Centre must put pressure on B'desh to stop atrocities on Hindus: Ajmal

GUWAHATI: All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal on Wednesday urged the Centre to make a "diplomatic move" to mount pressure on the Bangladesh government to stop "atrocities on Hindus" in the neighbouring country.
Criticising the recent attacks on Hindu temples and Durga puja venues in Bangladesh, Ajmal said: "Whatever has happened in Bangladesh is condemnable. It is the Bangladesh government's duty to ensure protection of religious minorities. I would urge the Indian government to make necessary diplomatic move to put pressure on the Bangladesh government for the safety and security of the Hindus."
Meanwhile, the All Assam Minorities Students' Union (Aamsu) on Wednesday wrote to Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina to take immediate steps to protect the religious minorities there.
Aamsu president Rejaul Karim Sarkar said, "We are highly aggrieved and anguished about the atrocities on religious minorities in Bangladesh. Brutal attacks on minority communities as well as destruction of their properties and places of worship are highly condemnable." He added that it is the duty of the Bangladesh government to protect lives, properties and religious places of the minority communities in the neighbouring country.
"We are hopeful that Bangladesh will stick to the founding principle of secularism and vision of its founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in respect to the rights of minorities. The religious fanatics should not be allowed to torture the minorities and infringe upon their rights," he added. The students' union sent the memorandum through the office of Bangladesh assistant high commission, Guwahati.
Communal tensions recently erupted in Bangladesh following a report of an incident, in which the holy Quran was allegedly dishonored at a puja pavilion in Cumilla on October 13. Immediately miscreants started attacking the Hindus and vandalised Durga Puja pandals and temples resulting in loss of human lives.