Spike in attacks on minorities in Bangladesh as India-bashing sentiment rises under interim government
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Dhaka : Reports indicate a sharp rise in attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh under the interim government led by Yunus, with India-bashing sentiments reportedly escalating alongside systematic violence targeting vulnerable communities. According to a report released by the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council, at least 51 incidents of communal violence against minorities occurred in December alone.
The council noted that since the government’s formation, minority communities have faced heightened persecution, particularly following political developments such as student leader Usman Hadi’s murder and the upcoming February elections. The attacks documented encompass murders, arson, property destruction, looting, wrongful arrests under false religious allegations, image-based violence, sexual assault attempts, and physical assaults.
Details of December attacks
During December, the council reported that minority homes, temples, and businesses were systematically targeted. Incidents included 10 murders, 23 cases of arson or property burning, 10 instances of looting combined with arson, 4 wrongful arrests based on false religious charges, 1 sexual assault attempt, and 3 physical assaults. Among these, the brutal murder of Deepu Chandra, where the victim was killed in a particularly horrific manner, drew widespread condemnation.
Continued violence in January
The wave of violence extended into January. On January 1, Hindu businessman Khokon Chandra was doused with petrol and set ablaze by assailants while returning home from his pharmacy. The following day, in Lakshmipur, crops belonging to Satyaranjan Das were burned in a targeted attack. On January 3, armed criminals conducted coordinated arson attacks in Chattogram and Comilla, terrorizing families while looting gold, silver, and cash.
January 4 saw another brutal incident where jewellery businessman Shubho Poddar was tied up and robbed of around 30 bhori of gold from his shop. On the same day in Kaliganj, a 40-year-old Hindu widow was reportedly gang-raped, tied to a tree, and subjected to extreme physical abuse and image-based violence.
Further attacks continued on January 5, including the public shooting and throat-slitting of ice factory owner Rama Pratap Bairagi in Jashore, and the stabbing murder of grocery store owner Mani Chakravarti in Narsingdi. The council warned that these reported cases likely represent only a fraction of the total incidents, with many attacks yet to be officially documented.
Council appeals for minority protection
Alarmed by the escalating violence, an eight-member delegation of minority community leaders met with Tariq Rahman, executive president of the BNP in Dhaka, submitting a detailed eight-point demand for enhanced security, justice, and protection of minority rights. The council emphasized that the rising incidents expose the failure of the Yunus-led interim government to protect minority citizens, while simultaneously fomenting anti-India and anti-minority sentiment among the local population.
Broader implications
Analysts note that the ongoing violence reflects a growing hardline Islamist mindset in certain regions of Bangladesh, with minorities increasingly left vulnerable to political and communal manipulation. The council has urged immediate and strict action to prevent further atrocities and called on both national authorities and international observers to monitor the situation.
The situation has raised concerns among human rights organizations, minority advocacy groups, and diplomatic observers, highlighting the urgent need for protective measures, legal enforcement, and political accountability to curb the cycle of violence.
