India slammed Bangladesh’s Yunus-led interim government for shifting blame and urged it to investigate rising violence against minorities in Chittagong Hill Tracts. Global human rights groups condemned Dhaka’s denial, spotlighting worsening communal violence, oppression, and extremist attacks across Bangladesh.
India has strongly condemned the recent allegations made by Bangladesh’s Home Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, emphasizing that the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government should turn its focus inward rather than shifting blame abroad. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Dhaka’s leadership must investigate the growing wave of violence against minorities, especially in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, where incidents of arson, killings, and displacement have shocked the international community.
Addressing the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal categorically rejected Chowdhury’s accusations that India was behind the unrest in Khagrachari district. “We categorically reject these false and baseless allegations. The interim government of Bangladesh is unable to maintain law and order and has a habit of routinely trying to shift the blame elsewhere,” Jaiswal said. He urged Dhaka to “introspect and conduct serious investigations into the actions of local extremists committing violence, arson, and land grabs against the minority communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.”
Violence in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
The MEA’s statement comes amid escalating violence in Khagrachari district, where indigenous communities, including the Marma, Chakma, and Tripuri people, have faced brutal attacks. The recent violence was triggered on September 28, when protests demanding justice for a Marma schoolgirl who was brutally gang-raped spiraled into widespread clashes. Multiple indigenous people were killed and injured, while homes and properties were torched in what witnesses described as a systematic campaign of intimidation and displacement.
According to several human rights organizations, Bangladeshi security forces were allegedly involved in indiscriminate firing and looting during the crackdown. This has raised further concerns about the state’s role in exacerbating the plight of religious and ethnic minorities in the country.
Global Outcry Over Human Rights Violations
The violence has not gone unnoticed internationally. Several world leaders and human rights bodies have raised alarms about the deteriorating conditions of minorities in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a rights organization representing religious minorities, condemned Yunus’ dismissal of the persecution claims as “baseless.” In a strongly worded statement, the group said his remarks constituted “a denial of the truth” and reflected a dangerous attempt to whitewash systemic oppression.
Earlier this week, the International Forum for Secular Bangladesh staged a powerful exhibition outside the United Nations in Geneva during the 60th session of the Human Rights Council. The two-day poster display, featuring 30 panels, spotlighted the rise of radical fundamentalism, mob terrorism, suppression of press freedom, communal violence, and sexual abuse in Bangladesh. The exhibition drew significant attention from delegates and rights activists, further isolating Dhaka on the global stage.
Yunus Government Under Fire
Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Laureate and current Chief Advisor of the interim government, has increasingly faced criticism for downplaying or denying reports of minority persecution. In a recent interview with the Global Thinkers Organisation on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Yunus rejected claims of violence against Hindus and other minorities. His comments were widely condemned, with rights activists accusing him of ignoring the realities on the ground.
Human rights organizations argue that the Yunus administration has failed to address the growing influence of extremist elements, resulting in recurring cycles of violence against Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and indigenous groups. The recent unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts has only deepened the perception that the interim government is either unable or unwilling to confront radical elements within the country.
India’s Position
By publicly rejecting Dhaka’s allegations and demanding accountability, India has made clear that it will not accept scapegoating for Bangladesh’s internal unrest. New Delhi’s call for investigations into violence against minorities also reflects its broader concern about regional stability and human rights. Analysts believe the issue could further strain India-Bangladesh relations, already under stress due to border tensions and trade disputes.
The MEA’s statement underscores India’s position that Bangladesh must take full responsibility for protecting its minorities and ensuring justice for victims of violence. The message is equally aimed at the international community, as India seeks to highlight the urgent need for accountability and systemic reform in its eastern neighbor.
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As violence against minorities escalates and the Yunus government faces mounting criticism at home and abroad, the pressure to act decisively is only expected to grow. Whether Dhaka chooses to confront the extremists or continue shifting the blame will be crucial in determining the country’s credibility on the global stage.
