Dhaka airs worry about protest in Kolkata

Dhaka has expressed deep concern over a violent protest registered by a Hindu organisation, Bongio Hindu Jagran, outside the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata on Thursday afternoon.

It strongly condemned the deplorable act of desecrating the national flag of Bangladesh and burning the effigy of the chief adviser, Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, reads a foreign ministry statement issued on Friday.

The Hindu group massed outside the Kolkata mission demanding the unconditional release of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu monk and former Iskcon leader.

The protesters also threatened to continue their movement until Mr Chinmoy is set free from jail.

Referring to Thursday's event, Dhaka has called upon New Delhi to take fitting measures in order to prevent the occurrence of such incidents in future.

"The government of Bangladesh notes with deep concern a violent protest organised by a Hindu organisation, Bongio Hindu Jagran, outside the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata on Thursday afternoon," according to the statement.

"The rally and demonstration organised by a large group of protesters turned violent, with the protesters breaking through police barricades and reaching the boundary of Bangladesh Deputy High Commission," it cites.

"They set fire to the national flag of Bangladesh and burned the effigy of the Hon'ble Chief Adviser of the government of Bangladesh."

Although the situation seems to be under control at the moment, there is a prevailing sense of insecurity among all the members of the Kolkata mission, adds the statement.

Dhaka, therefore, urges Delhi to ensure safety and security of the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and other diplomatic missions of Bangladesh in India as well as its diplomats and non-diplomatic members of staff.

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