Bangladesh in 2025 feels like a place weighed down by memories. While the events of 1971 linger in the air, the reality on the ground seems more like the partition era of 1947. The once hopeful vision of a Bangladesh where Hindus and Muslims could join hands to create a unified nation has been eroded by the passage of time and the impact of politics. Today, speaking against India is no longer just a slogan on the streets. It casts a dark shadow over every Hindu teacher, lawyer, and activist who is brave enough to express their views.
The Reported Persecution
Get in touch with Chinmoy Krishna Das’s family. He was a monk who became an activist. His arrest for sedition in late 2024 deeply affected the Hindu community. Why was he arrested? He demanded constitutional protections for minorities. This action sparked not only protests but also violence. Temples were destroyed by fire, homes were robbed. This situation clearly showed that in the new Bangladesh, if you are Hindu, fighting for your rights is considered sedition.
Utsav Mondal was taken and beaten in a police station because of a Facebook post. He survived, but it sent a clear warning: staying quiet is safer. People speak quietly about Bhavesh Chandra Roy, another demised Hindu leader admired for his bravery. Teachers, lawyers, and everyday Hindu citizens find themselves part of a crossfire that battles with history and the future.
Human rights groups and the BBC have been reporting issues faced by Hindus in Bangladesh, particularly after political changes in the country. Hindus are often pressured to prove they are not in support of India as anti-India hatred among the extremists grows stronger.
In Bangladesh, a troubling wave of violence and fear forced at least 49 minority teachers to resign. These teachers faced physical attacks and threats. Sajib Sarkar from the Bangladesh Chhatra Oikya Parishad shared that out of all the teachers who left their jobs, only 19 were able to return. Across the country, this situation has left classrooms and staff rooms empty and damaged. Besides targeting homes and temples, attackers are also focusing on schools, where the future generation is being educated. In today’s Bangladesh, even a simple blackboard for education has become unsafe for minority groups. From August 5 to 20, there were 2,010 incidents of communal violence, resulting in the death of nine people belonging to a minority community. Additionally, a report by TIB highlighted that religion-based politics is gaining more influence in Bangladesh.
The Unreported Persecution
In this setting, Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence, expressed concern: “The ongoing problems of persecution, killing, and mistreatment of religious minorities—Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Catholics, and others—are a big issue for the US government.” For Hindus in Bangladesh, fear is a longstanding issue, but recent silence about it is something new.
British Journalist Sahar Zand walks through the remains of a burned Hindu barn in northern Bangladesh, calling the scene “gut-wrenching.” A year’s worth of harvest has been destroyed, and the farmer is too scared to speak, his silence a sign of the community’s fear. Zand’s BBC documentary reveals details that headlines often miss. She notes that “Attacks on the Hindu community happen daily, with 8 to 9 cases reported each week in Northern Bangladesh,” according to local activist Bonamali. She highlights the despair by mentioning that “Most people are planning to leave. They’ve already packed their important belongings. Every Hindu in Bangladesh has this plan,” a voice shared with her. Zand shows that the violence against Hindus is ongoing, their silence is forced, and often the world is looking away.
At the sidelines event of the United Nations, Journalist Sahar Zand stands strongly and speaks the truth that many avoid: “Minorities in Bangladesh are facing attacks. I witnessed it myself, and it’s very frightening. The world needs to pay attention.” Zand, who has reported from conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Iran, describes Bangladesh as “extremely terrifying.” This is not due to what is in the news, but because of what is not being reported. “The situation in the country is not being shown in the international media. It feels like the world is ignoring it,” she warns with a clear and strong voice. For Hindus in Bangladesh, Zand’s comments are a rare sign—showing that someone is watching, even as the silence becomes overwhelming.
How Interim Regime Controls Media?
American Researcher and former Pentagon official Michael Rubin attended a congressional hearing and stated: “Bangladeshi journalists and civil society are in danger. At the same time, Yunus is spending a lot of money to promote his image in international media,” he says. He highlights that the arrest of Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed is now a regular occurrence under the Interim government. Rubin points out that more than a thousand journalists have lost their jobs for being “too secular,” making newsrooms dangerous for those who don’t align with the authorities’ views.
American Political Expert Chris Blackburn, who has been observing the situation in Bangladesh for many years, warns about ongoing efforts by the interim authorities to intimidate and silence the press. His concerns are felt in every newsroom, where editors think twice before deciding to publish.
In Dhaka, journalists are learning to be extremely cautious, which is leading to censorship of news about minorities and persecution. Therefore, reports like at least 49 minority teachers’ persecution could possibly only be a trailer of the incident.
Interim’s lack of accountability diplomacy
The Interim government in Dhaka often denies reports about attacks on Hindus. They claim these reports are just made-up stories from social media or have political motives. When India raises its concerns, Dhaka’s government accuses India of interfering in its affairs and puts the false blame on Sheikh Hasina’s supporters or outside troublemakers. Instead of dealing with the violence, like the killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy—which India says shows ongoing persecution—the government’s spokesperson criticizes India. They talk about communal issues in West Bengal regarding the Waqf Bill, which is a policy-driven issue and has nothing to do with targeted minority persecution. They prefer this diplomatic sorcery possibly to make false comparisons based on tactical disinformation. Instead, the Interim government’s rhetoric fuels mob violence as radical supporters of the interim government declare war against India, Seven Sisters and Hindus getting inspired and radicalized from the theocratic Ghazwa E Hind (Battle against Hindus) sourced from broader Islamic literature (Hadith). Dhaka surprisingly disregarded DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s statement as misleading, which shows how relentless Bangladeshi authorities are in sabotaging facts on persecution. But why Dhaka hasn’t been able to refute Journalist Sahar Zand’s field-based report of unreported persecution of Hindus remains a riddle.
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