Hindu teacher house torched in Bangladesh as minority attacks continue

Dhaka: Violence against the Hindu minority in Bangladesh continues unabated, with the latest incident reported from Sylhet district, where an enraged mob set fire to the house of a Hindu school teacher.

The attack took place in Bahor village and targeted the residence of Birendra Kumar Dey, a well-known and respected teacher in the area, triggering fear and panic among his family members and local residents.

Birendra Kumar Dey, popularly known in the village as “Jhunu Sir,” was inside the house along with elderly members of his family when the mob allegedly stormed the premises and set it ablaze.

Disturbing visuals of the incident have gone viral on social media, showing flames engulfing the house while family members struggle to escape. Thanks to the timely intervention of local residents, all those inside managed to flee, and no loss of life has been reported, officials said.

However, the incident has intensified concerns over the safety of religious minorities in the country. According to rights groups, this is the ninth major attack on the Hindu community in the last 24 days alone.

The recent wave of violence reportedly escalated after the brutal killing of garment factory worker Deepu Chandra Das on December 18. Since then, at least eight Hindus are said to have lost their lives in separate incidents.

Human rights organisations claim that a minimum of 51 incidents of violence have been recorded in recent weeks, including arson, looting and targeted attacks on Hindu homes, land and temples. Activists allege that fear has gripped minority-dominated localities, forcing several families to live under constant threat.

The situation has drawn sharp international condemnation. British Member of Parliament Bob Blackman raised the issue publicly, describing the situation in Bangladesh as “extremely grave.” He expressed concern over reports of Hindus being killed and religious sites being set on fire, and also questioned the transparency and fairness of the country’s upcoming elections.

India, too, has voiced serious concern. On January 9, the Indian government said it was closely monitoring the situation and urged the Bangladesh authorities to take strong and effective steps to curb communal violence and ensure the protection of minorities.

Criticism has also been directed at the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, with allegations that it has failed to safeguard minority rights during its tenure. The ongoing unrest has attracted the attention of global human rights organisations, which have called for immediate accountability and concrete action to restore law, order and communal harmony.

As incidents continue to surface, observers warn that unless decisive steps are taken, the fragile social fabric of Bangladesh could face further strain.

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