Bangladesh Recalls Envoy to India Amid Tensions Over Minority Violence

According to Prothom Alo, citing officials familiar with the matter, Hamidullah returned to Dhaka late Monday night after receiving an urgent summons from Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The recall was aimed at reviewing the recent developments affecting India-Bangladesh ties.

Sources at Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry confirmed to Prothom Alo that the High Commissioner was asked to return from Delhi to discuss the evolving bilateral situation, following the heightened tensions over the past two weeks.

Relations between the two neighbours have come under strain following reports of atrocities against minorities, particularly Hindus in Bangladesh.

In December, two Hindu youths were lynched to death in Bangladesh, which had seen an increase in violence against minorities since the July Uprising in 2024.

29-year-old Amrit Mondal was allegedly lynched by a mob in the Hossaindanga area of Kalimohar Union last week. At the same time, 25-year-old Dipu Chandra Das was beaten to death in a mob lynching and later hanged and set on fire on December 18 after false blasphemy allegations were made against him by a co-worker at his factory in Mymensingh.

India on Friday raised serious concerns over repeated incidents of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, Christians and Buddhists, and said it is closely monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country.

Briefing the media in New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Indian government was disturbed by the sustained hostility faced by minority communities.

"India is closely monitoring developments and has expressed grave concern over the continued hostility of minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists. We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Mymensingh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice," Jaiswal said.

Placing the issue in a broader context, the MEA pointed out that more than 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities have been recorded during the tenure of Bangladesh's interim government. These incidents include killings, arson and land grabbing.

"These incidents cannot be brushed aside as mere media exaggerations or dismissed as political violence," the spokesperson said.

India also rejected what it described as "unremitting hostility" against minorities in Bangladesh and dismissed claims that an anti-India narrative was being circulated.

Earlier, on December 17, the MEA summoned Hamidullah to convey New Delhi's concerns over the deteriorating security situation in Bangladesh.

India has also rejected what it termed a false narrative being pushed by extremist elements regarding recent incidents in Bangladesh.

The MEA expressed concern that the interim government neither conducted a thorough investigation nor shared meaningful evidence with India.

Delhi has additionally called on Bangladesh's interim government to ensure the safety and security of Indian missions and posts in the country in line with its diplomatic obligations.

- ANI