India has expressed serious concern over the killing of a Hindu man in Bangladesh’s Rajbari district, describing the incident as “worrying” and stressing that such violence cannot be ignored.
Speaking at a press briefing in New Delhi on Friday, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is closely monitoring developments in Bangladesh and expects the authorities to identify and punish those responsible for the killing.
“We are aware of recent developments in Bangladesh and are observing the law and order situation closely,” Jaiswal said. He added that violence against minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists, is a matter of deep concern for India.
Condemning the incident, the Indian foreign ministry expressed hope that the Bangladesh government would take firm legal action against those involved. Jaiswal also referred to reports claiming that more than 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities—including killings, arson, and land grabbing—have been recorded during the tenure of the interim government, saying such incidents cannot be dismissed as media exaggeration or mere political violence.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s interim government has rejected claims that the Rajbari incident was a communal attack.
In a statement posted on the verified Facebook page of Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, the government said the violence was linked to extortion and criminal activity, not communal motives.
The victim, Amrit Mondal alias Samrat, was described as a top-listed criminal who was beaten to death by local residents while allegedly attempting to collect extortion money. He was reportedly an accused in multiple serious cases, including a murder case filed in 2023.
Meanwhile, members of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and several hardline groups staged protests outside Bangladesh missions in New Delhi, Kolkata, and Siliguri, burning effigies of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser. In response, the Bangladesh government lodged a strong formal protest with New Delhi.