Senior functionaries of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, urging immediate and decisive action to ensure the safety of Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh.
This appeal follows a wave of violence in Bangladesh, where several Hindu temples, homes, and businesses have been vandalised since Monday. The unrest began after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India, sparking nationwide turmoil amid deadly protests against her government over a controversial job quota system.
In a statement, the VHP said its president, Alok Kumar, and secretary general, Bajrang Bagra, had met with Shah to express their alarm over the "horrible incidents of non-stop attacks and persecution of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh."
"Distressed by the murders, arson, and other forms of inhuman persecution faced by Hindus and other minority communities in Bangladesh, we requested immediate action to ensure their safety," Bagra said after the meeting.
Shah assured the VHP leaders that the government is taking necessary measures with "full sensitivity and seriousness." He expressed hope that the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, would take appropriate steps to control the situation. Yunus took over as the head of Bangladesh's interim government on Thursday, replacing Hasina.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also raised concerns about the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh in his congratulatory message to Yunus. The Indian government has reportedly taken steps to ensure the safety of all Indians in Bangladesh, including students, by establishing contact with officials there.
The VHP announced plans to establish an emergency helpline for those in need, with the number to be released soon, Bagra added.
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