Murshidabad, April 2025 — Bangladesh’s reaction to the West Bengal protest has evoked a stinging diplomatic response. India has firmly rejected Dhaka’s comments over the latest Murshidabad violence, which left three people dead. The violence started amid protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act and soon spread to neighboring districts.
MEA Slams Dhaka’s Remarks
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was not shy either. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal blamed Bangladesh for diverting its attention from its internal problems.
“We reject the observations made by the Bangladesh side. This is a disingenuous and thinly veiled effort to equate with the concerns of India regarding the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh,” he stated.
He further said that, rather than passing remarks on India, Bangladesh must take care of its own minority groups.
Bangladesh Asks India to Safeguard Muslims
Conversely, Bangladesh dissociated itself from the violence. Shafiqul Islam, interim chief adviser’s press secretary, told a Times of India report that the regime “strongly protested” India’s allegations.
Additionally, he asked India to safeguard Muslim minorities in West Bengal.
“We appeal to the Government of India and that of West Bengal to take every measure to protect the minority Muslim populace to the fullest,” Islam said.
How the Violence Unfolded in Murshidabad
Unrest started as a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Murshidabad. However, protests became violent soon. Protesters burned cars, obstructed roads, and hurled stones. Protests also spilled over to Malda, Hooghly, and South 24 Parganas.
Early, some of the local leaders were said to have been backing the movement. However, subsequently the situation got out of hand.
MHA Investigates Foreign Hand
As per a report by ANI, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reason to believe that Bangladeshi miscreants operating within India might have been involved. Preliminary investigations suggest cross-border patronage, with the help of local people.
Consequently, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan contacted the West Bengal Chief Secretary and DGP. He assured complete cooperation from the Centre. Additionally, he instructed close monitoring of other sensitive districts of West Bengal.
Diplomatic Tension Between India and Bangladesh Increases
This event has placed fresh tension on India-Bangladesh relations. India continues to express concern about minority persecution in Bangladesh. Bangladesh, however, maintains that it is not involved in the recent disturbances and instead calls on India to safeguard minorities on its side.
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