Following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, Bangladesh has plunged into chaos, with Islamic radical elements unleashing a wave of violence. Hindu minorities are bearing the brunt of this unrest, facing daily attacks that include vandalism, looting, and the rampant sexual assault of Hindu women. Although the head of the Interim Government, Muhammad Yunus, has promised to protect the Hindu community, these assurances appear to be mere lip service.
The situation has now escalated, with Islamists turning their attention to Hindu educators across schools, colleges, and universities. Radical students, alongside Islamist groups, are pressuring Hindu teachers and professors to resign, further intensifying the community’s distress.
In recent days, multiple incidents have surfaced, painting a grim picture of the persecution faced by the Hindu community. According to sources in Bangladesh, as many as 60 Hindu teachers, professors, and government officials have been coerced into resigning from their jobs under pressure from Islamist groups.
On August 20, Radharamn Das, Vice President and spokesperson of ISKCON, took to social media platform X to highlight the plight of Gautam Chandra Pal, a Hindu teacher who became a victim of this targeted harassment. Pal, a celebrated Chemistry teacher at Azimpur Government College, was forced to resign by Muslim students despite his exemplary record.
Hundreds of HINDU government officials are being threatened & forced to resign in #Bangladesh.
Latest victim is Gautam Chandra Pal from Azimpur Government College.
He was awarded the best Chemistry Teacher in #Bangladesh & now Muslim students forced him to resign.… pic.twitter.com/cS2rhlfh8L
— Radharamn Das राधारमण दास (@RadharamnDas) August 20, 2024
Similarly, on August 19, Sonali Rani Das, an Assistant Professor at Holi Red Crescent Nursing College in Dhaka, was allegedly forced to resign under similar circumstances. In a distressing account of a Hindu teacher in Bangladesh who was physically locked in her office by her Muslim students and forced to resign. The 55-year-old educator, who has dedicated her life to teaching, tearfully recounted how she had to jump from her office window to escape with her life, expressing disbelief that her own students could turn against her.
Hindu lady Sonali Rani Das was allegedly forced to resign on 19/08/2024. She was an Assistant Professor of Holi Red Crescent Nursing College of #Dhaka.#SaveBangladesiHindus #HinduphobiaInBangladesh@UNHumanRights @UN @StateIRF @amnestysasia @StateDeptSpox pic.twitter.com/4XblOOsgA8
— Voice of Bangladeshi Hindus 🇧🇩 (@VoiceofHindu71) August 20, 2024
The pattern of harassment continued on August 18, when radicalised students surrounded Khuku Rani Biswas, a Hindu teacher in charge of Jessore Nursing Institute, demanding her resignation. Biswas was kept confined in her office for five hours before she was eventually forced to step down.
Khuku Rani Biswas, in-charge of Jessore Nursing Institute, was forced to resign after being blocked for 5 hours due to protests by Hijabi students.#HinduHatredInBangladesh #HindusAreNotSafeInBangladesh #HinduphobiaInBangladesh #SaveBangladeshiHindus @UNHumanRights @hrw pic.twitter.com/o92gmFLc0d
— Voice Of Bangladeshi Hindus 🇧🇩 (@hindu8789) August 19, 2024
Further reports on X revealed that on August 12, Mihir Ranjan Halder, the Vice Chancellor of Khulna Engineering and Technology University, was also forced to resign. This was followed by the forced resignation of Ratan Kumar Majumdar, the principal of Puranbazar Degree College in Chandpur. The list of victims continues to grow, with Hindu professionals across various districts facing similar fates.
Hindu intellectuals & celebrities are being harassed, forced to resign from their jobs or told to leave Bangladesh.
Hindus are being purged from the intellectual & cultural domains
A thread (1/n)#HindusUnderAttack #HindusAreNotSafeInBangladesh #SaveBangladeshiHindus pic.twitter.com/50OLk4odXn
— Vladimir Adityanath (@VladAdiReturns) August 18, 2024
In a particularly disturbing incident on August 14, Muslim students forced Hindu professor Soumitra Sekhar, the Vice Chancellor of Kazi Nazrul Islam University in the Moymonsingha district, to resign. The targeting of Hindu educators has sparked outrage and fear within the community, raising concerns about the safety and future of Hindus in Bangladesh.
According to information gathered by Organiser, the list includes prominent figures Bhobesh Chandra Roy, Principal of Police Line High School and College in Thakurgaon; Soumitra Shekhar, Vice Chancellor of Kazi Nazrul Islam University; Ratan Kumar Majumder, Principal of Puran Bazar Degree College in Chandpur.
Other affected individuals include Adrish Aditya Mandal, Principal of Kopotokkho Maha Bidyaloy in Kaira, Khulna; Dr. Satya Prasad Majumder, Vice Chancellor of BUET; Keka Roychowdhury, Principal of VNC; Kanchan Kumar Biswas, a Physics Teacher at Jhinaidaha Collectorate School and College; Dr. Dulal Chandra Roy, Director of IQAC at RU; Dr. Pranab Kumar Pande, Public Relations Administrator at RU; Dr. Puranjit Mahalder, Assistant Proctor at RU; and Dr. Ratan Kumar, Assistant Proctor at RU. The list continues with Dr. Bijay Kumar Debnath from Sathiya Pilot Model School in Pabna; Gautam Chandra Pal, Assistant Teacher at Azimpur Govt Girls School; Dr. Tapashi Bhattacharya, Principal of Anwar Khan Modern Nursing College; Dr. Chayan Kumar Roy, Principal of Khan Saheb Komoruddin College (Processing); Biswajit Kumar, Principal of Manirampur Adarsha Maddhomik Bidyaloy (Processing); and Gitanjali Barua, Principal of Azimpur Girls School, who was reportedly tied to a tree during the harassment.
Additional names include Subrata Bikash Barua, Vice Principal of Chattogram College; Nani Bagchi, Principal of BIRDEM Nursing College (Processing); and Dharitri and Pradeep from Madaripur Nursing Institute. These incidents highlight the severe persecution and systemic targeting of Hindu educators in Bangladesh.
The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has exacerbated the situation by removing 363 municipal mayors, 60 district councils (Zila Parishad), and 493 upazila chairmen from their positions, further consolidating power in the hands of those aligned with the Islamist agenda.
