The interim government yesterday strongly protested India's attempts to link Bangladesh to communal violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal, and urged the neighbouring nation to take steps to protect its minority Muslim population there.

"We strongly refute any attempts to implicate Bangladesh in the communal violence in Murshidabad," Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told BSS at the Foreign Service Academy.

"We urge the Government of India and West Bengal to take all steps to fully protect the minority Muslim population," he added.

The violence broke out last week in the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The protests swept across Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts, leading to arson, stone-pelting and road blockades, according to Indian media reports.

Preliminary investigations of the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs reportedly indicated the involvement of alleged Bangladeshi miscreants in the violence.