Tue Apr 22 15:07:12 UTC 2025: ## Bangladesh Denies India’s Claim of Hindu Persecution Following Leader’s Death
**DHAKA, BANGLADESH** – The interim government of Bangladesh has vehemently rejected India’s assertion that the recent killing of Hindu community leader Bhabesh Chandra Roy is part of a pattern of systematic persecution of religious minorities. Roy, 58, was found dead on Thursday after being allegedly abducted from his home in Dinajpur district.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs had condemned the killing, stating it followed a pattern of persecution and that perpetrators of previous similar incidents operated with impunity. However, Bangladesh’s interim government chief Muhammad Yunus’s press secretary, Shafiqul Alam, dismissed these claims. Alam stated that Bangladesh does not engage in government-sponsored discrimination against minorities and that the government protects the rights of all citizens regardless of religion.
Alam further stated that preliminary autopsy results did not show signs of significant bodily injury, though viscera analysis is underway to determine the exact cause of death. He also indicated that Roy had left his home with individuals he knew, suggesting the incident might not be religiously motivated. The Bangladesh government urged restraint in making comments before a full investigation is complete.
Roy’s son, Swapan Chandra Roy, filed a police complaint alleging abduction and murder, naming several suspects, including a local moneylender. The complaint alleges that Roy was taken against his will after a dispute over a loan. Dinajpur police have confirmed the filing of the complaint and stated that a thorough investigation is underway. The incident continues to fuel tensions between India and Bangladesh.
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