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Bangladesh Opposition leader Nahid Islam alleged at a party programme in Chittagong that lakhs of Muslims and Matuas in West Bengal were denied rights and faced persecution after the elections. He said these developments should prompt Bangladesh to ensure equal protection for minorities and remain alert to communal provocation.
Bangladesh Opposition Nahid Islam's shocker
New Delhi,UPDATED: May 8, 2026 12:48 IST
Bangladesh Citizen Party (NCP) MP and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has alleged that Muslims in West Bengal are facing persecution and being deprived of their voting rights after the Assembly elections. He said Bangladesh must set an example in South Asia by ensuring the safety of minorities and guaranteeing equal protection for all communities, including Muslims, Dalits and Matuas.
"Recently, there were elections in Bengal. West Bengal is very important for us. The elections are their internal matter, and we do not want to comment on that. However, we have seen that lakhs of voters were deprived of their rights before the elections. They were mostly Muslims and belonged to the Matua community. These Muslims are being denied citizenship and allegedly tortured, even after the election results," he was heard saying in the viral video.
Speaking at an NCP programme in Chittagong, Nahid said developments in neighbouring West Bengal were a matter of concern, even though elections there remain India’s internal affair. He alleged that large sections of voters were deprived of their rights before the polls, claiming many belonged to Muslim and Matua communities, and further accused continued post-poll persecution of minorities, including Muslims, Matuas and Dalits.
He said such situations increase Bangladesh’s responsibility to ensure peaceful coexistence of all religious groups at home. Warning against “anti-Bangladesh” narratives, he urged vigilance against communal propaganda and provocation, while stressing that Bangladesh should emerge as a model for minority protection in the region.
Nahid also called for unity within his party, saying internal divisions must be avoided and organisational strength built on merit and collective discipline. He added that safeguarding the rights of those involved in past movements and ensuring their inclusion in future political processes was essential for the party’s direction.
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Published By:
Sayan Ganguly
Published On:
May 8, 2026 12:48 IST
