Tensions Rise: Yunus Questions India's Support During Bangladesh Protests

Dhaka (The Uttam Hindu): Chief advisor to Bangladesh's interim government, Muhammad Yunus, has further escalated tensions between the two countries by directly targeting India. In an interview, he severely accused India of spreading "fake news" and also categorically rejected reports of attacks on Hindu minorities in his country.

Speaking to a media outlet, Yunus said, "One of India's biggest strengths right now is spreading fake news." When asked about anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh, he flatly denied it, saying, "There is no anti-Hindu violence." This statement comes at a time when India has consistently expressed concern about the safety of minorities, especially Hindus, in its neighboring country.

Yunus's claim is in stark contrast to figures released by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in December 2024, which stated that there were more than 2,200 attacks targeting Hindus in Bangladesh that year. Furthermore, in November of last year, approximately 30,000 Hindus took to the streets to protest against the interim government led by Yunus himself.

Recently, during an event in New York, Yunus also indirectly criticized India for granting asylum to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He said, “India is granting asylum to Hasina, who has caused a lot of problems in Bangladesh and this has created a lot of tension between the two countries.”

It is worth noting that India-Bangladesh relations have been strained since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, sparking numerous incidents of violence. US President Donald Trump has also described the attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh as "barbaric."