Kolkata: Amid reports of alleged atrocities on minority Hindus in Bangladesh surfacing, a hospital in north Kolkata district on Friday announced that it would not treat any Bangladeshi patient to register its protest.
According to reports, the J N Ray Hospital took the decision after alleged insults were meted out to the Indian flag by Bangladeshi nationals. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs had urged the Bangladesh government to “safeguard Hindus” in the country. “Arson and looting of minorities’ homes and business establishments, as well as theft and vandalism and desecration of deities and temples” were reported from various parts of Bangladesh.
“We have issued a notification till an indefinite time we will not admit any Bangladeshi patient for treatment. This is primarily because of the insults they have shown towards India,” a hospital official Subhranshu Bhakt said, as quoted by India Today.
The hospital official also urged other city hospitals to follow the same.
“Seeing the tricolour being insulted, we have decided to stop treating Bangladeshis. India has played an important role in their independence but despite that, we are witnessing anti-India sentiments. We hope other hospitals will support us and take similar steps,” the official told India Today.
ISCKON to ‘pray and chant’ worldwide for safety of Hindus in Bangladesh
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) followers will “pray and chant” for the safety and security of religious minorities in Bangladesh, especially Hindus, on December 1 across the world.
“In over 150 countries and countless cities and towns, millions of ISKCON devotees worldwide will come together this Sunday, 1st December, to pray and chant for the safety and security of Bangladeshi minorities. Please join your local #ISKCON temple or congregation,” ISKCON Kolkata spokesperson Radharamn Das wrote on X.
Attack on Hindu temples
Three Hindu temples were attacked by a mob shouting slogans on Friday in Chattogram, Bangladesh, reports claimed. The incident reportedly occurred around 2.30 pm in Harish Chandra Munsef Lane, where the Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, the nearby Shoni Temple, and the Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple were targeted, BDNews24.com reported.
Know the crisis
Bangladesh has been facing backlash following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former member of ISKCON, in a sedition case. He was denied bail on Tuesday. The protests, primarily by Hindu community members, have been occurring across various locations in Bangladesh, including Dhaka and Chattogram, following Das’ arrest.