Yunus assures India’s Modi of Hindu community's safety in Bangladesh

Hindus constitute about 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million people and have historically supported Hasina’s party

DHAKA:

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that he received a phone call from the head of Bangladesh’s caretaker government, Muhammad Yunus, assuring New Delhi of the “protection, safety and security” of Hindus in that country.

A school teacher was killed and at least 45 people injured as homes, businesses, and temples of Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh were targeted last week after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina quit and fled the country following violent protests seeking her ouster.

Nobel Peace laureate Yunus, the head of the caretaker government in Dhaka, called Modi and assured him of the “protection, safety and security of Hindus and all minorities in Bangladesh”, Modi said in a post on X.

“Reiterated India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh,” Modi added.

Hindus constitute about 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million people and have historically supported Hasina’s Awami League party, which identifies as largely secular, instead of the opposition bloc that includes a Islamist party.

Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council estimates at least 52 of the country’s 64 districts have been impacted by communal violence since Aug. 5, the day Hasina fled to India.

Hundreds of Hindus living in Bangladesh have been trying to flee to India to escape the violence.

Hindu majority India, which has strong cultural and business ties with Bangladesh, has said it was worrying that minorities, their businesses and temples had been attacked in many places.