India slams Dhaka’s remarks on Murshidabad violence

India has strongly criticised the recent comments made by the Press Secretary to Bangladesh's Chief Adviser, Shafiqul Alam, regarding communal unrest in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.

In a sharply worded statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rejected what it called a “disingenuous attempt” by Bangladesh to equate the situation in West Bengal with India’s earlier concerns over the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh.

Responding to media queries, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side concerning incidents in West Bengal. Rather than making unwarranted statements and indulging in virtue signalling, Bangladesh would do well to focus on ensuring the rights and safety of its own minority communities.”

India has repeatedly raised concerns over alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, a point that was reportedly reiterated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent meeting with Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus in Bangkok.

The diplomatic exchange follows remarks made by Shafiqul Alam at a press briefing in Dhaka on Wednesday. Refuting India’s alleged attempt to link Bangladesh to the Murshidabad violence, he urged New Delhi and the West Bengal government to ensure full protection for their Muslim minorities.

“We strongly refute any attempt to implicate Bangladesh in the communal violence in Murshidabad,” Alam said, adding, “We urge the Government of India and West Bengal to take all necessary steps to fully safeguard the minority Muslim population.”

The Murshidabad unrest erupted last week over protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which quickly spread to other parts of West Bengal, including Malda and Hooghly. Indian media reports suggest some Bangladeshi individuals may have been involved in the violence—an allegation Dhaka has categorically denied.