India Condemns Brutal Killing of Hindu Minority Leader in Bangladesh, Urges Interim Government to Ensure Protection of Minorities

In a strong and unequivocal statement, India on Saturday condemned the abduction and gruesome murder of a prominent Hindu community leader in Bangladesh, urging the country’s interim administration, led by Muhammad Yunus, to fulfil its constitutional and moral obligation to safeguard the rights and lives of minority groups, particularly Hindus, who have reportedly been facing an alarming increase in targeted violence.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) described the killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a well-known Hindu leader from Bangladesh’s Dinajpur district, as part of a “systematic pattern” of persecution against minority Hindus under the current political dispensation.

The MEA’s statement underscores growing concern in New Delhi over what it perceives as a disturbing escalation of communal violence across its eastern neighbor in recent months.

In a social media post shared on X (formerly Twitter), MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressed deep concern over the circumstances surrounding Roy’s death and pointed to what he called a broader trend of impunity for perpetrators involved in violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

“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 free with impunity,” Jaiswal wrote.

In his statement, Jaiswal went on to demand accountability and firm action from the Bangladeshi authorities.

“We condemn this heinous incident in the strongest possible terms and once again remind the interim government of its duty to protect all minorities, including Hindus, without hiding behind excuses or making selective distinctions,” he added.

The incident has sparked outrage not only in India but also within human rights circles in Bangladesh, as details of the murder reveal a chilling premeditation.

According to local reports published by The Daily Star, 58-year-old Bhabesh Chandra Roy, who was serving as the Vice-President of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad — an influential organization that advocates for the Hindu community’s religious and cultural rights — was forcibly abducted from his residence in Biral, Dinajpur, on the evening of the attack.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Roy’s wife, Shantana, recounted the harrowing sequence of events. She stated that her husband received a phone call at approximately 4:30 pm from an unknown number.

The call, she suspected, was used by the attackers to confirm his presence at home. Roughly 30 minutes later, four men arrived at their residence and forcibly took him away in full view of family members and residents.

Eyewitnesses later reported that Roy was transported to a nearby village named Narbari, where he was subjected to a violent assault. After the brutal beating, the perpetrators returned his unconscious body to his home. Roy’s family rushed him to a hospital, where doctors sadly declared him dead.

The targeted killing has further strained the already fragile diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh, which have been under pressure since the abrupt political changes that unfolded in Dhaka last year.

India’s ties with Bangladesh took a sharp downturn in August 2024 following the ouster of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country amidst a wave of widespread anti-government protests and civil unrest.

Since the appointment of Muhammad Yunus as head of the interim administration, relations between New Delhi and Dhaka have deteriorated, primarily due to the rising number of violent incidents against religious minorities, most notably the Hindu community, which forms the largest non-Muslim minority in Bangladesh.

India’s latest statement is one of several recent expressions of concern regarding the safety of minorities in Bangladesh.

The Indian government has also flagged the lack of accountability and visible failure of law enforcement agencies in arresting and prosecuting those involved in hate crimes against Hindus, calling for stronger political will from the Bangladeshi leadership.

For now, diplomatic observers believe this case could become another flashpoint in the already tense bilateral relationship, especially if justice is seen to be delayed or denied for the victim’s family.

As calls grow louder for international human rights groups to monitor the situation in Bangladesh, India has reaffirmed its commitment to stand by persecuted Hindu minorities and urged the Bangladeshi interim government to take swift and decisive steps to restore faith in its ability to uphold basic human rights and the rule of law.