Minority persecution claims baseless: Bangladesh

DHAKA: Bangladesh has dismissed India's allegation of systematic persecution of minorities as "baseless", following the death of Hindu community leader Bhabesh Chandra Roy .

Responding to India's ministry of external affairs reaction on the murder, chief adviser Muhammad Yunus's press secretary Shafiqul Alam said Bangladesh does not practice government-sponsored discrimination and protects the rights of all citizens, regardless of religion.

Roy, 58, vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten on Thursday. He later died in hospital.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the killing, calling it part of a "pattern of systematic persecution" of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. He urged the interim govt to act against perpetrators and protect minorities without excuses.

Alam countered that the victim left home with known individuals and that the autopsy found no immediate signs of injury.

A viscera test has been ordered to determine the cause of death. Authorities have urged against "fabricated and inciteful" commentary until investigations conclude.

The press wing dismissed claims made by "some Indian media" that the US upgraded its travel advisory for Chittagong Hill Tracts to Level 4. It clarified no changes were made, calling such reports misleading and urging media to verify information through the official US State Department website. "We wish to make it unequivocally clear that this claim is factually incorrect," said the press wing.