The arrest of a Hindu chief in Dhaka has been “misconstrued,” with Bangladesh asserting at a UN discussion board on minority points that the arrest was based mostly on particular fees and that there was no systematic assault on minorities within the nation.
Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former member of the Worldwide Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), was detained at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal Worldwide Airport on Monday. He was denied bail and despatched to jail by Chattogram’s Sixth Metropolitan Justice of the Peace courtroom on Tuesday in reference to a sedition case.
“With utter dismay, we word that the arrest of Chinmoy Das has been misconstrued by some audio system, though he was truly arrested on particular fees. The matter is being handled by our courtroom of regulation,” stated Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Ambassador and Everlasting Consultant of Bangladesh to the UN and different worldwide organisations in Geneva.
Islam’s feedback had been made through the seventeenth session of the Discussion board on Minority Points held in Geneva on November 28-29.
Das, the chief of the Hindu group Sammilita Sanatani Jote, was despatched to jail, prompting protests by Hindus in a number of areas, together with Dhaka and the port metropolis of Chattogram. India has expressed deep concern over the developments, as a diplomatic row between the 2 South Asian neighbours escalates.
Some Bangladeshi NGOs and people highlighted the state of affairs through the UN session. A consultant from the Worldwide Discussion board for Secular Bangladesh (IFSB) described the present state of minority rights in Bangladesh as “very alarming” and a “burning difficulty.” Referring to Das’ arrest, the consultant said that ISKCON is a peaceable organisation and alleged that Das was detained with none fees in opposition to him, including that police and military personnel had been “torturing the minority” group every day.
In response, Islam reaffirmed Bangladesh’s dedication to making sure the protection and safety of all residents, together with minorities. “This has been repeatedly reassured to minority non secular leaders by our prime management and proved repeatedly within the first 100 days of the interim authorities led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus,” he stated.
He attributed the post-August 5 violence in Bangladesh to political and private components moderately than sectarian points. “The violence affected folks, largely with partisan political affiliations, nearly all of them being Muslims, and only some from different non secular minority teams,” he famous.
The political upheaval adopted the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on August 5 amid protests in opposition to her authorities’s controversial job quota system. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed management as Chief Adviser three days later.
Islam dismissed allegations of minority persecution as “exaggerated, unfounded and pretend,” accusing sure teams of intentionally spreading misinformation. He added that the Bangladeshi authorities stays vigilant in sustaining non secular concord and defending minority rights.
India, in the meantime, has urged the interim authorities in Bangladesh to fulfil its accountability to guard all minorities. Exterior Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar instructed Parliament that India is deeply involved in regards to the rise in extremist rhetoric and growing incidents of violence in opposition to Hindus, together with assaults on temples.
Bangladesh has additionally expressed concern over violent protests at its Deputy Excessive Fee in Kolkata, urging New Delhi to make sure the protection of all its diplomatic missions in India.
(With Inputs from PTI)
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