Centre Sets Up Panel To Monitor Situation Of Indians, Minority Groups In Bangladesh

The Indian government has established a panel to monitor the situation in Bangladesh following reports of targeted violence against minorities.

The committee's primary focus is to ensure the safety of Indian citizens and minority communities amid the ongoing turmoil that led to the downfall of Sheikh Hasina's government.

"The Government of India has constituted a Committee to monitor the current situation on the Indo-Bangladesh Border (IBB).

The committee will maintain communication channels with their counterpart authorities in Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Indian citizens and people belonging to minority communities in Bangladesh," the government stated.

The committee will be led by the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Border Security Force (BSF), Eastern Command, and will include other key officials, such as the Inspector General (IG) of BSF Frontier HQ South Bengal, IG BSF Frontier HQ Tripura, a Member (Planning & Development) from the Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), and the Secretary of the LPAI.

On Thursday, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as Bangladesh's interim leader, pledging to restore democracy after a student-led uprising ended Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule.

Mr. Yunus, who had returned to Dhaka from Europe, emphasized the need to restore law and order in the country after weeks of violence that resulted in at least 455 deaths. He called on citizens to protect one another, particularly minorities who had been targeted during the unrest.

"Law and order is our first task... We cannot take a step forward unless we fix the law and order situation," Mr. Yunus said during his swearing-in. He urged the people to trust him and ensure that no attacks occur against anyone, anywhere in the country. "Every person is our brother... our task is to protect them," he added, stressing that "the whole of Bangladesh is one big family."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes to Bangladesh's caretaker leader, Muhammad Yunus, and emphasized the importance of safeguarding minority communities.

"My best wishes to Professor Muhammad Yunus on the assumption of his new responsibilities. We hope for an early return to normalcy, ensuring the safety and protection of Hindus and all other minority communities. India remains committed to working with Bangladesh to fulfill the shared aspirations of both our peoples for peace, security, and development," PM Modi wrote on X.

Sheikh Hasina, who had faced accusations of widespread human rights abuses, including the imprisonment of her political opponents, fled to India on Monday as massive protests erupted across Dhaka.

The unrest, initially sparked by opposition to a quota plan for government jobs, eventually grew into a broader anti-Hasina movement, culminating in her ousting.

The military agreed to the students' demand that Muhammad Yunus, known for his pioneering work in microfinance, lead the interim government.