'UNREMITTING HOSTILITY AGAINST MINORITIES IN BANGLADESH IS MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN' - MEA cites over 2,900 attacks on minorities, seeks justice for recent lynching in Bangladesh

India on Friday strongly condemned the recent lynching of two Hindu men in Bangladesh, voicing serious concern over what it described as a sustained pattern of hostility against religious minorities in the neighbouring country.

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

The Ministry of External Affairs said the incidents reflected a deteriorating security environment and urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure accountability, even as New Delhi rejected what it called attempts to deflect attention through an anti-India narrative.

At the weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi was disturbed by the killings and underlined that those responsible must face justice. He said independent sources have documented more than 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities during the tenure of Bangladesh's interim government, including cases of killings, arson and land grabbing. "The unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh is a matter of grave concern," Jaiswal said, adding that such incidents cannot be dismissed or explained away.

Referring specifically to the latest cases, Jaiswal said India condemned the recent killing of a Hindu youth and expected those involved to be brought to justice. "We condemn the recent gruesome killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime would be brought to justice," he said, adding that India was closely monitoring developments in the neighbouring country.