Bangladesh has assured to protect and ensure security and safety of Hindus and all minorities living in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X today. PM Modi said the Bangladesh interim government’s chief adviser Muhammad Yunus dialled him and gave him the assurance.

In his Independence Day speech yesterday, PM Modi had said he hoped the situation in violence-hit Bangladesh would return to normal soon as 140 crore Indians were concerned over the safety of Hindus and minorities in the neighbouring country.

“Received a telephone call from Professor Muhammad Yunus. Exchanged views on the prevailing situation. Reiterated India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh. He assured protection, safety and security of Hindus and all minorities in Bangladesh,” PM Modi said in the post.

Received a telephone call from Professor Muhammad Yunus, @ChiefAdviserGoB. Exchanged views on the prevailing situation. Reiterated India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful and progressive Bangladesh. He assured protection, safety and security of Hindus and all…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 16, 2024

On Tuesday, Mr Yunus had reached out to Hindus in Bangladesh when he visited Dhakeshwari temple in the capital Dhaka. He promised to punish those who attacked minorities during the recent violence after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted.

Many reports had come from across Bangladesh with visuals claiming attacks on Hindus and other minorities. Some reports showed temples being destroyed and men and women attacked by mobs. The Indian Cultural Centre was destroyed, and a number of institutions were vandalised, including the ISKCON temple.

Even Opposition leader and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s comments on the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh found a non-partisan resonance. Mr Tharoor had said it was difficult for people in India to be indifferent when every symbol of the country’s friendship with Bangladesh was attacked there.

“It’s extremely tragic that what was hailed as a democratic, popular revolution has degenerated into anarchy, and violence targeting the minorities and the Hindu minority… We in India must stand with the people of Bangladesh. But it’s difficult for us to be indifferent when every symbol of India’s friendship with Bangladesh is being attacked,” Mr Tharoor told news agency ANI on Wednesday.

A clash happened on Tuesday between Bangladesh army personnel and members of the minority Hindu community protesting with posters of their family members who had gone missing during the violence. The protesters were outside Jamuna State Guest House in Dhaka, where Mr Yunus is living now.

Ms Hasina, 76, who ruled Bangladesh with an iron hand for 15 years, resigned as the Prime Minister following massive protests that initially began as an agitation against a job-quota scheme but weeks later, morphed into a mass movement demanding her ouster from power. The controversial quota system provided for 30 per cent reservation in civil services jobs for the families of veterans who fought the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

Hours after the Calcutta High Court pulled up the West Bengal government and the police over the vandalism of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where a trainee doctor was brutally raped and murdered last week, Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal has admitted that there was an “assessment failure”.

Women in Kolkata and many other parts of the country had organised a vigil, calling it ‘women, reclaim the night’ on Wednesday. During the vigil, which began around 11 pm, some people entered the premises of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and went on a rampage. Vehicles were attacked, public property was damaged and the police had to resort to a lathicharge as well as firing teargas shells to control the situation. 

The Kolkata Police said 15 policemen were injured and 25 people have been arrested so far. 

On Friday, when Mr Goyal was asked about the vandalism and why it couldn’t be prevented, he said, “It was a leaderless crowd, anticipating and assessing how many people would gather in one place was difficult. We had to spread ourselves thin. There were many women there and we had to keep their safety in mind; some of the people who have been arrested include women. So we had to be restrained in our response. We could not be using force left, right and centre, just like that. There was sufficient deployment and officers were there, trying to keep the crowd in check.”

“Despite that, the barricade was breached and people got into the hospital and vandalised the place. We have 15 people who were injured badly,” the police commissioner added. 

Mr Goyal, however, strongly defended the police’s investigation into the rape and murder and accused “so-called experts” of creating narratives. 

“Far too many rumours are floating around, which have no basis. And, based on these, so-called experts are trying to say that Kolkata Police has not done this, or it was a gang-rape by so many people. Evidence has to be scientific in nature. The case is now with the CBI, let’s trust the agency investigating the case. They will also come up with evidence. Whatever we had to do in whatever little time we had was done,” he said.

Mr Goyal said the CBI would find out if there was any destruction of evidence by the Kolkata Police and the force would be liable for legal action if there was anything that was done wrong.

“Why are people so impatient? Have faith in the new investigating agency. Why is this rumour-mongering going on… Our officers are cooperating with the agency. We have tried to be as transparent as possible,” he stressed.