The Bangladeshi interim government recalled at least five diplomats from various countries. In a letter from the Foreign Ministry, they requested the return of an envoy from India, as well as diplomats from Australia, Belgium, Portugal, and the United Nations, to Dhaka.
The meeting with the US President is seen as a "rare occasion" which Dhaka apprehends as a great gesture by the Biden administration that would eventually help take the existing "good relations" to a new level between the two countries.
In a televised address, Yunus mentioned that following his swearing-in as the head of the administration, he received congratulatory calls and messages from various world leaders who expressed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Bangladesh.
The Bangladeshi government said madrasa students could be engaged as volunteers to help safeguard temples during the festival. Also, it instructed law enforcement and the administration to take measures to secure puja mandaps.
Yunus, 84, said delaying the India-Bangladesh treaty on Teesta water sharing does not serve any purpose for either of the countries. The water-sharing pact hit a roadblock when West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee declined to endorse a deal signed during ex-PM Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit in 2011.
The Hindu boy identified as Utsav Mondal was reportedly hacked to death by an enraged mob in a police station for allegedly making "objectionable comments" about Prophet Muhammad. This came as Bangladesh's interim government chief Muhammad Yunus said attacks on Hindus were "exaggerated".
Yunus described the attacks as primarily political rather than communal and questioned how India is "propagating" them. He stated, "These attacks are politically motivated, not communal. Yet, India is heavily publicising these incidents".
The scheduled time frame for these talks to be held in Delhi is for September-October but the meeting may also be postponed if top-level changes take place in the BGB and the home ministry of Bangladesh, said an official.
Following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh, Hindus and Muslims united to protect the historic Dhakeswari Temple in Dhaka amid political turmoil. The community's efforts ensured the temple's safety despite the lack of police protection.
The development comes within eight days of the interim government taking charge following the resignation of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her fleeing to India on August 5.
The diplomats, stationed in key nations including the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Germany, UAE, and the Maldives, have been ordered to return to Dhaka immediately. This move is part of broader administrative changes initiated since the interim government took charge on August 8.
There have been several protests in Bangladesh over the rise in attacks targeting the Hindu community there since Sheikh Hasina's ouster, which has evoked global concern. There have been at least 278 attacks on Hindus across 48 districts, as per the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance.
On August 7, a Dhaka court acquitted Yunus and three top officials of Grameen Telecom - Ashraful Hassan, M Shahjahan and Nurjahan Begum - in a labour law violation case. Yunus, the 84-year-old economist, on Thursday took oath as the chief adviser of the interim government.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain stated that the interim Bangladesh government "hopes to see India cooperate with us" and emphasised the importance of "meeting public expectations by achieving tangible results in our bilateral relationship with India."
In 2011, Bangladeshi authorities began reviewing the activities of the statutory Grameen Bank and subsequently removed Yunus from his position as the founding managing director, citing violations of government retirement regulations. Under Hasina's administration, Yunus faced numerous legal charges.
Muhammad Yunus unequivocally condemned the attacks on minority communities in the country and asked the students to protect all Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist families from harm.
Hundreds of Hindu demonstrators took to the streets of the capital Dhaka on Friday (August 9) protesting against attacks on their properties in different corners of Bangladesh after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's regime last week. Watch to know more!
Sajeeb Wazed expressed deep gratitude to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the swift action that ensured his mother's safety. Wazed criticised the legitimacy of Bangladesh's new interim government, calling it unconstitutional, and emphasised the urgent need for elections to restore democracy.
India on Thursday expressed hope for the early restoration of law and order in Bangladesh and said the country's interests are foremost for the Indian government. The Ministry of External Affairs earlier said the Indian High Commission was likely to participate in the swearing-in ceremony.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took oath as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government today after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India.
Top News
Latest News
