India on Friday expressed serious concern over what it described as a “disturbing pattern” of repeated attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, urging Dhaka to deal with such incidents swiftly and firmly. The issue has also drawn attention in the United Kingdom, with British MP Priti Patel raising alarm over rising violence against Hindus and other minorities in the neighbouring country.

India Raises Alarm Over Minority Safety

Responding to recent incidents, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India continues to witness recurring attacks on minorities, along with damage to their homes and businesses. He stressed that communal violence must not be downplayed or mischaracterised. “We have observed a troubling tendency to attribute such incidents to personal rivalries, political differences or extraneous reasons. Such disregard only emboldens the perpetrators and deepens fear and insecurity among minorities,” Jaiswal said.

India’s remarks come amid reports of multiple killings of Hindus in Bangladesh over the past few weeks, triggering concern both domestically and internationally.Meanwhile, senior UK Conservative MP Priti Patel has written to British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, calling on the UK government to use its diplomatic influence to address the situation in Bangladesh. “The situation in Bangladesh is very concerning. Religious freedoms should be protected, and the murders of Hindus and the persecution taking place are wrong and must stop,” Patel said. She noted reports suggesting that at least six Hindus were killed within an 18-day period, describing the scale of violence as unacceptable.

Patel urged the UK government to actively engage with Bangladeshi authorities and seek assurances on concrete steps being taken to protect Hindu communities and other minorities from further attacks.

Recent Incidents Spark Global Alarm

Bangladesh has come under growing global scrutiny following a spate of violent incidents targeting Hindus. Protests erupted after the murder of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, which were followed by attacks on minority communities.

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In one of the most shocking cases, factory worker Dipu Chandra Das was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire. In separate incidents, a Hindu grocery shop owner and a journalist were killed within a span of 24 hours. Sarat Chakraborty Mani was attacked with sharp weapons at a local market in Narsingdi district, while journalist Rana Pratap was shot dead by unidentified assailants.

Earlier, on December 31, Hindu businessman Khokon Chandra Das was stabbed and set ablaze by a mob in Shariatpur district. Though he initially escaped by jumping into a pond, he later succumbed to severe burn injuries.

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New Delhi reiterated that communal incidents in Bangladesh must be addressed decisively. “Such acts of violence, if ignored or misattributed, risk normalising lawlessness and mob violence,” officials said. India has called on Bangladesh to ensure the safety of minorities and uphold the rule of law, underlining that protection of religious freedoms is essential for regional stability.