India on Saturday strongly condemned the brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a senior leader of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, expressing grave concern over the continued targeting of religious minorities in the country.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged the Bangladeshi government to stop offering justifications and to ensure the safety and rights of minority groups, particularly Hindus.
Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, was a prominent figure in the Hindu minority community and served as the vice-president of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad in the Biral upazila of Dinajpur district. On Thursday, he was allegedly abducted from his residence and later beaten to death — a crime that has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious questions about the state of minority rights and interfaith harmony in Bangladesh.
In a statement issued by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, India conveyed its deep distress over the incident. "We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh," said Jaiswal.
He further stated that the incident reflects a disturbing pattern of systematic violence and religious persecution under the current interim government in Dhaka. “This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government, even as the perpetrators of previous such incidents roam free with impunity,” Jaiswal added.
India's condemnation comes amid growing diplomatic tension following comments made by Bangladesh accusing India of failing to protect its Muslim minority in West Bengal. In response, India firmly rejected what it called an “ill-conceived attempt” by Bangladesh to deflect attention from its own failures.
“We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side about the incidents in West Bengal. This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with India's concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh,” said Jaiswal.
India pointed out that the violence in West Bengal was sparked by protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act and led to unrest in districts such as Murshidabad, Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly.
The clashes included arson, stone-pelting, and road blockades. Tragically, three people were killed during the unrest — two Hindu men lynched by a mob and a Muslim man who died in firing by security personnel. However, India stressed that this violence does not compare to the targeted human rights violations against Hindus in Bangladesh, where repeated attacks have gone unpunished.
The murder of Roy has also drawn criticism from political circles within India. The Congress party denounced the killing, calling it a “chilling reminder” of the worsening plight of religious minorities in Bangladesh and a failure of the government there to uphold minority rights and ensure safety for all its citizens.
The incident has once again spotlighted the fragile state of India-Bangladesh relations, particularly in the context of minority protections and human rights violations. Activists and diplomatic observers warn that unless Dhaka takes immediate and sincere steps to curb communal violence and ensure justice for victims like Roy, tensions could escalate, eroding the long-standing ties between the two neighbours.
As calls grow louder for accountability and reform, the tragic death of Bhabesh Chandra Roy stands as a somber testament to the urgent need for protecting vulnerable communities and upholding the principles of justice and equality in South Asia.
Also Read: 2,200 cases of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh: Govt
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