Systematic persecution of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh under interim government: India

MEA condemns systematic persecution of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, urging the interim government to protect all minorities.

Continuing with its tough line on the rights of the minority religious communities in Bangladesh, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday (April 19) said there is “systematic persecution of Hindu minorities” under the interim government led by Prof. Mohammed Yunus.

A statement from the Official Spokesperson of the MEA raised the recent killing of a Hindu community leader Bhabesh Chandra Roy and reminded the Yunus-administration of its responsibility of protection of minority rights.

Also read: ‘Disingenuous attempt’: Delhi responds to Dhaka’s call for protection of Indian Muslims

“We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh. This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity,” said Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a comment.

Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, hailed from Dinajpur of Bangladesh and he was abducted from home and beaten to death by four individuals on Thursday (April 17) afternoon. Roy was a leader of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Committee, an important Hindu outfit that mobilises members of the community across Bangaldesh around religious festivities.

“We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions,” said Mr. Jaiswal.

The remark is the latest in a series of tit-for-tat comments between Dhaka and New Delhi over minority rights. On Thursday (April 17) Shafiqul Alam, the Press Secretary to the Chief Advisor Prof. Mohammed Yunus had urged India to ensure safety of Muslim minority population in India which had prompted the MEA to hit back saying that Dhaka’s remarks were “disingenuous”.