'Religious leader unjustly arrested': Sheikh Hasina issues statement in support of Chinmoy Das

Dhaka: Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has issued a statement strongly condemning the murder of a lawyer in Chittagong and expressed her support for Hindu priest Chinmoy Das, following recent attacks on religious communities. Hasina called for swift action to identify and punish those responsible for the lawyer’s death, describing the perpetrators as "terrorists" and highlighting the gross violation of human rights in the incident.

In her statement, Hasina condemned the ongoing violence and terrorism under the current government, which she claims has failed to protect citizens’ lives and properties. She stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of all people, regardless of their faith, and criticised the current administration for its inability to control inflation and guarantee basic security.

Support for Religious Minorities and Call for Unity

Hasina further condemned the unjust arrest of a prominent leader from the Sanatan religious community and demanded their immediate release. She also denounced the recent attack on a temple in Chittagong, as well as other incidents targeting religious institutions such as mosques, churches, and Ahmadiyya homes across the country. These attacks, she argued, have undermined the fundamental rights of religious minorities and called for a robust guarantee of religious freedom and security for all communities.

The former Prime Minister also raised concerns about the systematic harassment of Awami League leaders, workers, and law enforcement officers, who have been subjected to assaults, arrests, and intimidation. She urged the citizens of Bangladesh to unite against the violence and stand in solidarity with the victims of these terrorist acts.

Hasina warned that if the "illegitimate" government, led by what she termed the Yunus administration, fails to take action against the terrorists, it too would face accountability for the human rights violations taking place under its watch. Her comments call for a strong stand against terrorism and an end to the continued oppression of the common people.

Unrest continues to prevail in Bangladesh.