Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 9: India on Friday expressed serious concern over a “disturbing pattern” of recurring attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, stressing that such communal incidents must be addressed swiftly and firmly by the authorities.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India continues to witness repeated attacks on minorities, their homes and businesses by extremist elements. “Such communal incidents need to be dealt with swiftly and firmly,” he said.

Jaiswal also noted a worrying tendency to downplay these incidents by attributing them to personal rivalries, political differences or other extraneous reasons. “Such disregard only emboldens the perpetrators and deepens the sense of fear and insecurity among minorities,” he added.

Meanwhile, UK MP Priti Patel has written to British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, urging the UK to use its influence and convening powers to help restore stability in Bangladesh. Expressing concern over rising religious violence, Patel said the situation in the country was deeply troubling and that religious freedoms must be protected.

“The murders of Hindus and the persecution taking place are wrong and must stop,” she wrote, citing reports of at least six Hindus being killed within an 18-day period. Calling the level of violence unacceptable, Patel asked the UK government to actively engage with Bangladesh to ensure the safety of Hindu communities and the protection of religious freedoms.

She also sought details on the steps taken by the UK to raise the issue with Bangladeshi authorities and the assurances received regarding action to prevent further attacks.

Bangladesh has come under global scrutiny following violent incidents targeting Hindus in the aftermath of widespread protests triggered by the murder of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi. Among the most shocking cases was the lynching of a young factory worker, Dipu Chandra Das, whose body was set on fire by a mob.

This week, 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 Charsindur Bazaar in Palash upazila of Narsingdi district, while journalist Rana Pratap, 45, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at a market.

Earlier, on December 31, Hindu businessman Khokon Chandra Das was stabbed and set on fire by a mob in Shariatpur district. Though he managed to escape by jumping into a pond, he later succumbed to burn injuries in hospital.