Mumbai, Nov 30 (NationPress) Antonio Bartoli, the Ambassador of Italy to India, urged for the respect of Hindus and all minority groups in Bangladesh on Saturday, joining a global outcry against recent assaults on these communities by extremist factions in the South Asian nation.

"Italy has always championed the full respect for all religions, particularly the minorities," Bartoli conveyed to IANS.

"We have continuously strived for the stability of this region, and naturally, we hope for a resolution to these issues," he added.

The remarks from the Italian diplomat arrive as India has been pressing the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, to guarantee the safety and security of Hindus and all minority groups.

New Delhi has expressed its concerns regarding the rising extremist rhetoric and acts of violence in the country.

"India has persistently and adamantly raised concerns with the Bangladesh government regarding threats and targeted assaults on Hindus and other minorities. Our stance on this issue is unequivocal. The interim government must fulfill its obligation to protect all minorities," stated Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during the weekly media briefing.

The MEA's strong statement coincided with the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) mandating a freeze on bank accounts belonging to 17 Hindus, including the imprisoned Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, linked to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, for a duration of 30 days.

Das, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on November 25 and subsequently imprisoned by a Chittagong court the following day on charges of sedition.

Hindus globally have been taken aback by this latest incident, which follows a series of attacks on the community and other minorities by extremist factions in Bangladesh.

"We are troubled by the increase in extremist rhetoric, escalating instances of violence, and provocations. These occurrences cannot simply be regarded as media exaggeration. We once again urge Bangladesh to take all necessary measures for the protection of all minorities," the MEA Spokesperson remarked on Friday.