India rebukes Bangladesh over Murshidabad violence remarks

In a pointed diplomatic rebuttal, India on April 18 dismissed Bangladesh’s remarks concerning the recent communal unrest in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, urging Dhaka to prioritize the safety and rights of its own minorities before commenting on India’s internal matters.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strongly worded statement rejecting comments from Bangladesh officials as a “disingenuous attempt” to equate the situation in Murshidabad with the broader and ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh.

“We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal. 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,” the MEA said.

India’s sharp response came after Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to Bangladesh’s chief adviser, urged India to “fully protect” its Muslim minority population and denied any Bangladeshi link to the Murshidabad violence.

“We strongly refute any attempts to implicate Bangladesh in the communal violence in Murshidabad,” Alam told a local daily.

The violence, which broke out on April 11 amid protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, resulted in three deaths and several injuries. Widespread arson and property damage were reported, with scores of families fleeing their homes. Many sought shelter in Jharkhand’s Pakur district, while others relocated to relief camps in Malda.

In response to the unrest, the Calcutta High Court has ordered the continued presence of central forces in the district and will oversee rehabilitation efforts.

The court has also instructed political leaders, including those from the BJP and TMC, to avoid incendiary rhetoric that could exacerbate tensions.