Congressman Brad Sherman issued a statement on Tuesday calling on Bangladesh’s interim government to protect its Hindu minority and address the ongoing protests
Our Bureau
Washington, DC/Dhaka
A Bangladesh court set January 2, 2025, as the next hearing date for Hindu spiritual leader Chinmoy Das, stating that he will remain in jail on alleged sedition charges until then. The Daily Star Bangladesh reported that the Chattogram court deferred to January 2 the hearing on the bail petition of Chinmoy Krishna Das. Chattogram Metropolitan Session Judge Saiful Islam set the new date for the hearing as the defense lawyer was absent from the court.
Meanwhile, US Congressman Brad Sherman issued a statement on Tuesday calling on Bangladesh’s interim government to protect its Hindu minority and address the ongoing protests by Hindus and minority communities over recent attacks and harassment.
Sherman called for an investigation from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, regarding killings and other abuses during the unrest that followed the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The congressman urged the current administration to take action against violence targeting the Hindu community and demonstrate leadership in ensuring their protection. “Bangladesh’s interim government has an absolute obligation to protect its Hindu minority and meaningfully address the protests of thousands of minority Hindus in outcry over the recent wave of attacks and harassment. With the calls for an investigation from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, for killings and other rights violations during the violent unrest leading up to and after the fall of Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the current administration must demonstrate leadership in eliminating acts of violence against the Hindu community,” the statement read.
The situation in Bangladesh has been marked by increasing violence against minority communities after the arrest of a spiritual leader, Chinmoy Krishna Das, over sedition charges and for allegedly hoisting a saffron flag above Bangladesh’s national flag in Chittagong on October 25. The arrest followed a complaint filed on October 31 by a local politician that accused Chinmoy Das and others of disrespecting Bangladesh’s national flag during a rally of the Hindu community.
The situation in Bangladesh has raised significant concerns, with the American State Department Spokesperson Margaret MacLeod expressing worries about the country’s democracy and human rights record.
She emphasized that the US desires a “healthy democracy” in Bangladesh where every individual’s human rights are safeguarded. While speaking with media on Thursday, MacLeod said, “America wants to see a healthy democracy for Bangladesh where the human rights of every person are protected.”
She added, “The news we are getting from Bangladesh right now is worrisome. We are observing the situation… We hope the people are able to live while following their faith.”
The situation in Bangladesh is dire owing to the ongoing protests by Hindus and minority communities over recent attacks and harassment.
But Chief Advisor of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus said that the entire world must know that Bangladesh remains united and all that it has achieved recently was gained through joint efforts, Dhaka Tribune reported.
Dhaka Tribune reported that Yunus sought suggestions from all political parties so that Bangladesh could proceed towards the right path without any errors.
In his opening remarks at a discussion with political parties at Foreign Service Academy, Yunus said that an imaginary story is being spread about Bangladesh which is not limited to a single country but also to other big countries. He stressed that it is important to prove the perception wrong through joint efforts and establishing the truth.
He said that many people do not apparently like ‘new Bangladesh’, Dhaka Tribune reported, adding that the government is open for foreigners to come and see the situation on the ground.
Yunus stressed the need for unity for the sake of the nation’s interest, noting that they (who are campaigning against Bangladesh) are very powerful in terms of resources and arrangements.
Briefing the press after the meeting, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul said the key message of the meeting is that they will remain united for the sake of the country’s interest, sovereignty and existence. “We will never deviate from this,” he said.
Nazrul said there is no reason to think of Bangladesh as “powerless, weak and submissive” and Bangladesh will remain united against any propaganda. “We will uphold our unity,” he said, adding that the entire nation remained united against “India’s propaganda”.
