West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called on the Central Government to take urgent action regarding the influx of minorities fleeing from Bangladesh via the Indo-Bangladesh Border, which remains partially open. The CM urged the Centre to make arrangements for the return of these minorities who wish to seek refuge in India. She also emphasized that the border has not been fully closed due to the lack of specific instructions from the Central Government.
On Tuesday night, a minor girl from Bangladesh was traced by the Border Security Force (BSF) in Fatehpur, Chopra block, Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal.
The girl, who had fled Bangladesh to escape threats, was found safe and is currently under the protection of authorities. She had sought shelter at her relative’s home in the nearby Jalpaiguri district. The girl’s family is affiliated with ISKCON, and they resided in the Panchagarh district of Bangladesh.
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The situation came to light after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, during a meeting with Bangladesh’s Foreign Advisor Mohammad Touhid Hossain on Monday, December 10, expressed his concern about the situation in Bangladesh, calling it “regrettable.”
Relatives Speak Out: Threats to Minor Girl’s Safety
According to the minor’s relatives, who themselves had fled Bangladesh, the girl had been receiving threats of abduction. One relative shared, “She told me that they told her they would kidnap her because she is an ISKCON devotee, and that was her only fault.” The family’s concerns highlight the challenges faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh.
The situation is becoming increasingly worrying, as Hindus, who make up only 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million population, are reportedly facing escalating persecution. The arrest of a Hindu monk, the burning of Jamdani sarees, and the rising number of minorities fleeing to India have raised alarms among both human rights organizations and political leaders.
Mamata Banerjee’s statements and the recent events underscore the urgent need for the Indian government to address the plight of religious minorities seeking refuge from Bangladesh’s rising tensions.
