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Published : 28 Dec 2025, 06:46 PM
Bangladesh has expressed concern over “mass violence” targeting religious minorities, including Muslims and Christians, in India, and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
On Sunday, foreign ministry spokesperson SM Mahbubul Alam highlighted the government’s worries.
Bangladesh also rejected statements issued two days earlier by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
Mahbubul said, “The Bangladesh government firmly rejects any false, exaggerated, or deliberately misleading statements that misrepresent the longstanding tradition of communal harmony in our country.”
Responding to questions about attacks on minorities in India, he added: “We are deeply concerned about the brutal killings, mob assaults, arbitrary arrests, and interference with religious events targeting Muslims, Christians, and other minorities.
“This month alone, incidents include the gruesome murder of a Muslim youth -- Jewel Rana -- in Odisha, the killing of Mohammad Azhar Hossain in Bihar, the murder of an innocent person suspected to be Bangladeshi in Kerala, and multiple cases of mob assaults on Muslims and Christians across the country.”
On violence during Christmas celebrations, Mahbubul said: “We are profoundly concerned about the widespread mass violence against Christians during the festivities last week.
“We condemn these acts of hatred and consider them deliberate, targeted crimes. We expect Indian authorities to investigate impartially and hold the guilty accountable.
“Every country has the responsibility to protect and respect its minority communities, and this should be universally upheld.”
The statement came shortly after India expressed “deep concern” over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh, signalling a clear diplomatic rebuttal from Dhaka.
At a briefing on Friday, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “The unremitting hostilities against the minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists is a matter of grave concern.”
He condemned the brutal murder of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on Dec 18. Dipu was beaten to death over alleged religious defamation, and his body was set ablaze.
Following the incident, several Hindutva groups staged protests outside Bangladesh missions in India, including demonstrations on Dec 20 at the Bangladesh High Commission and the high commissioner’s residence in Delhi. The groups also vandalised the Bangladesh visa centre in Siliguri.
At Rajbari’s Panchs, Amrit Mondal died during a protest linked to the Dipu incident. The interim Bangladeshi government clarified that Amrit’s death was related to criminal activity, not communal violence, noting that he was a known criminal involved in extortion with prior murder charges.
Jaiswal, however, cited the Amrit case as part of systematic oppression of Hindus in Bangladesh.
On Sunday, Mahbubul noted that certain groups in India deliberately amplify and distort isolated events to incite the general public against Bangladesh and its diplomatic missions.
Referring to the Amrit case, he said: “The Indian foreign ministry has cited an individual who was a listed criminal, engaged in extortion with a Muslim accomplice, whose death occurred during criminal activity. His accomplice has since been arrested. Viewing these acts through the lens of minority persecution is misleading and entirely inappropriate.”
He urged restraint, saying: “Bangladesh calls upon all groups in India to refrain from spreading misleading narratives that undermine good neighbourly relations and mutual trust between our countries.”
