New Delhi, April 19, 2025 – India sharply condemned Bangladesh on Friday for the brutal killing of Hindu leader Bhabesh Chandra Roy in Dinajpur’s Biral upazila, urging Dhaka to “live up to its responsibility” to protect minorities. Roy, a prominent community figure, was abducted and beaten to death on April 16, sparking outrage as the latest in a string of attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindus, per the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal called it part of “systematic persecution” under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, demanding swift justice.
The killing follows Murshidabad’s Waqf Act violence, which left three dead, including two Hindus, and displaced 500 families. Jaiswal rejected Bangladesh’s claim that such acts are “politically motivated,” citing a pattern—2024 saw 1,200 minority attacks, with 70% targeting Hindus. India’s concerns, raised by PM Narendra Modi at the BIMSTEC Summit with Yunus, remain unaddressed, straining ties since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024. X buzzes with fury—“Dhaka’s failing Hindus!”—but some defend Yunus: “He’s tackling chaos”.
Bangladesh’s 1.8 crore Hindus—8% of 17 crore—face rising radicalism, with 2024’s 42 riot deaths fueling fears. India’s trans-shipment facility withdrawal, costing Dhaka $500 million, signals economic pressure. “Protect your minorities,” Jaiswal urged, as RSS and BJP amplify calls for global action. For India’s 140 crore, it’s a diplomatic tightrope—will Bangladesh act, or deepen the rift?
