A Hindu community leader, Bhabesh Chandra Roy, was reportedly abducted from his home and fatally beaten in Dinajpur district in north Bangladesh, as per a media report on Friday (April 18, 2025).
Also read: ‘Disingenuous attempt’: Delhi responds to Dhaka’s call for protection of Indian Muslims
The body of 58-year-old Roy, a resident of Basudebpur village in Dinajpur, was discovered on Thursday night, as reported by The Daily Star citing police and family members.
Roy’s wife, Shantana, informed The Daily Star that he had received a phone call around 4:30 pm, allegedly from the perpetrators confirming his presence at home.
About 30 minutes later, four men on two motorcycles arrived and supposedly abducted Roy from the premises, taking him to Narabari village where he was subjected to severe assault.
Roy was found unconscious when he was returned home, and his family rushed him to a hospital in Dinajpur, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Roy held the position of vice-president at the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was a significant figure in the local Hindu community.
The Daily Star quoted Abdus Sabur, the officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station, stating that efforts were being made to file a case.
Police are working on identifying and apprehending the suspects involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, India rejected comments from Bangladeshi officials regarding violence in West Bengal and urged Dhaka to prioritize safeguarding the rights of its minorities rather than engaging in “virtue signalling.”
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side concerning 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,” he added.
Not an isolated incident: Congress
The Congress party strongly condemned the “brutal killing” of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, emphasizing the alarming insecurity faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh highlighted a pattern of violence, including temple desecrations and targeted attacks, urging the Indian government to take immediate diplomatic actions and ensure justice for the victims.
“The Indian National Congress stands in solidarity with the Hindu community in Bangladesh and with all those who believe in secularism, justice, and human rights,” Mr. Ramesh stated.
Meanwhile, the post-mortem of Hindu community leader Bhavesh Chandra Roy, who was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death earlier this week in Dinajpur district’s Biral upazila, has been completed, police confirmed on Saturday (April 19, 20254).
Roy, a resident of Basudebpur village under Shatagram Union, served as the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was a respected figure in the local Hindu community.
Published – April 19, 2025 02:04 pm IST
