Md Touhid Hossain. Photo: Reuters file
Bangladesh's interim government was taken aback on Monday by a politician from neighboring India's suggestion to send UN peacekeeping forces to the country to safeguard Hindus and other minorities from violent assaults. The predominantly Muslim nation experienced a student-led uprising in August that led to the removal of autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina after 15 years of authoritarian governance. In the tumultuous period following her ousting, retaliatory actions against those perceived as her supporters resulted in multiple attacks on the country's minority Hindu community, whose leaders express concerns about potential future violence.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of India's West Bengal state, which shares strong cultural and linguistic connections with Bangladesh, urged New Delhi on Monday to petition the UN to address these concerns. "They can dispatch the peacekeeping force to Bangladesh and save our people," Banerjee stated. Bangladesh's foreign minister, Touhid Hossain, expressed disappointment over what he considered one of the most significant criticisms of his country's leadership by India since Hasina's removal.
"I don't understand why Mamata Banerjee made such a statement. I know her personally, and I have visited her home several times," he told reporters. Touhid accused Indian media of disseminating misinformation about the status of Hindus in Bangladesh but adopted a more conciliatory tone towards the neighboring government. "Problems can be resolved," he said. "Mutual interests must be preserved, and Bangladesh seeks a friendly relationship with India." Touhid, a member of the caretaker cabinet responsible for implementing democratic reforms post-Hasina's ouster, also mentioned that he had spoken with other foreign diplomats to "clarify misunderstandings regarding minority issues."
Public opinion in the predominantly Muslim nation of 170 million is largely against India, which was Hasina's primary international supporter. Hefazat-e-Islam, an association of Islamic seminaries, has spearheaded public demonstrations against India, accusing New Delhi of orchestrating a campaign aimed at "spreading hatred" against Bangladesh. Social media posts verified by AFP showed Bangladeshi students placing doormats with Indian flags on them in an online campaign against their neighbor. On the other side of the border, Hindu activists attempted to storm a Bangladeshi consulate during a protest in Agartala, a small Indian city near Bangladesh.
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