<p>Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri is set to visit Bangladesh on December 9 for Foreign Office Consultations, marking a continuation of India’s structured engagements with the neighbouring nation. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that the visit will include meetings with Misri’s Bangladeshi counterpart.</p>
<p>“Foreign Secretary is scheduled to visit Bangladesh on the 9th of December and he will meet his counterpart and there will be several other meetings during the visit. Foreign Office consultations led by the Foreign Secretary are structured engagements between India and Bangladesh. We look forward to this meeting,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. </p>
<p>The visit comes amidst rising concerns in India over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a former spokesperson of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Das was detained at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on sedition charges for allegedly insulting Bangladesh’s national flag during a rally. </p>
<p>Denied bail by a Chattogram court, Das has been sent to jail, sparking unrest in Bangladesh. Clashes between his supporters and security personnel reportedly led to the death of a lawyer. </p>
<p>Addressing the matter, the MEA stated, <span class=”s1″>“We have spoken on this issue earlier. We would like to reiterate our expectation that relevant legal processes underway in Bangladesh are executed in a fair, just and transparent manner, ensuring full respect for the legal rights of concerned individuals</span>” </p>
<p>While sources informed ABP Live that India considers Das’s arrest an internal matter of Bangladesh, the MEA had expressed “deep concern” over the incident. “This incident follows the multiple attacks on Hindus and other minorities by extremist elements in Bangladesh,” the ministry added. </p>
<p>India has reiterated its expectation for “fair, just, and transparent” legal proceedings in Bangladesh.</p>