Bangladesh rejects India’s minority safety concerns, calls incidents isolated crimes
Bangladesh has rejected India's concerns over the safety of Hindu minorities, calling recent incidents isolated criminal acts rather than systemic persecution. Dhaka said New Delhi's remarks were based on exaggerated and misleading narratives. India, however, has cited killings and attacks on minorities and urged Bangladesh to ensure justice and security. The exchange has highlighted growing sensitivities in bilateral relations.
New Delhi: Bangladesh on Sunday firmly pushed back against India’s concerns over the safety of Hindu minorities, asserting that recent incidents cited by New Delhi were isolated criminal acts rather than evidence of systemic or state-backed persecution.
In a press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, Bangladesh said remarks made by the spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs in India did not accurately reflect the situation on the ground and were based on what it described as exaggerated and misleading narratives.
"The Government of Bangladesh categorically rejects any inaccurate, exaggerated or motivated narratives that misrepresent Bangladesh’s longstanding tradition of communal harmony,” the statement said.
India flags violence against minorities
The response came two days after India described attacks on Hindus by radical elements in Bangladesh as "unacceptable” and said it expected the perpetrators to be brought to justice. New Delhi said it remained seriously concerned about continuing violence against minority communities, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists and urged Dhaka to ensure their safety and security.
India specifically condemned the lynching of 27-year-old Hindu garment worker Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on December 18. The MEA said it expected those responsible for the killing to be held accountable through due process of law.
The Indian side also referred to another fatal assault on a Hindu man in Rajbari district earlier this month. It added that independent sources had documented thousands of incidents targeting minorities in recent months, including killings, arson attacks and alleged land grabs, and called on Bangladesh to ensure justice and protection for vulnerable communities.
Dhaka disputes ‘persecution’ narrative
Responding to these references, Bangladesh said there were "systematic attempts” to project isolated criminal cases as proof of widespread persecution of Hindus. The foreign ministry alleged that such narratives were being selectively amplified and distorted to fuel hostility against Bangladesh, its people and even its diplomatic missions in India.
Dhaka also contested one of the cases cited by New Delhi, claiming that the individual concerned was a listed criminal who died while allegedly attempting extortion along with a Muslim accomplice, who was later arrested. Framing the incident as minority persecution was "misleading and not factual”, the statement said.
Warning on bilateral ties
Calling for restraint, Bangladesh urged stakeholders in India to refrain from spreading what it described as misleading narratives. The foreign ministry warned that such actions risk undermining good-neighbourly relations and eroding mutual trust between the two countries, stressing the importance of responsible engagement on sensitive issues affecting bilateral ties.