Hindus in Bangladesh hold torchlight protest against alleged disrespect to Lord Ram

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday called on Bangladesh to act against extremist groups and ensure the safety of minorities, following protests by the Hindu community over the alleged desecration of an image of Lord Ram during an Islamist demonstration in Gaibandha in northern Bangladesh.Also Read | ‘Hurt religious sentiments’: Hindus continue protest in Bangladesh over alleged desecration of Lord Ram image“We have seen reports from Bangladesh regarding acts of desecration involving Hindu deities and their images, which have sparked protests. We expect the Bangladeshi government to curb the extremists there and guarantee the safety of the minority community,” ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at a weekly briefing.The Islamist group’s protest and the alleged desecration of a photo of Lord Ram are linked to the construction of a Lord Ram statue, which is set to be the tallest of its kind in Bangladesh. The statue, planned for Gaibandha, was put on hold after alleged threats from Islamist groups.Last week, Hindu groups staged multiple demonstrations in Dhaka, accusing the Bangladesh government of inaction and demanding action against those responsible.Hindus make up nearly 8% of Bangladesh’s population, a Muslim-majority country with about 170 million (17 crore) people.