Hindu community leader abducted, killed in Bangladesh
Congress condemns killing of Hindu leader in Bangladesh, says ‘this is not an isolated incident’.
Updated – April 19, 2025 06:38 pm IST – Dhaka
A prominent Hindu community leader was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death in Dinajpur district in north Bangladesh, a media report said on Friday (April 18, 2025)
Body of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, a resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, about 330 kilometres northwest of Dhaka, was recovered on Thursday night, The Daily Star said quoting police and family members.
Roy’s wife Shantana told The Daily Star that he received a phone call around 4:30 pm and claimed the call was made by the perpetrators to confirm his presence at home.
“Approximately 30 minutes later, four men arrived on two motorcycles and allegedly abducted Bhabesh from the premises,” the report said, adding Roy was taken to Narabari village, where he was brutally assaulted.
Roy was unconscious when he was sent back home and family members rushed him to a hospital in Dinajpur. However, he was declared dead upon arrival.
Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and a prominent leader of the Hindu community in the area.
The Daily Star quoted Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station, as saying that preparations were underway to file a case.
He said police are working to identify and arrest the suspects involved.
Meanwhile, India on Friday rejected remarks by Bangladeshi officials on violence in West Bengal and asked Dhaka to focus on protecting the rights of its minorities instead of indulging in “virtue signalling”.
“We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
“This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with India’s concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh where the criminal perpetrators of such acts continue to roam free,” he said.
Not an isolated incident: Congress
The Congress party on Saturday (April 19, 2025) strongly condemned the “brutal killing” of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent Hindu community leader in Dinajpur, Bangladesh, calling it a disturbing reflection of the growing insecurity faced by religious minorities in the neighbouring country.
In a post on X, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh highlighted a troubling pattern of violence, including temple desecrations and targeted attacks, urging the Indian government to take immediate diplomatic steps and ensure justice for the victims.
“The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader of the Hindu community in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The abduction and assault leading to his tragic death are a chilling reminder of the growing sense of insecurity among religious minorities in the region,” Mr. Rarmesh said.
“This is not an isolated incident. Over the past months, there have been repeated and deeply disturbing instances of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh, from desecration of Hindu temples to targeted attacks on the homes and businesses of minorities. This pattern of intimidation and brutality cannot be ignored,” he said.
Calling on the Indian government to take action, the Congress MP said, “We reiterate our demand that the safety, dignity, and rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh be protected in letter and spirit. Silence and inaction are not options when such targeted violence is allowed to take root.”
“The Indian National Congress stands in solidarity with the Hindu community in Bangladesh and with all those who believe in secularism, justice, and human rights,” Mr. Ramesh said.
Meanwhile, the post-mortem of Hindu community leader Bhavesh Chandra Roy, who was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death earlier this week in Dinajpur district’s Biral upazila, has been completed, police confirmed on Saturday. (April 19,20254).
Roy, a resident of Basudebpur village under Shatagram Union, served as the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was a respected figure in the local Hindu community.
