Several Hindu families from the Haridas community have been left homeless after their homes were destroyed and belongings looted by a mob in Purbadhala Upazila, Netrokona district, Bangladesh.
According to a report, on June 13, there had been ongoing efforts for months to displace the Hindu residents who have lived in the area for over 50 years. As part of this campaign, signboards were reportedly erected by Muslim extremists, claiming the land as belonging to the ‘Janab Ali Markajun Nur Al Islamiya Madrasa.’
When the affected families approached local authorities, the situation escalated. In a series of coordinated attacks, the mob returned and demolished at least five homes, looting valuables, including cash, leaving the families in a state of devastation. Left with no shelter, the displaced Hindu families are now forced to sleep under the open sky.
“We had filed a complaint with the police. But on Sunday, June 8, they (the mob) returned and destroyed three more of our homes,” one of the victims said. Another woman recounted how she and her husband were assaulted during the attack.
“They want to establish a madrasa here,” another victim claimed, highlighting the motive behind the aggression. The affected families have lodged a formal complaint with the police. While the local administration has assured that action will be taken against those responsible, no arrests have been made as of yet.
Over the past year, numerous such attacks have been reported across the country, often linked to land disputes. In August 2024, following the political unrest and the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, violence against Hindu communities intensified. According to reports, Hindu homes, businesses, and Mandirs were attacked in at least 27 districts. For instance, in Jashore, 50 Hindu homes were torched, looted, and robbed, forcing many families to flee in fear. In Shariatpur, a temple was vandalised, and furniture and other items were looted during the attack. In Bochaganj Upazila of Dinajpur, at least 40 minority-owned shops were vandalised and looted in Chowringhee Bazar. These attacks have been attributed to Islamist mobs targeting Hindu properties, often under the pretext of land disputes or political affiliations.
