the condition of 100 per cent physical inspection of the consignments from Pakistan.
Sharif, who invited Yunus to Pakistan, also thanked him for ease of air travel for Pakistani passengers to Bangladesh, the APP said. —PTI
