Delhi’s double standards condemnable

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul yesterday accused India of double standards for ignoring what he said were atrocities committed against its Muslim minority, but expressing concerns for Bangladesh.

"Most people in Bangladesh (64.1 percent) believe that the interim government has been able to provide more security to the country's minority population compared to the previous Awami League government. This was seen in a survey published by Voice of America Bangla," he wrote on his verified Facebook page.

"We have also seen how student organisations, madrasas, political parties and the general public of Bangladesh worked for the safety of minorities during the recent Durga Puja. Most recently, Muslims of Bangladesh showed immense restraint and patience even after the brutal murder of lawyer Saiful Islam in Chattogram.

"But India has not stopped expressing unwarranted concerns over the situation in Bangladesh. In India, countless incidents of cruelty against the minority Muslim community continue to take place. They are not embarrassed or remorseful about it.

Numerous brutal incidents continue to occur against the minority Muslim community. Yet, there is no hesitation or remorse about it.

"India's double standard is condemnable and objectionable," reads the Facebook post.

The Indian government and the opposition Congress recently expressed deep concerns over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Shammilito Sanatan Jagaran Jote and a former ISKCON leader.

On Tuesday night, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted to India's Ministry of External Affairs' statement.

The ministry said Chinmoy was arrested on specific charges and expressed disappointment over the "misrepresentation of the arrest".

"Such baseless statements not only distort the truth, but also go against the spirit of friendship and understanding between the two neighbouring countries," reads the statement.

Chinmoy, who was expelled from ISKCON Bangladesh in July, was sent to prison last Tuesday on sedition charges.

That day, clashes broke out between police, lawyers, and Chinmoy's followers. Amid the clash, lawyer Saiful was hacked to death.

There was a discussion on Bangladesh in Indian parliament on Thursday as well.

In a written answer to a question, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told parliament that India took the incidents of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh seriously and the primary responsibility to protect them falls on Dhaka.