The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday strongly condemned the rising violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. In this regard, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the increasing hostility against minorities in Bangladesh is a matter of concern.
He said, “The continued hostility against minorities in Bangladesh is a matter of great concern. We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh and hope that the perpetrators of this crime will be brought to justice.”
Regarding the return of Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Randhir Jaiswal said that India supports free and fair elections in Bangladesh and this development should be seen in that context.
Emphasizing New Delhi’s stance on Bangladesh, Jaiswal said, “India stands committed to strengthening its relations with the people of Bangladesh. We are in favor of peace and stability in Bangladesh. We want fair, free, inclusive, and participatory elections in Bangladesh, which should be held in a peaceful environment.”
He added that incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh cannot be dismissed as media exaggeration or political violence.
It may be recalled that on Wednesday, a Hindu man named Amrit Mandal was beaten to death by a mob in Bangladesh on charges of extortion. Police have arrested Mohammad Salim in connection with the case and recovered two weapons, a pistol and a gun, from him.
Earlier, a 25-year-old Hindu garment factory worker, Deepu Chandra Das, was also killed by a mob in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, on charges of alleged blasphemy, which led to protests across India.
