Indian Foreign Secretary meets Bangladeshi counterpart in Dhaka, highlights atrocities faced by minorities

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who visited Dhaka for the first time ever since the interim government took charge, raised the issue of the safety of minorities in the Muslim-majority nation while meeting his Bangladeshi counterpart Md Touhid Hossain.

This marked the first high-level diplomatic interaction between the two nations since the toppling of former PM Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5.

The Interim government, led by Muhammad Yusuf, took charge of the country following her ouster. During his regime, Bangladesh is registering a rise in atrocities against minorities.

“We also had the opportunity to discuss certain developments and issues, and I conveyed the concerns, including those related to the safety, security and welfare of the minorities.” the Indian official was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

“We expect overall constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking and constructive direction,” he said.

The communal tension allegedly increased during the current regime after Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested in Chittagong over sedition charges in November.

Earlier, India said the interim government in Bangladesh must shoulder its responsibility of protecting all minorities while expressing serious concern over the “surge” of extremist rhetoric and increasing incidents of violence against Hindus.