Bangladesh Responds To India Over Hindu Minorities Violence And Diplomatic Tensions

International

-Gaurav Sharma

Updated: Sunday, December 28, 2025, 18:36 [IST]

Bangladesh has firmly rejected India's criticism over recent attacks on Hindu minorities, insisting the cases are individual crimes rather than organised targeting of communities. The pushback comes after New Delhi labelled the violence "unacceptable" and demanded quick action, adding to growing diplomatic tension even as unrest inside Bangladesh also begins to disrupt local cultural events and public life.

In a detailed statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka argued that remarks from India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) were based on incorrect and inflated reports. Officials said these accounts did not match verified information from Bangladeshi authorities and stressed that portraying Bangladesh as unsafe for minorities ignored the wider domestic situation and official security measures.

Bangladesh India minorities violence response

The Dhaka statement called recent incidents involving Hindus "isolated criminal acts" and denied they showed any system of persecution. It added, "The Government of Bangladesh categorically rejects any inaccurate, exaggerated or motivated narratives that misrepresent Bangladesh's longstanding tradition of communal harmony," stressing that the country’s legal system was acting against offenders regardless of religion or background.

India’s original comments highlighted several recent attacks, including the lynching of 27-year-old Hindu garment worker Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on 18 December. The MEA called assaults by radical groups "unacceptable" and said New Delhi expected those behind the killing to face trial. It also cited another deadly attack on a Hindu man in Rajbari district earlier in December.

Bangladesh India minorities violence diplomatic tensions

New Delhi further noted that independent monitors have reported thousands of violent incidents against minorities in recent months. These include killings, arson and land grabs affecting Hindus, Christians and Buddhists. India said it remained deeply worried about continuing threats to minority communities and urged Bangladesh to guarantee their safety, deliver justice and protect religious sites and properties.

Responding to those references, Dhaka argued there were "systematic attempts" to present a handful of crimes as proof of broad persecution of Hindus. The ministry alleged that such claims were being selectively promoted to stir anger against Bangladesh, its citizens and its diplomatic missions in India, insisting that this trend damaged trust between the neighbours.

Bangladeshi officials also challenged one case raised by India, saying the person mentioned was a listed criminal who died while allegedly trying to extort money with a Muslim associate, who has been arrested. According to the ministry, describing that death as minority persecution was "misleading and not factual" and risked distorting public debate.

Dhaka urged political and media stakeholders in India to avoid what it called misleading narratives and emphasised that mutual respect was essential for stable relations. It warned that such portrayals could weaken good-neighbourly ties at a sensitive time, when domestic unrest in Bangladesh and concerns about minorities remain under close watch on both sides of the border.