Golaghat (Assam), 7 January (HS): Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora on Wednesday voiced deep concern over the deteriorating political and security conditions in Bangladesh, citing a spate of attacks on the Hindu community and terming the situation in the neighbouring country as “extremely bad.”

Speaking to reporters in Golaghat, Bora, who also heads the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), said incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh have been occurring for years and must be unequivocally condemned. He remarked that while such attacks were not new, they continued to raise serious humanitarian and security concerns.

The minister noted that border management along the India–Bangladesh frontier has improved compared to the past, with a decline in infiltration cases. However, he said vigilance remains high, with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Assam Police maintaining strict surveillance.

Warning of possible spillover effects, Bora said the developments in Bangladesh could endanger Assam’s indigenous communities and pose challenges to India’s territorial integrity. He urged the Government of India to take firm and decisive measures, while also pointing to concerns over the presence of extremist elements. He added that the Assam Police is closely monitoring the situation.

Bora’s comments come against the backdrop of escalating communal violence in Bangladesh ahead of the country’s 13th National Parliamentary Election. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has reported at least 51 incidents of communal violence in December, including 10 murders, cases of robbery and arson, illegal occupation of homes, businesses and temples, arrests and torture on alleged false charges, physical assaults and an attempted rape.

According to the Council, the violence has continued into January. On January 2, agricultural land belonging to Satya Ranjan Das in Lakshmipur district was allegedly set on fire. A day later, businessman Khokan Chandra Das was reportedly hacked and set ablaze in Shariatpur, succumbing to his injuries. The same day, a Hindu family in Chattogram was allegedly held hostage during a robbery, while another incident of looting was reported from Cumilla.

Further incidents were reported on January 4, including the robbery of a gold trader in Jhenaidah and the alleged rape and torture of a Hindu widow in the Kaliganj area. On the same day, police arrested a local National Citizens Party (NCP) leader and an associate in Dinajpur on charges of attempting to extort money from a Hindu household. On January 5, two more killings were reported in Jashore and Narsingdi districts.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad has strongly condemned the violence, stating that minority communities are living in an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty ahead of the elections. The organisation alleged that communal elements are attempting to prevent minorities from exercising their voting rights.

The Parishad has appealed to the Bangladesh government and the Election Commission to take urgent and effective steps to stop the violence and ensure the safety and security of minority communities during the electorजal process.--------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash