Minority repression likely on agenda

Jaishankar

Visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is likely to raise the issue of the recent attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh during his meetings with the government high-ups.

Highly placed sources said the BJP government and various quarters in India have voiced concern about the recent killings of religious minority people, particularly the Hindus, attacks on temples and grabbing of their properties in Bangladesh and called for an immediate halt to such incidents.

Talking to The Daily Star, top Hindu community leaders yesterday said they expected that Jaishankar would raise the issue and call upon the government high-ups to take measures to stop repression of religious minorities.

Sources also said the Indian foreign secretary would convey his government's message that it would stand by Bangladesh in the face of any attempts by terrorists and religious extremists to create instability.

The Indian diplomat will hold a meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Md Shahidul Haq this noon, said diplomatic sources.

Talking to this newspaper on condition of anonymity, a leader of Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad yesterday said they had a meeting with the Indian high commissioner in Dhaka a few days ago.

During the meeting, the minority community leaders informed the Indian envoy about the repression on religious minorities.

“I believe he [high commissioner] would brief his foreign secretary about the situation the religious minorities in Bangladesh are faced with,” the leader added.

Another leader of the Oikya Parishad hoped that Jaishankar would raise the issue before the government high-ups prominently.

On April 22, the rights body at a press conference in the city claimed that 10 religious minority people were killed, 366 injured and eight women were raped across the country in the first three months of this year.

In most of the cases, the perpetrators used political power and influence to oppress the religious minorities, said a report titled “Human Rights Situation of Minorities in Bangladesh- Jan-March 2016”, which was launched at the press conference.

On March 5, the Oikya Parishad at another press conference claimed that around 24 religious minorities were killed and 1,562 families were affected in 262 incidents of attack and repression last year.

Meanwhile, Indian Assam-based Bengali daily Dainik Jugasankha in a report on Tuesday said Jaishankar would convey a message to the Bangladesh government about the Indian government's concern over the recent minority repression in Bangladesh.

Besides, the Times of India in a report yesterday said the Indian foreign secretary would lay the ground for the joint consultative commission meeting in Bangladesh which is likely be attended by Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in July.

There will be some discussions on starting bus and train services between Khulna and Kolkata, read the report.