Recently, the unrest in Bangladesh has once again attracted attention.

The local administration has done little to stop mob attacks on homes and the impunity faced by minorities, especially Hindus.

A hospital in north Kolkata announced on Friday that it will not treat any patients from the neighboring country as a direct response to the prevailing circumstances.

They say the move is due to reported insults to the Indian flag by Bangladeshi nationals and to suspected anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh.

Let’s take a closer look at the matter.

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The hospital refuses to treat Bangladeshi patients

Subhranshu Bhakta, the director of the JN Roy Hospital in Maniktala, said on Friday, “We have issued a notification that from today onwards we will not admit any Bangladeshi patient for treatment. This is mainly because of the insults they have shown against India.”

He also urged other local hospitals to protest the alleged atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh by carrying out the same action.

“When we saw that the tricolor was insulted, we have decided to stop treating Bangladeshis. India has played an important role in their independence but despite this we are witnessing anti-India sentiments. We hope other hospitals will support us and take similar measures,” he added.

Renowned gynecologist Indranil Saha had earlier announced on social media that he was no longer seeing patients from Bangladesh.

Saha reportedly shared a photo of the desecration of the Indian flag in Bangladesh on social media on Thursday night.

“The Indian national flag is at the entrance of BUET University! I stop seeing Bangladeshi patients in the ward for now. Country first, income later. I hope other doctors will do the same until the situation is normal,” Saha had said.

A similar demand was made by West Bengal Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari on Friday afternoon.

“I bow to Dr Indranil Saha. He said, my country first, income second…I request the entire Indian medical community, businessmen and India lovers to boycott Bangladesh completely,” Adhikari had said.

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Attacks on Hindu temples

The decision comes as tensions between the two neighbors have risen over a series of attacks on Hindu temples in Chattogram, Bangladesh.

Three temples in the Harish Chandra Munsef Lane area – Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, Shoni Temple and Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple – were vandalized by a mob on Friday.

Around 2:30 p.m., a group of several hundred people threw bricks at the temples while shouting slogans, according to the Bangladesh News Portal BDNews24.

Abdul Karim, the head of the Kotwali police station, verified the incident and said that although there were minor injuries, tensions were high.

Tapan Das, a temple committee member, said: “A procession of hundreds arrived after Juma prayers and shouted anti-Hindu and anti-ISKCON slogans. We called the army when the situation worsened and order was eventually restored.”

According to Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS)there have been over 200 reported incidents of violence against Bangladesh’s minority Hindu community since 5 August.

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Hindu monk arrested

The attacks came after spiritual leader and former
ISKCON member
Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested on charges of sedition.

Prabhu, a monk who led several demonstrations against Bangladesh’s crimes against Hindus, was arrested on November 25 at the Dhaka airport. He was accused because of his vocal support for minority rights.

In Bangladesh, the Hindu community protested in Dhaka, Chattogram and other places after his arrest on Monday and subsequent refusal to post bail on Tuesday.

The escalating violence has prompted the Indian government to express serious concern.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar briefed Parliament that Dhaka should protect all its citizens, including minorities.

– The increase in extremist rhetoric and violence is unacceptable. It is the responsibility of Bangladesh to protect its minorities,” he said.

“We call on the Bangladeshi authorities to ensure the safety and security of Hindus and all minorities, including their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” the MEA said in an official statement.

Bangladesh, meanwhile, urged India to protect its diplomatic offices and expressed concern over demonstrations at its Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.

With input from agencies