Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that India was worried about the developments in Bangladesh, especially the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities.
“Whatever happened in Bangladesh, as a neighbour, there are concerns, I can understand that,” Modi said in his annual Independence Day speech delivered from the ramparts of New Delhi's Red Fort. “I hope that the situation in Bangladesh is stabilised soon. The 1.4 billion Indians are especially worried about the safety and security of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.”
"In coming days... We will always remain committed to Bangladesh's progress, because we are the people who believe in welfare of humanity," the Indian leader stated.
According to Hindu groups in Bangladesh, there have been at least 205 incidents of attacks on minorities across 52 districts in Bangladesh since the ouster of Hasina on 5 August, Bangladesh's media reported last week.
Yunus announced in a social media post on Wednesday that a team of UN experts would soon visit Bangladesh to "investigate the killings of the protestors ahead of and in the aftermath" of Sheikh Hasina's resignation last week.
Bangladesh 'Pledge-Bound' to Ensure Safety of Everyone
Modi's remarks expressing concerns on the safety of minorities in Bangladesh came a day after Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka, Pranay Verma, paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh's Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain in Dhaka.
Hossain told the Indian diplomat that the Yunus administration was committed to "ensure peaceful coexistence of different communities in Bangladesh including the minorities", according to a Bangladesh foreign ministry readout.
"He (Hossain) mentioned that the government is pledge-bound to ensure the safety and security of all religious and ethnic groups and will not tolerate any violence or intimidation against them. He added that all religious groups and other political parties are also working to ensure safety and security of the minorities," the Bangladeshi readout stated.
During the meeting, the top Bangladeshi diplomat also mentioned about the "highly exaggerated media campaign" in India about happenings in Bangladesh.
Further, Hossain complained that Sheikh Hasina’s recent statements were not "conducive to fostering better bilateral relations", noting the former Prime Minister's criticism of the recent developments.
Hasina fled to India on 5 August, as confirmed by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar during a briefing to Indian Parliament the next day.