At the India-Bangladesh border, interviews are being conducted under coercion, targeting Hindus. Passports are reportedly being confiscated as Bangladeshi citizens cross into Kolkata, India. They are then threatened that their passports will not be returned unless they provide statements to journalists as dictated. These fabricated interviews are used to create false narratives of Hindu persecution in Bangladesh, which are then widely propagated.
Recently, when the authenticity of such propaganda aired on two Indian TV channels was investigated, the families of the individuals involved disclosed the truth about this manipulation. Upon seeing fabricated stories about Hindu oppression in Bangladesh aired on television, the families were shocked and expressed regret, even apologizing to the Bangladeshi people and government.
One such case involves Shubho Karmakar, who appeared on ABP Ananda TV. He is the son of Sunil Karmakar, the owner of New Guinea Bhavan Jewellers in Faridpur. In his interview, Shubho claimed that Hindus in Bangladesh are severely oppressed, with their homes being seized, temples destroyed, children beaten, and women harassed. He described living in fear, uncertain if he would return safely when leaving home.
Shubho’s statements went viral on social media, drawing widespread condemnation. Local journalists visited his family business for clarification. Both his parents, Sunil Karmakar and his mother, rejected his claims outright. His mother stated, “Our son has always been like this—he doesn’t listen to us. We are deeply upset and apologize for his behavior. We have never faced any persecution in this country. Neither my daughters nor our relatives have ever been attacked. The Indian journalists orchestrated this incident on purpose. We feel safe in Bangladesh.”
Sunil Karmakar added, “We were shocked to hear such statements from him. We cannot understand why he would say this. We have never been persecuted here. When I called him, he explained that his passport was taken after crossing the border and he was threatened into saying what they dictated. These actions are intended to damage Bangladesh-India relations.”
Another individual, Amiya Sarker, gave an interview to The Wall channel, claiming to have taken refuge in Kolkata for two months due to persecution in Bangladesh. Amiya was previously an assistant vice-president of the Faridpur District Chhatra League but was removed from the committee in 2022. He is also a known figure in connection with violent activities and is an accused in the attack on the house of Subol Chandra Saha, a former president of the Faridpur District Awami League.
This situation highlights an organized attempt to create false narratives aimed at straining relations between Bangladesh and India.
