India Condemns Lynching of Hindu Man in Bangladesh, Flags Surge in Minority Violence Ahead of Elections
India on Friday issued a strong and unambiguous condemnation of the brutal killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, warning that the continuing and targeted violence against minorities in the neighbouring country has become a matter of grave and escalating concern.
The victim, Dipu Chandra Das, a 30-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched by a mob last week in Mymensingh, roughly 100 kilometres north of Dhaka.
Disturbing videos that surfaced online showed Dipu’s naked body tied to a tree and set on fire, while members of the mob were seen celebrating the act—images that have shocked viewers across the region.
Addressing a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the incident could not be dismissed as an isolated crime.
“Continuing hostilities against minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, are a matter of serious concern.
We strongly condemn the recent gruesome killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect that the perpetrators are identified and brought to justice without delay,” Jaiswal said.
Over 2,900 Minority Violence Incidents Recorded
Jaiswal revealed that independent and credible sources have documented more than 2,900 incidents of violence and atrocities against minorities during the tenure of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
He stressed that such figures cannot be brushed aside as media exaggeration or written off as routine political clashes.
“These incidents point to a disturbing pattern,” he said, adding that the safety of minorities must not become collateral damage in Bangladesh’s political churn.
India Reiterates Call for Peaceful, Inclusive Elections
Reaffirming New Delhi’s long-standing position, Jaiswal said India stands for strong people-to-people ties with Bangladesh and remains committed to peace and stability in the country.
“We support fair, free, inclusive, and participatory elections in Bangladesh, to be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere,” he said, underlining India’s expectation that democratic processes must not unfold under fear or intimidation.
Political Flux Ahead of February Polls
The statement comes at a sensitive political juncture. Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, returned to Dhaka on Thursday after a 17-year exile.
His return has energised BNP supporters ahead of the general elections scheduled for February.
The BNP, which remained the principal opposition during the tenure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, now finds itself in a dominant electoral position following the ban on the Awami League under Bangladesh’s anti-terrorism law in May.
Hasina herself was sentenced to death by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) in November.
Since her ouster in 2024, Dhaka has repeatedly sought her extradition from India—requests to which New Delhi has so far not issued a formal response.
Communal Violence After Student Leader’s Death
The killing of Dipu Chandra Das occurred amid a broader wave of communal unrest that erupted following the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent figure in the July 2024 protests that culminated in Hasina’s removal from power.
Dipu was reportedly accused of blasphemy—a charge frequently cited in mob attacks—before being lynched.
The graphic nature of the crime triggered protests across major Indian cities and counter-protests in Bangladesh, prompting both countries to summon each other’s diplomatic representatives.
Diplomatic Fallout Escalates
Tensions have since spilled over into diplomatic and consular domains. India indefinitely suspended visa operations in Chittagong after a security incident at the Assistant High Commission of India earlier this week.
In a tit-for-tat response, the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi announced the temporary suspension of all consular and visa services.
A Region Watching Closely
As Bangladesh heads into a highly charged election season, the surge in minority violence has become a regional concern.
India’s sharp words signal growing impatience and anxiety over the safety of vulnerable communities and the direction of Bangladesh’s political transition.
With diplomatic tensions rising and international scrutiny intensifying, the coming weeks will test whether Bangladesh can restore law and order, protect its minorities, and conduct elections that are seen as credible—both at home and abroad.
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