Hundreds of Bangladeshi Hindus Attempt to Migrate to India Amidst Political Unrest
Over 200 people were reported to be standing near the border: Deputy Inspector General
Dhaka/New Delhi: Thousands of Hindus residing in Bangladesh have attempted to migrate to India through the Indian border. According to an AFP report, the incident occurred several days after a student-led movement ousted then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Following Sheikh Hasina Wazed’s removal, some Hindu-owned businesses and homes believed to be associated with her were attacked in the predominantly Muslim country of Bangladesh.
Deputy Inspector General Amit Kumar Tyagi of the Border Security Force (BSF) informed AFP that hundreds of Bangladeshi citizens, mostly Hindus, have gathered at various points along the India-Bangladesh border. Over 200 people were reported to be standing near the border in the Indian state of West Bengal.
In the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, more than 600 Bangladeshi nationals have assembled in no-man’s land. Due to the absence of fencing in some areas, BSF personnel have created a human shield to keep them at bay. Officers have also used aerial firing to disperse the crowd.
The unrest follows the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, who stepped down after over a month of deadly protests. Hasina, who had been in power since 2009, resigned on Monday. Since her resignation, security conditions in Bangladesh have dramatically improved, although reports of retaliatory attacks against her supporters and party officials have surfaced.
The Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council of Bangladesh reported attacks on at least 10 Hindu temples by rioters on Monday. Additionally, a hospital official, speaking anonymously to AFP, reported that a member of the Hindu community was violently killed in the southern district of Bagerhat earlier this week.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar stated on Tuesday that the Indian government is monitoring the situation concerning minorities in Bangladesh.
For further details and updates:
- AFP News Report: AFP
- Indian Foreign Ministry Official Statement: Ministry of External Affairs
