Months of tension between India and Bangladesh have exploded into a public feud following the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a Hindu leader in Bangladesh. The situation escalated after Sheikh Hasina, who was prime minister, was overthrown and sought refuge in India, leading to accusations from the interim Bangladeshi government alleging that India exaggerated violence against Hindus for political gains.
With Hindus making up less than 10% of Bangladesh's 170 million population, the arrest of Mr. Das, previously tied to the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, raised alarms. A local politician claimed that he had disrespected the national flag during a rally advocating for Hindu rights, leading to his detention under colonial-era sedition laws.
The tensions hint at a troubling trend in relations between the once-friendly nations, as each accuses the other of endangering their social fabric amid political upheaval.
