Dhaka, May 14: The Bangladesh government has dismissed allegations made by Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its allied groups regarding alleged persecution of Muslims in India, particularly in the states of West Bengal and Assam. Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that the government has not received any verified reports or official evidence suggesting atrocities or systematic torture against Muslims in India.

Speaking on Tuesday, Salahuddin Ahmed questioned the basis of the claims being circulated by Islamist organisations and sections of social media.

“What proof or data do you have that such torture against Muslims has started? Many old incidents are being circulated on social media. Our diplomatic mission is there. Our ministry of foreign affairs is there. We have not received any reports of such incidents of torture,” the minister said.

The remarks come amid heightened political rhetoric in Bangladesh over issues relating to minority rights and regional communal tensions. 

Bangladesh authorities indicated that several videos and posts being shared online may be old or misleading in nature. Officials suggested that misinformation campaigns on social media platforms could be contributing to public confusion and political polarization. The government also emphasized that Bangladesh maintains active diplomatic channels with India and would raise concerns through official mechanisms if credible incidents were reported.

The statement from Bangladesh’s home minister is likely to trigger political reactions from Islamist groups as well as opposition parties within Bangladesh. Analysts also expect debates over the role of misinformation and communal narratives in South Asian politics to intensify in the coming weeks. The development comes at a time when both India and Bangladesh are closely monitoring social stability and cross-border political discourse amid an increasingly sensitive regional environment.

Image Credit: BBS News