Staff Reporter:
Members of the Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB) held a protest outside the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka yesterday condemning the attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in India’s Agartala and to denounce “anti-Bangladesh provocations” by India.
Yunus Ahmad, IAB General Secretary, said, “We want a peaceful Bangladesh. We are 150 million strong, with 300 million hands ready to fight for equality. Authorities must investigate this attack and bring the perpetrators to justice quickly. We have received reports of Bangladeshis being persecuted at the border. They are carrying out terrorist attacks. We will not tolerate such conduct from the Indian side.”
Imtiaz Alam, president of the Dhaka South City unit of the organisation, said, “Apologies alone are not enough. Indian ministers must introspect. Muslims, Christians, and Hindus are all citizens of Bangla-desh.”
Speakers at the protest said India is harboring fascist Sheikh Hasina. Media outlets in India are fuelling violence; they have tried to instigate conflict in Bangladesh, they said.
If India fails to apologise publicly, they will demand an end to all relations with India, they warned.
The protest march began at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram and proceeded through Bijoy Nagar Wa-ter Tank area, concluding at the Paltan intersection.
On December 2, supporters of several Hindutva organizations attacked the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission premises in Agartala, Tripura, in protest against alleged minority persecution in Bangla-desh.