A senior Hindu community leader in Bangladesh was allegedly kidnapped from his residence and beaten to death in Dinajpur district, around 330 km from Dhaka. The incident has sparked widespread concern on minority safety. The victim, Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, was the vice-president of the Biral unit of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. He was also a hugely respected figure within the Hindu community.
Roy was abducted after receiving a phone call
According to a report by The Daily Star, hours after Roy went missing from his home in Basudebpur, his body was recovered on Thursday night. His wife Shantana Roy has a suspicion that the call was made by the perpetrators just to confirm whether he is at home or not. ”Approximately 30 minutes later, four men arrived on two motorcycles and allegedly abducted Bhabesh from the premises,” she mentioned it to the newspaper.
He was taken to Narabari village, where he was brutally assaulted according to eyewitnesses. Later in the evening on the same day his body was brought back home in a van. He was then rushed to a nearby hospital in Dinajpur with the help of family members and local residents, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
India condemns the incident
India strongly reacted to the incident, terming it a part of a ‘’pattern of systematic persecution’’ of Hindus in Bangladesh. In a post shared on X, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, ‘’We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Roy’’, and urged the interim government in Dhaka to fulfil its duty to safeguard minority communities ‘’without inventing excuses or making distinctions.
We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh.
This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such…— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2025
Police probe begins
Meanwhile, Abdus Sabur, the officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station, confirmed that a case has been registered and the police are working to find out the suspects and arrest them. ”Efforts are going on to apprehend those involved,” as quoted by The Daily Star.
India rejects Bangladesh’s comment on West Bengal
Amid escalating concerns on minority safety, the incident also resulted in a diplomatic exchange between India and Bangladesh. India has strongly rejected Dhaka’s recent statement on violence in West Bengal, terming them an attempt to divert attention.
‘’This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with India’s concern over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh,’’ stated External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, urging Bangladesh to pay focus on safeguarding its own minority communities.
(With inputs from PTI)