India urges decisive action against rising attacks on minorities in Bangladesh as killings, mob violence, and extremist assaults target Hindus. New Delhi warns that downplaying communal crimes emboldens perpetrators and deepens fear among vulnerable communities.
India has expressed deep concern over what it described as a “disturbing pattern of recurring attacks” on religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly targeting the Hindu community. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said New Delhi is closely monitoring the situation and urged Bangladeshi authorities to take swift and decisive action to curb communal violence.
Speaking during the weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted India’s alarm at the growing frequency of attacks on minorities, their homes, and business establishments. He warned that extremist elements appear to be operating with increasing impunity across several parts of Bangladesh.
“We continue to witness a disturbing pattern of recurring attacks on minorities, as well as their homes and establishments, including business establishments, by extremists in Bangladesh. Such communal incidents need to be dealt with swiftly and firmly,” Jaiswal said while responding to media queries on the escalating violence.
India also expressed concern over what it called a troubling tendency to downplay these incidents by attributing them to personal rivalries, political disputes, or unrelated criminal motives. According to the MEA, such explanations weaken accountability and embolden perpetrators.
“We have observed a tendency to attribute these incidents to personal vendettas, political differences, or other extraneous reasons. Such disregard only emboldens extremist elements and deepens fear and insecurity among minorities,” Jaiswal added.
Series of Violent Incidents Raises Alarm
India’s remarks come amid a surge in violent incidents targeting members of the Hindu community across Bangladesh. The latest case involved the death of a young Hindu man in Naogaon district after he jumped into a canal while trying to escape a mob.
According to reports in Bangladeshi media, 25-year-old Mithun Sarkar died after being chased by a mob in the Chakgori area of Mohadevpur upazila. The mob allegedly accused him of robbery, prompting Sarkar to flee and jump into a canal, where he drowned.
This incident marked the seventh case of violence against Hindus in just 19 days and the third within a single week, underscoring what observers describe as a sharp escalation in communal attacks.
Earlier this week, two Hindu men were killed in separate incidents within a span of 24 hours. One victim, identified as 40-year-old Sarat Chakraborty Mani, was reportedly attacked with sharp weapons in Narsingdi district near Dhaka. The attack was allegedly carried out by members of an extremist religious group.
In another incident, 38-year-old Hindu businessman Rana Pratap Bairagi was shot dead in public in Monirampur Upazila of Jashore district, sending shockwaves through the local community.
Mob Violence and Lynching Incidents
The violence is not limited to isolated attacks. On January 3, Khokon Chandra Das, another Hindu man, died after being brutally assaulted by a mob in Damudya Upazila of Shariatpur district. Witnesses reported that he was beaten severely by miscreants before succumbing to his injuries.
Last week, 40-year-old Bajendra Biswas was shot dead by a colleague in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh district. While local authorities initially described the incident as a personal dispute, community leaders expressed concern over the broader pattern of violence against minorities.
Several disturbing mob lynching cases were also reported in December last year. On December 24, Bangladeshi media reported that 29-year-old Amrit Mondal, a Hindu youth, was allegedly lynched by a mob in the Hossaindanga area of Kalimohar Union.
Even more shocking was the killing of 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das on December 18 in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh. Das was accused of blasphemy by a coworker at his factory, leading to a mob attack. The mob brutally killed him, hung his body from a tree, and then set it on fire, triggering widespread outrage.
India’s Diplomatic Concerns and Global Reaction
India had earlier, on December 26, voiced grave concern over what it described as “unremitting hostility” against minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists. The MEA reiterated that New Delhi remains vigilant and engaged on developments affecting minority safety in its neighbourhood.
The recent surge in violence has occurred under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh, prompting criticism from human rights groups, civil society organisations, and members of the international community. Several global watchdogs have urged Dhaka to ensure accountability, protect vulnerable communities, and uphold constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.
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For India, the issue carries both humanitarian and regional stability implications. Officials have repeatedly stressed that protecting minority rights is essential for social harmony and long-term peace in South Asia.
As attacks continue to be reported, India has called on Bangladesh to take firm action against extremist forces and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, warning that failure to do so risks further destabilising communal relations in the region.
