India has once again expressed concerns about attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that the treatment of minorities under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government remains a matter of concern.
In Lok Sabha on December 13, 2024, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expresses concern over attacks on minorities and Hindu temples in Bangladesh. Source: Screengrab | X.
During the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Jaishankar noted that the issue was raised during Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's recent visit to Dhaka.
He emphasized that India expects Bangladesh to take steps to ensure the safety of its minorities in its own interest.
“With regard to the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh, it has been a source of concern. There have been multiple incidents of attacks on them. We have drawn our concern to their attention,” Jaishankar responded to a question from AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi about the safety of minorities and Hindus in Bangladesh.
“Recently foreign secretary visited Dhaka. This subject came up during his meeting and it is our expectation that in its own interest, Bangladesh would take measures so that its minorities are safe,” Jaishankar said.
The statement was made just days after Yunus's interim government, on Tuesday (December 10), acknowledged 88 instances of communal violence targeting minorities, primarily Hindus, in the aftermath of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster on August 5.
Expectations for a Mutually Beneficial and Stable Relationship Under Bangladesh's New Dispensation
The relationship between India and Bangladesh faced significant strain after reports of atrocities against minorities surfaced from the neighboring country following anti-government protests in August, which led to Hasina fleeing.
Commenting on India-Bangladesh relations under Yunus’s government, Jaishankar remarked, “Regarding Bangladesh, we have a good history of development projects. In fact, when we speak about the Neighbourhood First policy, almost in every one of our neighbouring countries, with the exception of Pakistan and China, we have had important development projects. That is the case with Bangladesh as well.”
“We hope that with a new dispensation in Bangladesh, we will settle down to a mutually beneficial and stable relationship,” the EAM said.
The response was once again to Owaisi's query regarding India's commitment of $10 billion towards Bangladesh's development.
Owaisi also inquired about the measures taken by the Indian government to prevent drug trafficking from Myanmar into India.
In reply, Jaishankar explained that due to the unstable situation in Myanmar, India had to reconsider its open regime policy. However, he emphasized that India remains mindful of the needs of border communities, and the government is actively addressing the issue.
“With regard to Myanmar, because of the very disturbed conditions in Myanmar, we have had to review the open regime policy which has historically been there, but we are sensitive to the requirement of the border communities, so it is something which we are working on and part of the challenge is that there is very little government authority on the other side of the border,” he said.
India Seeks Peace with Pakistan, but Demands an End to Terrorism First
Jaishankar further updated the Lok Sabha that“India would like to have good ties with Pakistan, like with any other neighbour, but those ties must be free of terrorism”.
“We have made it very clear that it is for the Pakistani side to show that they are changing their behavior of the past and that if they don’t, of course, there are implications for the relationship and for them. So, I think the ball is very much in Pakistan’s court in this regard,” Jaishankar said.
Regarding the steps taken to enhance trade and commerce with Pakistan, the EAM stated, “I think some of the disruptions which happened happened because of decisions by the Government of Pakistan in 2019.”
Jaishankar Reaffirms India's Position on China Disengagement
In response to a question from Congress MP Manish Tewari, referencing a report by an IPS officer on the accessibility of checkpoints by the Indian Army during China's disengagement, Jaishankar stated, “What somebody wrote as a paper is for that somebody to answer for. I can answer for the government. I gave a very detailed statement on the disengagement and recent developments in the India China border areas."
“In that statement, I highlighted that the last of the disengagement agreements had taken place which pertains to Depsang and Demchok,” Jaishankar said.
“…Indian security forces would be going to all the patrolling points in Depsang and would be going to the eastward limit which has historically been our patrolling limit in that part,” he said.
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