The Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) organized an exhibition and panel discussion titled “The Never Ending Persecution of Minorities in Bangladesh” to highlight the systemic discrimination and violence faced by religious and ethnic minorities in Bangladesh.
India’s National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval, KC, attended the event at the VIF Auditorium in Delhi, underscoring India’s concern over the issue. The exhibition, curated by the Foundation Against Continuing Terrorism (FACT), showcased powerful visual documentation of human rights violations, forced displacements, and attacks on Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and Ahmadiyya Muslims in Bangladesh.
The panel discussion brought together distinguished experts, diplomats, and journalists to explore the crisis. Ambassador Satish Chandra, Former Deputy NSA and Vice Chairman of VIF; Ambassador Veena Sikri, Former High Commissioner to Bangladesh; Francois Gautier, Correspondent for Valeurs Actuelles; and Anirban Ganguly, Chairperson of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, shared critical insights. The session was chaired by Arvind Gupta, Director of VIF.
Speakers examined the historical roots and ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, analyzing socio-political factors and international ramifications. The event aimed to raise awareness and push for urgent action to protect vulnerable communities, reflecting VIF’s dedication to regional security and human rights advocacy.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh reiterated its commitment to maintaining strong ties with India. Responding to recent remarks by India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar regarding “anti-India” comments from Bangladesh, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain emphasized Dhaka’s intention to foster constructive relations.
“We have a clear decision that we want good working relations with India on the basis of mutual respect and reciprocal interest. We have no ambiguity about this,” Hossain stated on Monday.
The juxtaposition of the VIF event and Bangladesh’s diplomatic outreach highlights the complexities of the bilateral relationship, with human rights concerns intersecting with broader regional cooperation efforts.