A 2024 video interview featuring senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan and Arfa Khanum Sherwani, published by The Wire, has resurfaced amid renewed scrutiny, as a series of violent incidents targeting Hindu minorities continue to be reported from Bangladesh.
The interview was recorded during the period of political turmoil in Bangladesh when the Army assumed control following unrest. In the conversation, Varadarajan dismissed concerns being raised about the safety of Hindus and Christians in Bangladesh, describing such claims as unfounded.
Responding to Sherwani’s question about the fate of religious minorities, he said: “All this, all this, all this is baseless and foolish talk.” Earlier in the exchange, Varadarajan stated, “If you look closely at the incidents of the last two–three days, this entire movement is not in the hands of the army. Nor is it that—although in right-wing circles in India people are saying that now Bangladesh will directly fall under the sway of Islamic fanaticism—various kinds of speculations are being made, all sorts of allegations are being levelled.”
A reminder!
Back when the coup in Bangladesh happened
Sid Varadarajan of the Wire had said that those who worry about Hindus in Bangladesh are “bewakoof”
Bewakoof… pic.twitter.com/bQ6gMWF4ow
— Abhishek (@AbhishBanerj) December 23, 2025
The remarks have come under renewed attention as Bangladesh has witnessed repeated incidents of violence against Hindus in the months following the 2024 political upheaval. Reports from multiple locations have documented attacks on Hindu homes, vandalism of temples, targeted violence during religious festivals, and incidents of arson. Most recently, a Hindu factory worker in Bangladesh was lynched by a mob over allegations of blasphemy; police later stated that no evidence was found to substantiate the accusation.
It is important to note that the violence has not been confined to isolated episodes but has continued across different periods and regions, raising concerns among rights groups and community representatives.
How The Wire Peddled Pakistani Propaganda During Op Sindoor
Their downplaying and Islamist appeasement knows no bounds. More recently, following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, that was followed by India’s precision strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, criticism has emerged over the editorial stance adopted by The Wire during its coverage of the operation.
During a broadcast on The Wire, journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani questioned the outcome of the operation, stating, “We do not want bloodshed… Pakistan says that many of its civilians were killed and of course there were not terrorists who died.” The remarks echoed claims made by Pakistani authorities, despite the absence of independent verification at the time. These comments repeated Islamabad’s narrative without reference to official Indian briefings or available evidence.
Editor Siddharth Varadarajan did not publicly challenge the assertions during the broadcast. He instead said, “We must tell them don’t worry, we are there for you… when two countries which have a historical and cultural connection… a war must not happen between them.”
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