NEW DELHI: An Indian-American body has urged US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump for an independent inquiry into the rising incidences of attack on minorities in Bangladesh. Raising apprehensions that the Indian neighbour is turning into a “radicalised Islamic state”, the group has called upon the two leaders to address the “imprisonment of Chinmoy Krishna Das and the continued attacks against Hindus and other minorities.”
“Bangladesh is rapidly descending into a radicalised Islamic state, all under the watch of the US, the State Department, and the UN who must act now to restore democracy and protect minorities. I request not only President Biden but would urge President Trump and his transition team to give priority to restoration of peace and protect minorities in Bangladesh,” Khanderao Kand, president of Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS) said in a letter to Trump on Wednesday.
In a separate letter to Biden, Kand said, “Bangladesh’s progress as a democratic and inclusive society depends on safeguarding the rights of all its citizens, including its most vulnerable populations. We trust that your leadership will champion these values and help restore hope for those who continue to face oppression and displacement.”
Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, Bangladesh’s minority Hindu community has faced over 200 attacks, targeting temples and other sites, as reported by the FIIDS.
In a related incident, Das, arrested on Monday in connection with a sedition case, was denied bail by the court. This sparked widespread protests from community members in various cities, including Dhaka and Chattogram.
MEA has also expressed “deep concern” regarding the arrest and subsequent denial of bail, urging Bangladeshi authorities to take steps to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and other minority communities in the country.