Bangladesh calls out India over violence against minorities
Dhaka cites killings, mob attacks on Muslims and Christians in India, urges accountability, and dismisses Indian statements on minority persecution in Bangladesh as misleading
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh has voiced strong concern over mob violence targeting religious minorities in India, including Muslims and Christians, and called on Indian authorities to ensure accountability of those responsible.
Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, S.M. Mahbubul Alam, spokesperson for Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Dhaka was alarmed by a series of violent incidents and mob attacks reported across India in recent weeks.
Mahbubul said the concerns were based on a series of violent incidents reported this month alone. These include the killing of a Muslim youth, Sheikh Juel Rana, in Odisha; the lynching of Mohammad Athar Hussain in Bihar; the killing of a man in southern India who was suspected of being Bangladeshi; and multiple incidents of mob assaults targeting Muslims and Christians across different parts of the country.
Bangladesh also expressed particular concern over attacks on Christian communities during Christmas celebrations last week. Mahbubul said these incidents reflected targeted hatred and stressed that all states have an obligation to protect religious minorities and uphold freedom of worship.
The comments came amid rising diplomatic friction after India publicly raised concerns about the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh. On Friday, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, said New Delhi was worried about what it described as persistent hostility toward Hindus, Christians and Buddhists in Bangladesh.
Indian officials cited the killing of a Hindu youth in central Bangladesh earlier this month and linked subsequent unrest to broader claims of minority persecution. Protests by Hindu nationalist groups later took place outside Bangladeshi diplomatic facilities in India, including acts of vandalism at a Bangladeshi visa centre.
Bangladesh, however, rejected India’s characterization of events. Mahbubul said Dhaka “firmly rejects any false, exaggerated or deliberately misleading statements” that misrepresent Bangladesh’s social fabric, stressing the country’s historical record of communal coexistence.
Addressing the death of another individual cited by Indian officials, Mahbubul said Bangladeshi authorities had determined the incident was linked to criminal activity rather than communal violence. He added that portraying such cases as evidence of religious persecution was misleading and inappropriate.
Mahbubul also warned that certain groups in India were amplifying isolated incidents to inflame public sentiment and damage bilateral relations. He urged restraint and called on all sides to avoid spreading narratives that could undermine trust between the two neighboring countries.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
