No attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, media reports ‘exaggerated’: Border Guard Bangladesh chief

Siddiqui, while speaking to reporters, asserted that authorities of his country took steps for the protection of the minorities

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui on Thursday dismissed reports of recent attacks on Hindu minorities, calling them media "exaggeration" and asserting that no such incidents had taken place.

The statement from the BGB chief came during a press briefing marking the conclusion of the 55th Director General Level Border Co-ordination Conference between BGB and India’s Border Security Force (BSF), held in the national capital from February 17 to 20.

“The attacks on minorities in the recent past, I would say, that this is an exaggeration and to be honest such attacks on minorities per se did not happen,” Siddiqui was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

“The substantiation for this is the recently held Durga Puja which was one of the most peacefully organised and arranged Hindu festival. The law enforcement agencies of Bangladesh were very precisely and strictly tasked by the government so that the Hindu community is able to perform... (the rituals)," the BGB chief stated.

Blaming the media for spreading misinformation, Siddiqui lashed out at Indian politicians for weighing in on the issue.

This meeting was the first high-level engagement between the two forces since Bangladesh underwent a regime change in August last year.

Siddiqui, while speaking to reporters, asserted that authorities of his country took steps for the protection of the minorities as he gave example of his force "personally" extending security cover to Durga Puja pandals within 8 km of their jurisdiction along the international border.

He said they got "several requests (from minority community), sometimes without any fear or any threat, and even when there was nothing substantial (vis-a-vis threats against minorities), we provided security." There were such instances during the initial couple of months after August 5 (fall of Hasina government in 2024) but now it is not like that, he said.

BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chaudhary mentioned that BGB was asked during the talks to take steps to prevent any recurrence of such incidents. “We took up the point of attack on Indian nationals and BSF personnel on the International Border by BGB. At times, taking advantage of the night cover, some miscreants try to breach the fence and enter our territory. Though we very strictly adhere to protocol of not using unnecessary lethal force but, in self-defence, as the last resort, we exercise that power with full restraint. During this meeting, we urged BGB to ensure the border remains secure so that such incidents do not happen,” he was quoted as saying by CNN-News18.

On the issues related to fencing discussed during the talks, the BGB DG said they have "highlighted the number of potential cases" where the construction of development works close to the International Border (IB) were being done and this was the "most focussed" agenda during the latest talks.

He said 150 yards on either side of the zero line is considered a "no man's land" and both sides are not allowed to construct any permanent structure or any structure that has "defence potential", without the consent of the other party.

"The communication gap occurs when the fencing is required within the 150 yards...beyond 150 yards we don't mind at all how long, how heavy or how high the fence is made," Siddiqui said.