NEW DELHI: Tensions flared between India and Bangladesh this week after the abduction and killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a respected Hindu community leader from northern Bangladesh. India issued a sharp condemnation of the incident, accusing the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus of failing to protect its vulnerable minorities.
In a firm statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern. “We are saddened and disturbed by the abduction and brutal murder of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent Hindu leader in Bangladesh,” the ministry noted, highlighting a troubling pattern of violence against Hindu minorities in the country.
The statement further criticized Dhaka’s leadership for what it called “systematic persecution” of minority groups, warning the interim government against offering excuses instead of safeguarding all its citizens.
A Targeted Attack
According to local reports, 58-year-old Roy was kidnapped from his home in Basudebpur village, Dinajpur district — roughly 330 km from Dhaka — after receiving a suspicious phone call around 4:30 PM on Wednesday. Witnesses say four men arrived soon after on motorcycles and abducted him. He was later found unconscious in a nearby village, severely beaten. Despite being rushed to a hospital, Roy was declared dead on arrival.
Political Fallout: Congress vs BJP
The tragedy quickly escalated into a political flashpoint back in India. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling his recent meeting with Muhammad Yunus “a diplomatic failure” that did little to address minority rights in Bangladesh.
“Religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly our Hindu brothers and sisters, continue to face relentless atrocities,” Kharge said. “This horrific murder proves that Prime Minister Modi’s smiling photo ops with Bangladesh’s interim leader have achieved nothing.”
Kharge further claimed that in just the past two months, 76 attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh have resulted in 23 deaths — figures he cited from Indian parliamentary records.
In response, the BJP defended the Prime Minister, accusing Congress of politicizing foreign affairs and turning a blind eye to attacks on Hindus within India, particularly in West Bengal. BJP spokesperson Charu Pragya hit back, saying, “Foreign policy isn’t about grudges. It’s about diplomacy, trade, and regional security. Congress should perhaps first address the plight of Hindus in states they govern.”
US Issues Fresh Travel Advisory
Meanwhile, amid rising unrest in Bangladesh since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year, the United States has updated its travel advisory, urging citizens to reconsider travel plans. The advisory cites risks of kidnappings, violence targeting religious minorities, and political unrest, warning of incidents involving improvised explosive devices and armed attacks.
US government personnel in Bangladesh remain barred from traveling to certain high-risk areas without prior approval from local authorities.
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