Bangladesh Faces Heat On Monk’s Arrest, Kolkata Protests Demand Economic Blockade Over Attacks on Hindus.

Kolkata Stands with Bangladesh Hindus: Protests Against Arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Escalate, Demand Economic Blockade until  Minorities are protected there.  

India will Benefit from Suspending Trade with Bangladesh, Says BJP Opposition Leader; Party MP Raises Concerns Over Muhammad Yunus’s Nobel Peace Prize while minorities in Bangladesh are put in a peril. 

Arpita Mathur | HENB | Kolkata | Dec 6, 2024:: Protests in Kolkata continue unabated as Hindutva groups and BJP leaders take to the streets, demanding an economic blockade of Bangladesh. This fervent call to action follows recent developments in the neighboring country, including the arrest of Hindu spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das and reported atrocities against Hindu minorities in a large scale.

On Friday, December 6, 2024, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari joined monks from various Hindutva groups in a rally from Shyambazar to Sinthi crossing in north Kolkata. The Bangladesh government has taken note of these protests, summoning its Acting Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata, Shikder Mohammad Ashrafur Rahman, for urgent consultations.

Tensions between India and Bangladesh have escalated since Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5, with the recent arrest of Das further straining relations. India has expressed concerns over the continued attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.

Trade Boycott

Mr. Adhikari’s call for a trade boycott with Bangladesh is rooted in his belief that India would benefit from suspending bilateral trade. He cited the example of Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi burning Indian sarees, suggesting that if Bangladesh were to ban Indian sarees, it would actually benefit Indian artisans in places like Katwa Kalna, Shantipur, and Phulia.

“ Rizvi is burning Indian sarees. If Bangladesh has the guts then they should ban Indian sarees. This will only benefit our weavers of Katwa Kalna, Shantipur and Phulia,” Suvendu said.

This stance comes amidst tensions between India and Bangladesh, with reports of attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, under the current interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. The situation has already affected trade, with the Integrated Check Post Fulbari on the Indo-Bangladesh border seeing a significant decline in activity.

Bangladesh Hindus in peril, Suvendu calls for ‘Hindu unity’ in Bengal

Protests have been ongoing in Kolkata since November 25, sparked by the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a monk from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Hindutva organizations and the state BJP leadership are leading the demonstrations, expressing solidarity with the detained monk.

The protests have taken a significant turn, with one Hindutva organization calling for a boycott of Bangladeshi goods. In a symbolic gesture, they burned certain products from Bangladesh in Kolkata’s Maniktala area, intensifying the economic pressure on the neighboring country. This move is seen as a strong statement against Bangladesh’s treatment of Hindu minorities.

Citing the persecution on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, LoP in WB Assembly,  Suvendu Adhikari urged the Hindu Unity in Bengal against Jihadi upsurge in West Bengal under a cover of ruling party in the state.

Remembering 6th Dec and remembering the sacrifice of Karsevaks

The rally was took out in Kolkata on the day of 6th Dec on which the Babri structure was destroyed in 1992 in Ayodhya as a symbol of Hindu retaliation against Islamic aggression on Hindu temples by Mughal invaders. Speaking to the media, LoP Adhikari  remembered the sacrifice of Ram Kothari and Sharad Kothai of Kolkata who sacrificed their lives in Ram Janmabhoomi liberation movement.

Adhikari also demanded unconditional bail of arrested Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das on urgent basis.

Reassess Nobel laureate’s legacy

Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, a BJP MP from Purulia, has written to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, requesting a reassessment of Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus’s legacy. Yunus, currently the chief advisor to Bangladesh’s interim government, has faced criticism for his regime’s treatment of minorities, particularly Hindus.

In his letter, Mahato highlights the “tragic irony” of awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to individuals whose legacies are now tainted by violence and injustice. He specifically mentions the “grave atrocities” against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh under Yunus’s leadership.

Mahato’s request comes amidst growing concerns about the human rights situation in Bangladesh. The country has seen a surge in violence against minorities, with many incidents going unreported or unpunished.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s response to Mahato’s request remains to be seen. However, the letter has already sparked a significant debate about the responsibility of Nobel laureates to uphold the values of peace and justice.

 Bangladeshi smuggler shot by BSF

A suspected Bangladeshi cattle smuggler, Anwar Hossain, 40, was fatally shot by the Border Security Force (BSF) in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, on Friday, December 6, 2024. The BSF claims that smugglers attacked them with weapons, prompting retaliation with gunfire.

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions along the Bangladesh-India border. The BSF’s “shoot-on-sight” policy aims to prevent illegal migration and smuggling but has raised concerns about human rights violations. The border between Bangladesh and India spans 4,096 kilometers, with West Bengal sharing a 2,216 km border guarded by the BSF.
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__Inputs from ANI.