Dhaka: Bangladesh on Tuesday confirmed 88 incidents of communal violence targeting minorities, mainly Hindus, after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August. Interim government head Muhammad Yunus’ press secretary, Shafiqul Alam also said 70 people have been arrested in connection with the communal violence incidents.
“The number of cases and arrests is likely to increase as new incidents of violence have also been reported in (northeastern Sunamganj, (central) Gazipur, and other areas,” media quoted Alam as saying.
He mentioned that some victims could have been members of the previous ruling party. The government has maintained that, aside from a few incidents, Hindus were not targeted due to their faith.
There have been a spate of incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities, as well as attacks on temples in Bangladesh in the last few weeks that triggered strong concerns in New Delhi.
Misri arrived in Dhaka on Monday for the annual foreign office consultations with his counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin amid unprecedented strain in bilateral ties over the targeting of Bangladesh’s Hindu minority and the arrest of monk Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Misri, the first senior Indian functionary to travel to Dhaka since the change of government in August, also met de facto foreign minister Touhid Hossain and caretaker administration chief Muhammad Yunus.
UN Human Rights Office Preliminary Report
Nearly 650 people have been killed in the recent unrest in Bangladesh between July 16, 2024, and August 11, 2024, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Office has said in a preliminary report — suggesting a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions.
According to the 10-page report titled “Preliminary Analysis of Recent Protests and Unrest in Bangladesh”, nearly 400 deaths were reported between July 16 and August 4, while around 250 people were reportedly killed following the new wave of protests between August 5 and 6, leading to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Yunus Alleges Misinformation by India
The interim government’s position comes amid mounting tensions with India. Dhaka has accused New Delhi of spreading misinformation about the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh.
Muhammad Yunus claimed that the Indian government exaggerated the situation for political gain. “They have spread these rumours in particular countries and among influential players,” Yunus remarked during a meeting with Bangladeshi political parties.
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