• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Thu, 08 Aug 2024 09:50 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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Bangladesh Unrest: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended his congratulations to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on his swearing-in as the chief advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh. In his message, PM Modi also called for the protection of Hindus and members of other religious minorities in Bangladesh amid the ongoing unrest across the country.

"My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security and development," the prime minister said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

BANGLADESHI HINDUS' ORDEAL

Since the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh on Monday, several reports have emerged indicating widespread attacks on Hindus and vandalism of temples. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said that 45 out of 64 districts in the country had seen the targeting of mostly Hindu homes, businesses or temples this week.

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A school teacher had been killed and 45 other people hurt, it said. Hindus make up about 8% of Muslim-majority Bangladesh's 170 million people and have traditionally largely supported Hasina's Awami League party, which identifies as largely secular, instead of the opposition bloc that includes Jamaat-e-Islami, a hardline Islamist party.

ALSO READ: Mohammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s Only Nobel Laureate, Sworn In As Interim Govt’s Head As Army Eyes Return Of Normalcy

Hasina, as per information last received, is currently in an undisclosed location in Delhi as she explores her options for asylum in a third country. She fled Dhaka for India in the wake of a mounting unrest that saw about 300 people being killed and thousands others being injured in the weeks leading up to August 5.

(With inputs from agencies)

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