New Delhi, April 19, 2025 — India strongly condemned the recent abduction and killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader of the Hindu community in Biral sub-district, Bangladesh. The 45-year-old Roy was allegedly abducted from his home on Thursday by four assailants on motorcycles, who then brutally beat him to death. His body was later found, sparking widespread outrage. In a statement, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the murder, calling it part of a disturbing “pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities” in Bangladesh. Jaiswal expressed India’s deep concern, saying, “We condemn this heinous act and urge the interim government in Bangladesh to uphold its responsibility to protect all minorities, including Hindus, without excuses or distinctions.” India’s condemnation also highlighted the ongoing issue of impunity for the perpetrators of such crimes in Bangladesh. The statement pointed out that many individuals involved in previous attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh are still free, continuing to operate with little to no consequences.

Tensions Between India and Bangladesh

This tragedy comes amid increasing tensions between India and Bangladesh over the treatment of religious minorities. In recent months, India has expressed its concerns regarding the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, and this incident further underscores the strained relations. A day before the statement condemning Roy’s killing, India had also rejected comments made by Bangladeshi officials about sectarian violence in India’s West Bengal. Bangladesh’s interim government had criticized alleged attacks on Muslims in West Bengal and urged India to protect its minority Muslim population. India responded by urging Bangladesh to focus on its own minority protection issues rather than making comments about India. Jaiswal remarked that Bangladesh should concentrate on “protecting the rights of its own minorities”, rather than attempting to draw parallels with India’s concerns about the treatment of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Diplomatic Conversations

This ongoing diplomatic dispute also saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi raising the issue during his meeting with Bangladesh's interim government chief Muhammad Yunus at the Bimstec Summit in Bangkok earlier this month. According to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, Modi emphasized the need for the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of minorities in the country and take thorough actions to investigate and address the atrocities against them.

Continued Strain

Relations between the two countries have significantly deteriorated since the interim government in Bangladesh assumed power following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. The handling of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh has become a critical point of contention, with India calling for concrete steps to protect the community.