Key Points:
- Bangladesh rejects Indian claims about violence against minority communities as misleading.
- Dhaka says isolated criminal incidents are being portrayed as widespread persecution to stir anti-Bangladesh sentiment in India.
- The diplomatic disagreement adds to tensions between Bangladesh and India, with no high-level talks yet.
ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh’s interim government has pushed back strongly against recent statements from India regarding attacks on religious minority communities, describing the claims as misleading and saying they misrepresent the actual situation in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh said there are “systematic attempts” in India to depict isolated criminal incidents as a broader pattern of anti-Hindu violence. Officials stressed that such narratives could harm bilateral relations and do not reflect Bangladesh’s long-standing commitment to communal harmony.
Officials further noted that Bangladesh has taken action in past cases involving communal violence, including arrests and prosecutions, and maintains zero tolerance for attacks on any religious group. They urged the Indian media and political circles to refrain from amplifying unverified claims that could inflame public opinion.
Earlier, India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over what it had described as “unremitting hostility” toward minority communities in Bangladesh, citing over 2,900 violent incidents since the interim government took office in August 2024. Indian officials condemned the killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and urged that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
Dhaka responded that many of the reported incidents were ordinary criminal cases rather than targeted communal attacks. The government called on Indian media and political actors to avoid spreading misleading narratives and reiterated its commitment to protecting minority rights.
Analysts say the latest exchange highlights the sensitivity of minority rights issues in South Asia and shows how media narratives can influence public perception across borders. Despite the sharp rhetoric, no high-level talks have yet been held to resolve the disagreement.
