India flags attacks on minorities in Bangladesh

Responding to queries, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Bangladesh continued to witness repeated attacks on minorities and stressed that such incidents must be addressed decisively.

“We continue to witness a disturbing pattern of recurring attacks on minorities as well as their homes and businesses by extremists. Such communal incidents need to be dealt with swiftly and firmly,” Jaiswal said.

In a pointed remark, he criticised what he termed a troubling tendency to attribute such attacks to personal rivalries, political differences or other extraneous factors. “Such disregard only emboldens the perpetrators and deepens the sense of fear and insecurity among minorities,” he added.

In the UK, Patel wrote to the UK Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, highlighting “increasing religious violence and persecution in Bangladesh”.

Patel described reports of escalating violence as “deeply concerning and worrying”, noting that “in recent weeks there have been reports of at least six Hindus being killed within an 18-day period”. “This level of persecution and violence is unacceptable,” she said.

Referring to an 'Urgent Question' raised in the House of Commons on December 2, 2024, on earlier attacks, Patel recalled assurances by the then Minister for the Indo-Pacific that the UK was engaging Dhaka on the protection of religious minorities and monitoring the situation.

She sought details on what steps had been taken over the past year, what direct contacts UK ministers had with Bangladeshi authorities in the recent weeks and what assurances had been received on protecting the Hindu community.

Patel also asked whether the Bangladeshi High Commissioner in London had been engaged and urged the UK government to use its diplomatic influence to promote stability and minority protections in Bangladesh, including making a statement to Parliament.