Was Pakistan’s ISI behind Khalistan flags and anti-India slogans at Bangladesh minority rights protest in London?
Khalistani protesters disrupted a London demonstration by Bangladeshi-Hindus and Anglo-Hindus in front of the Bangladesh High Commission over the lynching of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and increasing attacks on minorities in 2024.
Protest at the Bangladesh High Commission in London.
In a shocking development, Khalistanis disrupted the protest against the killing of minorities, including Hindus, in Bangladesh. When a group of Bangladeshi-Hindus and British-Hindus reached the Bangladesh High Commission in London to demonstrate against the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in the South Asian country’s Mymensingh district, a group of Khalistani arrived there, dispersed the protest and cornered the protesters. They also shouted anti-India slogans and waved flags of so-called Khalistan.
Dipu Chandra Das mob lynching
Dipu, a garment factory worker, was accused of blasphemy. He was beaten to death by a group of radical Islamists on 18 December; his body was hung from a tree and set on fire. But police and district officials said there was no evidence the victim insulted Islam or its prophet. In another incident targeting Hindus, Amrit Mondal was killed in Bangladesh’s Rajbari district on Christmas Eve.
(Dipu Chandra Das was lynched by Islamists.)
Minorities are being killed in Bangladesh
Earlier, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged the interim government of Bangladesh led by Muhammad Younis to ensure the safety of minorities, including Hindus. He claimed that more than 2,900 incidents of attacks against minorities have occurred in the country since the new practice came into force. Following a series of nationwide protests against the then government in July, a mob broke into the prime minister’s official residence on August 5, 2024, vandalizing it and looting what they could. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was forced to flee and took refuge in India, where she has resided ever since.
ISI-Khalistan connections
Supporters of Khalistan, a separate Sikh state, have demonstrated many times before in London and many other cities in the UK. The Pakistani state and its intelligence agency, the ISI, are believed to be in cahoots with Sikh separatists. They were supported, financed and otherwise supported by anti-India elements in the United States and Canada, as well as in the United Kingdom. Earlier, the Pakistan-funded group Sikhs for Justice organized the 2020 Referendum in the USA to establish a separate state for Sikhs. Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun openly called on Sikhs in Canada to attack Indian diplomats. He also asked the Indians to leave Canada.
(Minorities in Bangladesh protest attacks by Islamists.)
Minority attacks Bangladesh, 2024
Analysts believe that it is the ISI that has joined hands with Bangladesh Jamaat and other Islamist forces to plan and launch a series of nationwide protests in Bangladesh in 2024 to oust Sheikh Hasina, who favors good relations with India. The student leader invited economist Muhammad Younis, who had fallen out with Sheikh Hasina. He arrived in Dhaka two days after Hasina’s ouster, took over the reins of government on 8 August 2024, and formed an interim government. There is no provision regarding interim government in the Bangladesh Constitution.
Bangladesh High Commission London protest
There is complete chaos in Bangladesh with no trace of law and order remaining. Islamists attack not just religious minorities but anyone who does not support the radical version of Islam, including liberal Muslims. Political workers of Hasina’s party, Awami League, writers, poets, singers and all liberal elements are under attack. While singer James’ concert was held in a school, cultural group Chhayanaut and Udichi Shilpi Ghosthi were called.
was attacked.
Analysts believe that Pakistan is behind the Khalistani protesters in London and this has sent a strong signal not only to India but to all secular forces in Bangladesh.
