Harsh treatment of minorities is appalling, Indian citizens’ group tells Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus

The “harsh treatment and victimisation” of religious minorities in Bangladesh is appalling and of immense concern, said a group of prominent Indian citizens in an open letter to Muhammad Yunus, the head of the neighbouring country’s interim government, on Wednesday.

This came after three Hindu monks were arrested on charges of sedition in the past week in Bangladesh.

“As Muslims we are dismayed and disappointed at such un-Islamic behaviour,” read the letter from a group called Citizens for Fraternity.

It added: “We truly hope that the Govt of Bangladesh comes down heavily on all communal elements and ensure full security to its Hindu population as well as other minorities.”

The letter has been signed by former Delhi Lieutenant General Najeeb Jung, former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, former Deputy Chief of Army Staff Zameer Uddin Shah, former MP Shahid Siddiqui and industrialist Saeed Mustafa Shervani.

It said that the treatment of minorities is a “critical test” for democracy, adding that they must be protected in all societies irrespective of their race and religion.

“Most distressing is the development that no lawyer is prepared to defend the aggrieved in fear of reprisals from their co-religionists,” said the group.

They were referring to reports that no lawyer represented Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das at his bail hearing in a Bangladesh court...

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