NEW DELHI, (IANS): India on Monday stepped up
security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and its
Deputy and Assistant High Commissions in the country following a rising number
of protests being held against the atrocities being committed on the Hindu
community in the neighbouring nation.
After
a demonstration was held near the office of the Assistant High Commissioner
(AHC) of Bangladesh in Tripura earlier in the day, the Ministry of External
Affairs (MEA) was quick to point out that diplomatic missions should not be
targeted under any circumstances.
"The
incident earlier today of the breach of premises at the Bangladesh Assistant
High Commission in Agartala is deeply regrettable. Diplomatic and consular
properties should not be targeted under any circumstances. Government is taking
action to step up security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in
New Delhi and their Deputy/Assistant High Commissions in the country,"
read a MEA statement.
Several
protest rallies have been held in Tripura over the past few days against
atrocities on the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh.
On
Monday, hundreds of activists had turned up outside the AHC office to submit a
memorandum that urged the interim government in Dhaka to protect the lives of
Hindus in Bangladesh along with their properties.
The
protestors also cited that thousands of Hindus had sacrificed their lives
during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and also contributed massively in the
country's growth after its independence.
The
memorandum also urged the International Human Rights Commission, United Nations
as well as other nations, to intervene in the Bangladesh situation and stop
atrocities against Hindus.
Earlier,
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chowdhury,
former minister and senior Congress leader Birajit Sinha separately urged the
Bangladesh government to stop atrocities on Hindu minorities.
One
of the largest private healthcare facilities in Agartala had decided to stop
services for Bangladeshi patients following protests by some local activists.
The
Agartala hospital's decision follows a similar move by a private hospital in
Kolkata which recently announced it would discontinue medical treatment to
Bangladeshi patients over the same issue.
The
minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, have come under a severe attack by
Islamist elements in Bangladesh after the formation of the interim government
in the country headed by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus.
Last
week, after the arrest and denial of bail to Chinmoy Krishna Das, a
spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote who is also
associated with Iskcon Bangladesh, India had spotlighted that there are several
documented cases of arson and looting of minorities' homes and business
establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and
temples, reported from Bangladesh.
