Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain took a firm stand Tuesday, March 18, brushing off foreign claims of rampant minority persecution in Bangladesh.
“It’s not as high as they say,” he insisted at Secretariat press conference at his office on Umrah visa woes. “Some isolated incidents, yes—but we’re on it.”
The comment came amid a jab from US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard, who flagged concerns over minority treatment in the country.
“We’ve heard it,” Khalid Hossain acknowledged. “We’ve denied it time and again—not as bad as foreigners paint it.”
He conceded scattered attacks—shrines hit, vandalism reported—but doubled down: “We’re vigilant. Law enforcement’s attention is locked on this.”
Khalid Hossain leaned on evidence, not just assurances. “CCTV’s our eye—if we spot the culprits, they’ll face justice,” he promised.
Numbers back him up, he hinted: “We’ve nabbed perpetrators—statistics are coming soon in an official briefing. We’re awake to this.” On banned groups stirring trouble, he added, “They won’t move an inch under our watch.”