Vikram Misri, the Foreign Secretary, Scheduled to Visit Bangladesh Next Week
Click to start listening
New Delhi/Dhaka, Dec 6 (NationPress) Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is visiting Dhaka on December 9 for Foreign Office Consultations with his Bangladeshi counterpart Md. Jashim Uddin, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday.
During a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal informed reporters that Misri is also scheduled for multiple meetings in Dhaka as part of structured discussions with the Bangladeshi officials.
He refrained from confirming whether the senior Indian diplomat would meet with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, who currently leads the interim government in Bangladesh.
In September, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar conducted a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain during the UN General Assembly in New York. This marked the first high-level interaction between the two nations following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
“Had a meeting with Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain of Bangladesh in New York this evening. The discussion revolved around our bilateral relations,” posted EAM Jaishankar on X after their meeting.
In recent months, relations between the two nations have deteriorated, as New Delhi is highly concerned about the rise in extremist rhetoric, escalating violence, and provocations, particularly against the Hindu community, within Bangladesh.
“India has persistently and emphatically raised concerns with the Bangladeshi government regarding the threats and targeted violence against Hindus and other minorities. Our stance is unequivocal: the interim government must fulfill its obligation to safeguard all minority groups,” stated the MEA last month following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote, also affiliated with Iskcon Bangladesh.
Hindus globally have expressed shock over the series of attacks on their community and other minorities by extremist factions in Bangladesh.
“We are alarmed by the increase in extremist rhetoric, rising violence, and provocations. Such occurrences cannot merely be attributed to media exaggeration. We once again urge Bangladesh to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection of all minorities,” the MEA has previously stated.
Several leaders within Bangladesh's interim government, including Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, who spearheaded the so-called 'Anti-Discrimination Student Movement' that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina's administration in August, continue to conduct a disinformation campaign against Hindus and the spiritual organization Iskcon, labeling it as an “agent of the Awami League” that should be banned immediately.
The former Prime Minister of Bangladesh has vigorously condemned the “tortures” inflicted upon civilians by the interim government, calling for the “immediate release” of the Hindu priest.
“A prominent leader of the Sanatan religious community has been unjustly detained; he must be released at once,” stated the president of the Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and daughter of the 'Father of the Nation' Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, last month.
“A temple was set ablaze in Chittagong. Previously, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries, and the homes of the Ahmadiyya community suffered attacks, vandalism, and arson. The freedom of religion and the safety of life and property for all communities must be prioritized,” she emphasized.
“Following the deaths of numerous Awami League leaders, activists, students, and law enforcement members, harassment continues through assaults and detentions. I vehemently condemn and protest these anarchic actions,” Hasina added.
