India Urges Bangladesh to Address Rising Attacks on Minorities
New Delhi: On Friday, India urged Bangladesh to take immediate and decisive action against the increasing violence directed at minorities, labeling the situation as 'troubling' due to attempts to misattribute these incidents to unrelated factors.
This statement follows a series of violent attacks resulting in the deaths of several Hindu individuals in Bangladesh over recent weeks.
Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the External Affairs Ministry, expressed concern over the alarming trend of repeated assaults on minority communities, including their residences and businesses, by extremist groups.
He emphasized the necessity for prompt and firm responses to such communal violence.
Jaiswal noted a concerning pattern where these incidents are often dismissed as stemming from personal disputes, political disagreements, or other external factors.
Such dismissive attitudes only serve to empower the aggressors and exacerbate the fear and insecurity felt by minority groups.
Following the assassination of radical youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in December, there has been a surge in attacks against minorities, particularly Hindus.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) reported 51 instances of communal violence last month, which included 10 murders, 10 thefts, and 23 cases involving the seizure of homes, businesses, temples, looting, and arson.
Additionally, four more Hindu individuals have been killed in January, bringing the total fatalities to 14 since December.
Last month, India expressed its serious concern regarding the ongoing violence against minorities in Bangladesh, demanding accountability for those responsible for the lynching of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have become tense following the establishment of an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus after the Sheikh Hasina administration's collapse.
India continues to voice its worries about the safety of minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.