How many Hindus have died so far in Bangladesh? (PTI)
Digital Desk, New Delhi. Before the general elections in Bangladesh, incidents of violence and murder against Hindus are increasing continuously during the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
After the lynching of 27-year-old Dipu Chandra Das in Baluka under Mymensingh district on December 18 and the mob lynching of Amrit Mandal alias Samrat in Rajbari town on December 24, Bajendra Biswas (40) was shot dead in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh on Monday.
This is the third incident of killing of Hindus in the last ten days in a neighboring country which is predominantly Muslim. "The incident has been confirmed," said Monindra Nath, acting general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.
"The incident took place at Sultana Sweaters Limited factory in Mehrabari area on Monday (December 29) at around 6:30 pm," a local media report said. The accused Noman Mian has been arrested. Bajendra was the son of Probitra Biswas of Kadirpur village of Sylhet Sadar Upazila. Noman is the son of Lutfar Rehman of Baluturi Bazar area under Taherpur police station of Sunamganj district.
Both Bajendra and Noman are said to be members of paramilitary force Ansar Group. “According to police and local sources, a total of 20 Ansar members were on duty at the Sultana Sweaters Limited factory,” the report said. Noman Mian and Bajendra Das were sitting together at the time of the incident. At the same time, a bullet was fired from the shotgun that Noman was carrying, causing serious injury to Bajendra's left thigh. Later, his companions took him to the Upazila Health Complex where the doctor on duty declared him brought dead.
According to the media report, "Eyewitness APC Mohammad Azhar Ali told that Noman and Bajendra were sitting together in my room at the time of the incident. Suddenly Noman placed the shotgun on Bajendra's thigh and asked, 'Should I shoot?' And then the shot was fired. After that, Noman fled from the spot.
He also told that I had not seen any argument or quarrel between them before the incident.'' Additional Superintendent of Police (Finance and Administration) of Mymensingh district Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun said on Tuesday that Noman was arrested after taking immediate action. A thorough investigation has been started to find out the real cause of the incident.
American Hindu organizations condemn 'brutal' killing of Dipu Das
US-based Hindu organizations - Hindu American Political Action Committee and HinduPact have strongly condemned the lynching of 27-year-old Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Baluka, Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. The Action Committee said the "brutal murder of Dipu" made it clear that the Bangladeshi government was failing to protect Hindus and other religious minorities.
The organization shared statements from four MPs - Raja Krishnamurthy, Ro Khanna, Suhas Subramaniam and Jennifer Rajkumar - who spoke on the incident. Hindupact appealed to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to "take strong and decisive action".
Bangladeshi High Commissioner to India meets advisors of interim government in Dhaka
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M. Riyaz Hamidullah arrived in Dhaka on Monday night after an "urgent" call by the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry amid rising tensions in relations with India. He met the interim government's foreign affairs adviser Mohammad Tauheed Hussain and national security adviser Khalilur Rehman. The meeting took place at the office of the Foreign Advisor in the Ministry of External Affairs in Dhaka.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Khalilur Rahman said, “We call the High Commissioner from time to time. We discussed many issues.'' Quoting sources, 'Dhaka Tribune' said that the High Commissioner was called to take detailed stock of the current situation in India and to discuss the recent developments in the relations between the two countries. The newspaper also reported that the advisors also discussed issues related to India.
(With inputs from news agency ANI)