Ajit Doval Visits Exhibition on Hindu Atrocities in Bangladesh, S. Jaishankar Criticizes Yunus Regime's Hostility Towards India: Key Events Unfold

On Monday, January 24, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval attended an exhibition highlighting the violence and discrimination faced by minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.

He also took part in a panel discussion titled "The Never-Ending Persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh." Both events were organized by his think tank, the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF).

S Jaishankar, Ajit Doval, Muhammad Yunus | OpIndia

In a post on Twitter, the think tank mentioned, “The exhibition was inaugurated by the speakers, after which the focus shifted to the panel discussion. Each speaker provided critical insights into the historical and ongoing persecution of minorities in a highly Islamized Bangladesh, examining the socio-political and international dimensions of the crisis.”

“A key highlight of the event was the attendance of India’s National Security Advisor (NSA), Shri Ajit Doval, KC. The NSA visited the exhibition and attended the panel discussion, underscoring India’s deep concern over the plight of minorities in Bangladesh,” VIF India highlighted.

A few days ago, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar criticized Bangladesh for the ‘ridiculous’ remarks made by leaders of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.

“If every day someone in the interim government stands up and blames India for everything – some of those things if you look at the reports, are absolutely ridiculous…You cannot, on the one hand, say that ‘I would now like to have good relations with you’, but I wake up every morning and blame you for everything that goes wrong. It is a decision that they must make,” he pointed out the contradictory statements.

“They must make up their minds on what kind of relationship they want to have with New Delhi, going forward. We have a long history with Bangladesh. We have a very special history with Bangladesh – one that goes back to 1971,” S Jaishankar added.

He pointed out, “There are two aspects to the problem that our bilateral ties are facing – the first being communal attacks on minorities. What is very troubling for India is the spate of attacks on minorities. It obviously is something that impacts our thinking. It is something we have to speak up about, which we have done.”

“The second aspect is that they have their domestic politics – which you can agree with or disagree with, but at the end of the day, we are their neighbour, and they have to make up their mind on their outlook towards us,” S Jaishankar concluded.

Bangladesh's Interim Government Issues Threat to India

The interim government in Bangladesh has maintained a hostile stance since assuming power following the undemocratic removal of Sheikh Hasina.

In October 2024, a senior adviser in Bangladesh’s interim government issued a warning to the Indian government, stating that if India refused to extradite the ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh would launch a “strong protest.” Law adviser Asif Nazrul referenced the extradition treaty, asserting that India is obligated to comply with its provisions.

Meanwhile, a Bangladeshi Islamist named Sarjis Alam, who gained prominence during the ‘student protests’ and the undemocratic removal of Sheikh Hasina, made indirect threats to Prime Minister Modi on Vijay Diwas (December 16, 2024).

During his speech, Alam declared, “I want to let Mr Modi know that is not Gujarat. This is Bangladesh.” His radical supporters cheered him on.

“Aggressive communalism does not thrive here… You cannot come to power here by spreading rumours and killing people,” he claimed.

According to media reports, the Islamist also threatened to "gouge out the eyes" of anyone who so much as raised an eyebrow at Bangladesh.

Earlier, Sarjis Alam had repeatedly issued threats against India and demanded the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Due to his strong anti-India stance, he was appointed as the chief organiser of the Jatiyo Nagorik Committee.

Around the same time, Mahfuz Alam, an ‘adviser’ to the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of Bangladesh, made threats to capture India.

He even shared a map of Bangladesh extending deep into the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura. However, upon realising that his blatant endorsement of territorial expansion could create diplomatic tensions, he deleted his tweet within two hours.

Mahfuz Alam had previously served as a ‘special assistant’ to Muhammad Yunus.

Additionally, in January this year, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) commander Lt. Col Golam Kibria issued threats against India’s Border Security Force (BSF).

“I am standing here with all the forces. You (villagers) do not need to come here. I am alone enough to cut down BSF to size. Was I able to make you understand?” he was heard speaking in a viral video.

The BGB commander stated that he would summon the villagers to ambush the BSF if necessary. “When it becomes necessary, I will give a call to villagers to come with me and cut down BSF to size,” he threatened.

Rising Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh After Sheikh Hasina's Ouster

Since the ousting of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, OpIndia has been closely monitoring and reporting on the increasing atrocities against Hindus. Within just three days of Dhaka's fall, at least 205 attacks on Hindu temples, businesses, and shops were reported.

Asad Noor, a human rights activist and exiled Bangladeshi blogger, has recently disclosed that the minority community is being pressured into joining the ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’.

On September 6, Hindu devotees carrying Lord Ganesha’s idol were attacked during a procession in the Kadam Mubarak area of Chittagong city, Bangladesh.

Ahead of the Durga Puja celebrations, on September 25, a radical Muslim named Yasin Mia vandalised idols of Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities in Gouripur, Mymensingh district.

The latest wave of attacks occurred between September 28 and October 1, when idols of Goddess Durga and other deities were destroyed at the Rishipara Barwari Puja Mandap and the Manikadi Palpara Barwari Pujamandap in Sujanagar upazila, Pabna district. A total of 9 idols were defaced in these attacks.

On October 3, 7 idols were destroyed at the Gopinath Jiur Akhara Durga Puja mandap in Kishoreganj, Dhaka Division.

On November 5, the Hindu community in Hazari Goli, Chittagong, came under attack from police and law enforcement authorities.

On November 29, a violent Muslim mob attacked Hindu minorities and vandalised three temples in Patharghata, Chittagong district. The attacked temples included the Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, the Shoni Temple, and the Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple, with the assault occurring right after Jumma Namaz.

On November 30, Hindu journalist Munni Saha was arrested by the police in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka city.

On December 13, extremists attacked the Mahashmashan Kali Mata Mandir, vandalising 7 idols and stealing gold ornaments.

On December 19, Alal Uddin, a Muslim man, vandalised an idol at the Polashkanda Kali Temple and attempted to fabricate a false alibi. The incident occurred in Haluaghat upazila, Mymensingh district. Another Muslim man, Azharul, also vandalised multiple idols in the same district.

The recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu and his associates, efforts to ban the Hindu organisation ISKCON, and the suppression of Hindu protests through sedition charges underscore the systematic persecution under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus.

Moreover, several instances of Hindu persecution, such as those involving Hridoy Pal, Utsab Mandal, Partha Biswas Pintu, Akash Das, Pranta Talukder, and Utsab Kumar Gian, highlight the ongoing and targeted violence under the guise of ‘blasphemy’.

(This Article was originally published by OpIndia)