Bhabesh’s death: Dhaka terms Delhi’s claim ‘baseless’

The government has rejected the claim made by India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding the death of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, saying Bangladesh is not a country where one will find government-sponsored systematic discrimination against minorities.

Responding to a question on the comments of Indian MEA on the death of Bhabesh of Dinajpur, Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, yesterday in a statement said, “It is unfortunate that the death of Mr Bhabesh Chandra Roy has been described as part of a ‘pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government’.

“We reject this baseless claim. This government protects the rights of all of its citizens irrespective of religious denominations.

“In this particular case, we have ascertained that the victim went out with some individuals previously known to him. Nobody from the victim’s family reported his going out with them as suspicious. The autopsy report did not detect any prima facie sign of bodily injury. This notwithstanding, the authorities have ordered viscera analysis to conclusively determine the cause of death. Appropriate actions will be taken once the viscera report is available.

“We invite all quarters to refrain from making fabricated and inciteful comments on the incident.”

The government responded after Indian MEA condemned the killing, following reports in various Bangladeshi media outlets.

In a statement yesterday, Indian MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the incident “follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity.”

Condemning the incident, he reminded “the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions”.

Bhabesh, 58, a resident of Basudebpur village in Dinajpur’s Biral, was “abducted and beaten to death” on Thursday, according to some media reports quoting witnesses and family members.