MEA reacts to unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh, calls it deeply concerning

India on Friday expressed deep concern over persistent violence targeting religious minorities in its neighbourhood, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists, and said it was closely following ongoing developments in Bangladesh.

“India is closely monitoring the developments and has expressed deep concern over the ongoing hostility against minorities, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists. We condemn the recent murder of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect the perpetrators of the crime to be brought to justice. More than 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities, including cases of murder, arson and land grabbing, have been documented by sources during the tenure of the interim government. These incidents were reported by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir “It has been brushed aside as media exaggerations or ignored as political violence,” Jaiswal said at the weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Friday.

Condemning the “unremitting hostility” against minorities in Bangladesh, India also rejected the false anti-India rhetoric projected in Bangladesh and reiterated that maintaining law and order and ensuring security was the responsibility of the interim government led by Muhammad Younis.

“We have rejected the false narrative being projected in Bangladesh. It is the responsibility of the interim government of Bangladesh to ensure law, order and security. It is portraying a narrative where events are otherwise completely false and we reject that,” Jaiswal said.

Bangladeshi media on Thursday reported the murder of another Hindu youth, 29-year-old Amrit Mondal, who was allegedly lynched by a mob in Hossaindanga district of Kalimohar Union of Bangladesh late on Wednesday.

Last week, the MEA had stated that India continues to monitor the developing situation in Bangladesh and conveyed strong concerns to Bangladeshi officials regarding attacks on minorities.

These remarks came after Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old Hindu youth, was brutally murdered in a lynching incident at a Muslim colleague’s factory on December 18 over false blasphemy accusations. The mob killed Das and then hung his body from a tree before setting it on fire.

“India continues to closely monitor the evolving situation in Bangladesh. Our officials are in touch with Bangladeshi authorities and have conveyed to them our strong concerns about attacks on minorities. We have also called for the perpetrators of the barbaric murder of Das to be brought to justice,” MEA said.

Bangladesh has witnessed increased violence against minorities, including Hindus, under the interim government led by Yunus; This sparked outrage among people and various human rights organizations around the world.

Earlier on December 17, the MEA summoned Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah to India to convey New Delhi’s strong concerns over the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh.

According to the MEA, the attention of the Bangladesh envoy was drawn to the activities of some extremist elements who had announced plans to create a security situation, especially around the Indian mission in Dhaka.

India has clearly rejected the false narrative that extremist elements are trying to create regarding some recent events in Bangladesh.

The MEA expressed concern that the Younis-led interim government did not conduct a thorough investigation into the incidents and did not share meaningful evidence with India.

India also called on the Younis-led interim government to ensure the security of Indian missions and posts in Bangladesh in accordance with its diplomatic obligations.

Also read: President Murmu entrusted the Prime Minister Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to 20 children; check the full list here