Sun Dec 08 07:09:00 UTC 2024: ## India Raises Concerns Over Violence Against Minorities in Bangladesh Amidst High-Level Talks

**New Delhi, December 8, 2024** – India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, will travel to Dhaka on Monday for a day-long visit to discuss concerns over rising violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. This marks the first high-level engagement between the two countries since a massive uprising in August ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently residing in India.

Mr. Misri’s discussions will include meetings with his Bangladeshi counterpart, Md. Jashim Uddin, and de-facto foreign minister Mohammad Touhid Hossain. He is also expected to meet with Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The visit comes amidst escalating tensions, with Bangladesh demanding Hasina’s extradition from India.

India has expressed deep concern over recent attacks on Hindus and temples in Bangladesh, including the arrest of Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das on sedition charges. The Indian government has publicly called on Bangladesh to ensure the protection of its minority communities and for a fair and transparent trial in Das’s case.

The strained relationship between the two nations has further deteriorated following an incident on Monday, December 9th, where a group of protestors stormed the Bangladeshi mission in Agartala, India. Bangladesh subsequently summoned the Indian envoy to lodge a formal protest. Protests against the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh have also been reported in several Indian states.

While the visit is officially framed as Foreign Office Consultations, the discussions are expected to address the multifaceted challenges impacting bilateral ties, focusing heavily on the urgent need to de-escalate tensions and ensure the safety and well-being of minorities in Bangladesh.

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