By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday dismissed India’s concerns over recent attacks on Hindus and other minorities in the country, described them as “exaggerated” and “motivated narratives.”
Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry in a statement issued said that comments made by the spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding the situation of minority communities in Bangladesh “do not reflect the facts.”
“The Government of Bangladesh categorically rejects any inaccurate, exaggerated, or motivated narratives that misrepresent Bangladesh’s longstanding tradition of communal harmony,” the statement said.
The Ministry alleged “systematic attempts” to portray isolated criminal incidents as persecution of Hindus.
“With much regret, we note that there are systematic attempts to portray isolated incidents of criminal acts as systemic persecution of Hindus and to maliciously use them to propagate anti-Bangladesh sentiments in different parts of India. We observe a selective and unfair bias in certain quarters, where such incidents are amplified, misrepresented, and propagated to incite common Indians against Bangladesh, its diplomatic missions, and other establishments in India,” the statement added.
The Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry also referred to the death of Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat, which was cited by India.
“One of the individuals mentioned by the MEA spokesperson was a listed criminal whose unfortunate death occurred while he was allegedly engaged in extortion along with his Muslim accomplice, who was later arrested. Portraying this criminal act through the lens of minority persecution is not factual but misleading,” the statement said.
The ministry urged various quarters in India “to refrain from spreading misleading narratives that undermine the spirit of good neighborly relations and mutual trust.”
India raised serious concerns over a rise in incidents of violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.
Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu garment factory worker in Mymensingh near Dhaka, was lynched to death by a mob over allegations of blasphemy.
His body was reportedly hung from a tree and set on fire as police failed to rescue him despite being informed about the incident, media reported.
