Bangladesh interim government chief Mohammad Yunus has said that India has exaggerated the incidents of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. He has said that attacks on minorities are not communal but politically motivated and this is being blown out of proportion.
What did Mohammad Yunus say about the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh?
In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed hope that the situation in violence-hit Bangladesh will return to normal soon. He said that 1.4 billion Indians are concerned about the safety of Hindus and minorities in the neighbouring country.
On this concern of India, Mohammad Yunus said that attacks on minorities in Bangladesh are more political than communal and they are being presented in a wrong way.
He said, ‘These attacks are of political nature, not communal. And India is trying to make these incidents look big. We have not said that we cannot do anything to stop this; we have said that we are doing everything.
After Sheikh Hasina left the country on August 5, there were reports of attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, from Bangladesh. Their temples and their businesses were targeted. Regarding this violence, Yunus said that the attacks on Hindus are being exaggerated and these incidents are the result of political turmoil rather than communal violence.
‘India should give up the notion that only Sheikh Hasina…’
He urged India to give up the notion that Bangladesh is safe only in the hands of Sheikh Hasina. He said that it is wrong to think that Bangladesh will become Afghanistan without the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. He said that it is necessary to give up this notion to improve bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh.
Sheikh Hasina fled to India on 5 August after the student movement in Bangladesh turned violent. After this, an interim government was formed in Bangladesh under the leadership of Nobel laureate Prof. Yunus. After the change of power in the neighboring country, India has not made any effort to increase relations with the new government.
In an interview with news agency PTI, Mohammad Yunus said, ‘The way forward for India is to come out of this narrative. The narrative is that everyone is Islamist, BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) is Islamist, and everyone else is Islamist and will turn this country into Afghanistan. India’s perception is that Bangladesh is in safe hands only under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. India is stuck with this narrative. India, like any other country, needs to come out of this narrative.’
Yunus expressed a desire for stronger ties with India and called for greater cooperation to improve the strained relations between the two neighbours. “Our relationship is at a low point and we need to work together to improve it,” he said.
‘Unless we demand extradition, Sheikh Hasina…’
Yunus, the head of the army-backed interim government, also said that Sheikh Hasina should not issue any statement regarding Bangladesh while she is in India. He said that she should remain silent until Bangladesh demands her extradition from India.
Yunus said, “If India wants to keep them until the Bangladesh government wants them back, the condition will be that they will have to keep quiet.”
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