Concerns Rise Over Minority Attacks in Bangladesh: Assam CM's Warning
Serious Concerns for Assam Amid Bangladesh Turmoil
Guwahati, Jan 6: As fears grow regarding a spike in violence against minorities in Bangladesh, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed that the escalating situation across the border poses a significant concern for Assam.
During a seed capital distribution event for welfare schemes in Bokakhat, Sarma remarked that the deteriorating conditions in Bangladesh could have repercussions for Assam.
“The ongoing events in Bangladesh are alarming for Assam. The situation is worsening daily, with increasing violence against the Hindu community. This could affect Assam as well,” the Chief Minister stated.
He urged the public to stay vigilant and informed about developments in the neighboring nation. “We must monitor the situation closely while also providing support and hope to the Hindu community,” Sarma added.
His comments come in light of a notable increase in reported assaults on minorities in Bangladesh.
In just the last 24 hours, two Hindu traders were murdered in separate incidents in Narsingdi and Jessore districts. The deceased have been identified as Moni Chakraborty (40) and Rana Pratap Bairagi (38), a newspaper editor and a businessman, respectively.
When questioned about the potential presence of terrorist groups in Assam linked to organizations based in Bangladesh, Sarma acknowledged that the threat should not be overlooked.
“There are jihadist elements in Assam. We have gathered evidence of this over the last decade. There may be additional sleeper cells within the state. Assam's security will remain a pressing issue until the situation improves,” he stated.
These security concerns arise as central agencies ramp up their investigations into extremist networks operating in the area.
On Monday, officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) began questioning 11 suspected terrorists apprehended by the Assam Police Special Task Force (STF) during a coordinated operation across Assam and Tripura.
According to police sources, the interrogation will extend beyond the NIA, with investigative agencies from other states, including Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, expected to interrogate the suspects in the coming days, suggesting possible inter-state connections.
Earlier in the day, Sarma distributed Rs 10,000 to 27,000 women under the Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyomita Abhiyan (MMUA) in Bokakhat.
“To date, 16 lakh women have benefited from the MMUA. In the next 20 days, we aim to include another 16 lakh women in the program,” he announced.
The Chief Minister indicated that the government plans to spend a total of Rs 3,200 crore on this initiative.
He highlighted that many essential goods and items linked to the rural economy currently come from outside the state, and empowering women as small entrepreneurs could enhance self-sufficiency in villages.
“If women become small entrepreneurs and help make their villages self-sufficient, it will significantly boost the state's economy. This could contribute an additional Rs 32,000 crore to Assam’s economy,” Sarma remarked.
He also noted that 8 lakh women have already become lakhpati baidews, and doubling that figure would greatly strengthen Assam’s rural economy.