Chinmoy Das’ arrest is being misinterpreted, Bangladesh at UN forum
Bangladesh has said that the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagran Jote, is being misinterpreted.
This position was presented by the Bangladesh government at the two-day 17th session of the United Nations Forum on Minorities in Geneva, Switzerland on Thursday (November 28).
Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Tarek Md. Ariful Islam made these remarks. This information was given in a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday (November 29).
Speaking at the forum, some people alleged that minorities are being persecuted in Bangladesh. Complaints were also made about the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagran Jote.
In this regard, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative Tarek Md. Ariful Islam said, “We are deeply disappointed to note that some speakers have misinterpreted the arrest of Chinmoy Das, saying that he was actually arrested on specific charges. He also mentioned that the matter is being resolved through the courts.”
Ariful Islam further said, “Unfortunately, while the people of Bangladesh are setting a glorious example of religious harmony, we are witnessing a proliferation of exaggerated, baseless and fabricated reports and deliberate misinformation and confusion by vested interests regarding the oppression of minorities. Sadly, we have seen this in this forum as well.”
The Permanent Representative of Bangladesh said, “The global media has debunked many such propaganda and the interim government is ready to welcome foreign journalists to visit Bangladesh to see the situation on the ground.”
He said, “Every Bangladeshi, regardless of religious identity, has the right to practice his religion or express his views freely. Ensuring the security of every citizen, including minorities, is the cornerstone of Bangladesh’s interim government.’
Ariful Islam said the top leadership has repeatedly assured minority religious leaders of their religious rights and has repeatedly proven this in the first 100 days of Bangladesh’s interim government. Two advisors from minority communities have been appointed.
Bangladesh’s permanent representative to the United Nations said that despite the recent brutal killing of a Muslim lawyer, the prompt intervention of the Bangladesh government and the support of leaders of all religions helped to keep the situation calm and avoid untoward incidents.
He added, ‘Our government is vigilant and will act immediately to maintain religious harmony at all costs and thwart any attempt to undermine the rights of minorities.’
Bangladesh’s permanent representative to the United Nations said that the post-August 5 violence in Bangladesh was rooted in political and personal reasons, not communal ones. This violence has affected people mostly due to party political affiliations. Almost all of them are Muslims, with only a handful from other religious minority groups.
Stating that there was no imaginary attack on minorities, he said, “Rather, after the July mass uprising, the world has seen how the entire society of Bangladesh has come forward to protect minorities, respecting Bangladesh’s long tradition of communal harmony.”
He said that the interim government of Bangladesh led by Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus is enjoying an unprecedented and unprecedented mandate from people of all religions in the country.
