‘Strictly stop this’: India warns Yunus government after killing of five Hindus in Bangladesh

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) – Since the formation of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh, incidents of violence against Hindu minorities have been continuously reported. In less than a month, at least five Hindus have been killed. There have also been allegations of vandalism of temples, attacks on Hindu homes and businesses, and forced resignations from Hindus in government jobs.

Taking these incidents seriously, the Indian government on Friday clearly told the interim government of Bangladesh to immediately and strictly stop the communal violence taking place in the country.

"We are deeply concerned about the repeated attacks by extremist elements on minorities, including their homes and businesses," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, adding that such incidents must be dealt with firmly and without delay .

Jaiswal also expressed concern that there is a tendency to brush aside these cases, attributing them to personal animosity, political differences, or external factors. He said this emboldens the perpetrators and deepens the sense of fear and insecurity among minorities.

Five Hindus killed in one month:

On December 18th, Dipu Chandra Das, a garment factory worker, was beaten to death by a mob. It is alleged that after the murder, his body was hanged from a tree and set on fire. At least 12 people have been arrested in connection with the case.

Then, on December 24, Amrit Mandal was murdered in the Pangsha sub-district of Rajbari district, allegedly for extortion. On the night of December 31, Khokon Chandra Das, a 50-year-old businessman, was attacked with a sharp weapon and set on fire while returning home after closing his shop. He died on January 3 while undergoing treatment.

On January 5, Rana Pratap Bairagi, a resident of Narail and acting editor of Dainik BD Khabar, was shot dead in Jessore district. On the same night, Moni Chakraborty, a grocery shopkeeper, was attacked with a sharp weapon and killed in Charsindur Bazaar in Palash sub-district.

Growing concerns among minorities

Since the Sheikh Hasina government was ousted from power in August 2024, there have been several incidents of violence against minority communities in Bangladesh, with the Hindu community being the worst affected.

According to the 2022 census, approximately 13.1 million Hindus live in Bangladesh, representing approximately 7.95 percent of the country's total population. The ongoing violence has created a deep sense of anxiety and insecurity among the Hindu community there.