India flags ‘grave concern’ over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh

New Delhi, dec 26: India on Friday expressed serious concern over the deteriorating situation of minorities in Bangladesh, condemning the recent killing of a Hindu youth and citing a sharp rise in violence under the interim government. Speaking at a weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We are all aware of the recent developments in Bangladesh. We have been closely following them and as far as law and order situation is concerned, I have been apprising you from time to time as to what our position has been or should be and is today.

The unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists at the hands of extremists is a matter of grave concern.”

Condemning the latest incident, Jaiswal said, “We condemn the recent gruesome killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice. Over 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities, including cases of killings, arsons, and land grabs, have been documented by independent sources during the tenure of the interim government. These incidents cannot be brushed aside as mere media exaggerations or dismissed as political violence.” The comments came as violence against Minorites continue to remain of grave concern in recent weeks and more so after another Hindu man was reportedly killed in Bangladesh.