At least 70 people have been arrested in Bangladesh following a wave of attacks on minorities, including Hindus, the office of the country's Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus confirmed. The arrests stem from 88 cases of minority oppression filed between August 5 and October 22.

Authorities expect fresh cases and arrests to keep rising as fresh incidents of violence have recently been reported from areas like Sunamganj and Gazipur. “It is expected that the number of cases and arrests will increase as new incidents of violence have recently been reported,” the Chief Adviser’s Office said in a statement.

India has expressed concern regarding the situation as Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had a high-level meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin. 

Referring to the attacks, Misri said, “We also discussed some regrettable incidents of attacks on cultural, religious, and diplomatic properties. We expect, overall, a constructive approach on all these issues by the Bangladesh authorities, and we look forward to moving the relationship forward in a positive, forward-looking, and constructive direction.”

The meeting, on Monday, was the first official interaction between New Delhi and Dhaka since the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5 by a massive anti-government protest.

The interim government of Bangladesh rejected reports issued by India regarding the former by terming them as “misleading and false information," said Bangladesh officials while underlining their stance during the discussions.

Vikram Misri, the first senior Indian official to visit Bangladesh since Muhammad Yunus's interim government took charge, reiterated India's support for a peaceful and democratic Bangladesh. “I emphasised that India desires a positive, constructive, and mutually beneficial relationship with Bangladesh,” Misri said.

He also added, “We have always seen in the past and we continue to see in the future this relationship as a people-centric and people-oriented relationship; one that has the benefit of all the people as its central motivational force.”

In addition, during his visit, Misri met Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain. The two leaders discussed mutual interests, regional stability, and cooperation.

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also re-stated in a statement that the country was interested in developing ties based on "mutual trust, respect, and sensitivity to each other's concerns."

Yunus described the relationship by saying, “The relations between Bangladesh and India are very solid and close.”