The Bangladeshi government has firmly dismissed India's assertion that the recent death of Bhabesh Chandra Roy in Dinajpur reflects a broader pattern of religious persecution.

Responding to the remarks made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s Press Secretary, Shafiul Alam, on Friday (April 19), refuted the claim, saying that the interim government remains committed to safeguarding the rights of all citizens, regardless of their religious affiliation.

“It is regrettable that the unfortunate death of Mr. Bhabesh Chandra Roy is being portrayed as evidence of a so-called systematic persecution of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh,” Alam said.

Labeling the accusation as unfounded, Alam said, “We categorically reject this baseless allegation.” He emphasized that Bangladesh does not practice or tolerate state-sponsored discrimination against any community.

Referring to the Dinajpur incident, Alam noted that the deceased had left home with individuals he was acquainted with, and his family did not consider his departure suspicious.

According to Alam, an initial postmortem did not reveal any visible injuries on the body. However, a viscera test has been commissioned to determine the exact cause of death, and further action will follow based on the findings.

Urging restraint, Alam called on all parties to avoid spreading misleading or provocative narratives surrounding the incident.

India’s External Affairs Ministry had earlier alleged that the killing was part of a “systematic persecution” of Hindu minorities, with its spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal expressing concern over what he described as a continuing pattern of violence targeting the community.

BDST: 1259 HRS, APR 20, 2025
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