Fragile Ties and Rising Concerns
India and Bangladesh share deep-rooted historical, cultural, and geographic ties. However, recent years have seen increasing strain in their bilateral relationship, especially concerning the treatment of minorities in each country. The latest flashpoint erupted following the brutal killing of Bhavesh Chandra Roy, a prominent Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh, which has prompted a sharp rebuke from India.
Roy, 58, was an influential figure in the minority Hindu community and served as the vice president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. His murder has reignited India’s longstanding concerns over what it perceives as systemic and unchecked violence against minority Hindus in Bangladesh.
India’s Outrage: A Pattern of Persecution
On Saturday, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong condemnation of Roy’s killing. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the incident was not isolated but part of a “pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities” under the interim government in Dhaka.
“We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhavesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh. We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions,” Jaiswal said on social media.
He emphasized that perpetrators of past attacks on minorities in Bangladesh continued to roam free, adding that the government must stop shielding impunity.
The Incident: A Targeted Attack
According to local reports, Roy was abducted from his home on Thursday evening after receiving a call that allegedly confirmed his location. Shortly after, four men forcibly entered his residence, took him away on a motorcycle, and reportedly assaulted him in a nearby village.
Later that night, his unconscious body was brought back to his home in a van. Family members and locals rushed him to a nearby health facility and then to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. An autopsy is underway, but the brutality of the attack has already sent shockwaves through the community.
Bangladesh Responds: A Counter-Accusation
Rather than solely addressing India’s concerns, a spokesperson for Bangladesh’s interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus responded with a pointed remark of their own—condemning attacks on Muslims in India’s West Bengal and calling on New Delhi to “fully protect the minority Muslim population.”
India, however, rejected this counter-accusation. Jaiswal termed it an “unwarranted comment” and “virtue signalling,” emphasizing that it was a “barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel” with India’s legitimate concerns about minority persecution in Bangladesh.
He urged Bangladesh to focus inward and ensure that its own minorities are protected, rather than deflecting criticism.
A Growing Diplomatic Rift
The escalating rhetoric reflects deeper unease in bilateral relations. While New Delhi has consistently supported Dhaka in regional forums and trade agreements, issues surrounding religious freedom and human rights have been a recurring point of contention.
India’s condemnation marks a more direct and public rebuke than usual, indicating growing frustration over Dhaka’s handling of minority rights. Simultaneously, Bangladesh’s attempt to mirror the criticism by citing India’s internal communal issues has only widened the diplomatic rift.
Addressing the Core Issue, Not the Optics
The murder of Bhabesh Chandra Roy is not just a tragic local crime—it is a symbol of a broader issue that has long plagued minority communities in South Asia. India’s concern is rooted in consistent reports of religiously motivated violence and a perceived lack of accountability in Bangladesh.
While political tit-for-tat might serve short-term interests, both nations must move beyond mutual accusations. The lives and safety of vulnerable communities should not become bargaining chips in a regional blame game.
Bangladesh has a responsibility to uphold the secular values it was founded upon, and India too must introspect and lead by example. For South Asia to prosper peacefully, both nations must protect all their citizens—regardless of faith—while fostering genuine dialogue grounded in accountability, not optics.
(With inputs from agencies)
