BJP West Bengal president Samik Bhattacharya (right) said “fundamentalists are behind the turn of events” in neighboring Bangaleeshi. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
Violence in Bangladesh following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, the leader of the radical Inquilab Manch, sparked strong reactions from political parties in West Bengal on Friday (19 December 2025), with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expressing concern over developments in the neighboring country and urging Bengali voters not to become like Bangash.
State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said fundamentalists were “behind the turn of events” in the neighboring country, adding, “Hindus are being selectively targeted during the violence.”
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“To ensure that West Bengal does not become Bangladesh and to secure the future of our next generation, people must come forward,” the BJP MP said, adding that the situation in West Bengal is alarming and reflects the conditions prevailing in 1946 (before independence when Kolkata and adjoining areas witnessed communal riots).
The State BJP President said that radicalism is a challenge not only for Bangladesh but for the entire world. “Since the 1980s, fundamentalist forces have been expanding their base in Bangladesh. It has gone beyond all dimensions. Even free-thinking and liberal-minded individuals are coming under attack as seen last night. The whole world is facing an onslaught of radicalism,” Mr Bhattacharya said.
Sharif Osman Hadi, the emerging leader and candidate in the general election scheduled for February 12, 2026, died in a hospital in Singapore after fighting for his life for six days. He was shot dead outside a mosque in Dhaka earlier this month.
Since August 2024, when former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had to flee the country, the West Bengal unit of the BJP has highlighted alleged violence and attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh and urged voters to support the party to ensure that West Bengal is not like Bangladesh.
Since Thursday (December 18) night, several BJP leaders from West Bengal, including party IT cell chief Amit Malviya, have highlighted the violence in Bangladesh and compared it to the situation in West Bengal.
“This is a warning. This is exactly how societies break down when extremism is appeased and lawlessness is normalized. This is also why the trajectory of West Bengal under Mamata Banerjee is deeply disturbing. Years of political patronage, erosion of institutions and selective silence have driven Bengal down a dangerous path,” Mr Malviya wrote on social media.
Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh reacted strongly to Mr. Malviya’s post on X: “This post by @amitmalviya is dangerous. It compares the situation of Bangladesh with West Bengal. It is not only an insult to our state but also a clear provocation.”
Mr. Ghosh demanded that the police register the person and take appropriate legal action expeditiously. “The situation in Bangladesh is serious as reported. As it is an international matter, we are not commenting now. Our leadership is following the development in the national interest and we support the stand taken by the Government of India,” Mr Ghosh said.
Published – 19 Dec 2025 21:45 IST
