The Hindu minority in Bangladesh has faced relentless persecution through violent attacks, mandir desecrations, and targeted abuse, often under the guise of blasphemy or political unrest. This humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by the political upheaval following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, demands urgent international attention. The surge in anti-Hindu violence, coupled with the resurgence of Islamist factions and growing anti-India sentiment, reveals a broader conspiracy to marginalise Hindus and destabilise regional harmony. The silence of international human rights organisations amplifies the need for global intervention to protect minority rights.
Historical Fault Lines Behind Today’s Hindu Persecution
Hindus in Bangladesh, historically aligned with the Awami League, have endured recurrent violence, particularly during periods of political instability. The ousting of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, amidst violent protests, created a power vacuum that Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and Ansarullah Bangla Team exploited. The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has failed to curb this violence, emboldening extremists. This escalation is part of a decades-long pattern of persecution, often justified by fabricated blasphemy charges or social media posts.
The interim government’s shift in foreign policy toward Pakistan, coupled with anti-India rhetoric—particularly following the Pahalgam terror attack—has framed Hindus as internal enemies due to their perceived ties with India. This narrative, propagated by Islamist factions and tacitly supported by political inaction, fuels a conspiracy to marginalise Hindus and undermine Bangladesh’s secular fabric. Below is a detailed account of documented attacks on Hindus, highlighting the systemic nature of this persecution and the complicity of certain political and social elements.
Two Decades of Documented Hindu Atrocities in Bangladesh:
- Bhola Violence (2001) : Hindu homes and properties were attacked and seized during communal unrest.
- Banshkhali Arson Attack (November 18, 2003): Eleven Hindus, including six children, were burned alive over a land dispute.
- Hathazari and Bashkhali Violence (February–November 2012): Coordinated attacks on Hindu homes and mandirs across multiple districts.
- Chirirbandar Violence (August 4, 2012): 50 Hindu houses were set on fire in Dinajpur after incitement by a radical speech.
- Ramu Violence (September 29, 2012): Buddhist and Hindu mandirs were destroyed in Cox’s Bazar over a fake Facebook post.
- Post-Sayeedi Verdict Violence (February 28, 2013): Hindus across several districts were attacked following a war crimes verdict.
- Sathia Violence (November 2, 2013): 26 Hindu homes and a mandir were vandalised over an alleged blasphemous Facebook post.
- Post-Election Violence (January 5, 2014): Hindu communities were attacked for participating in the general elections.
- Homna Violence (May 5, 2014): A 3,000-strong mob attacked Hindu homes and a mandir over Facebook rumours.
- Nasirnagar Violence (October 30, 2016): Over 300 homes and 19 mandirs were attacked over a fake Facebook post.
- Rangpur Violence (November 10, 2017): 30 Hindu houses were looted and set on fire by a violent mob.
- Borhanuddin Violence (October 20, 2019): 4 killed and dozens injured in mob violence over an alleged blasphemous post.
- May 2020 Attacks (May 2020): 30 separate attacks included murders, land grabs, and forced displacement of Hindus.
- Kali Mandir Vandalism (September 11, 2020): Mandir in a Gazipur mandir were desecrated by unidentified miscreants.
- Tithy Sarker Disappearance (October 25, 2020): Hindu student abducted after her hacked Facebook account posted blasphemy.
- Muradnagar Violence (November 2, 2020) : Hindu families were attacked in Comilla following social media allegations.
- Sunamganj Violence (March 17, 2021): 80 Hindu homes were attacked after a youth criticised an Islamist leader.
- Kali murti set on fire (March 18, 2021): An murti was set ablaze in Thakurgaon’s Uttargaon village.
- Anti-Modi Protests (March 26–28, 2021): Hindu mandirs and a train were attacked during protests in Brahmanbaria.
- Satkhira Violence (April 10, 2021): Homes looted and murtis desecrated after a village dispute.
- Chanchal Chowdhury Harassment (May 2021): Hindu actor targeted online after revealing his faith.
- Kotalipara Attack (July 21, 2021): Hindu-owned shops and homes were attacked in Sheikh Hasina’s constituency.
- Khulna Mandir Destruction (August 7, 2021): Four mandirs and several shops were vandalised in Rupsha Upazila.
- Durga Puja Violence (October 13–17, 2021): Over 315 mandirs and 1,500 homes were attacked across 30 districts.
- Cox’s Bazar Accident (February 8, 2022): 5 Hindus killed by a van under suspicious circumstances.
- ISKCON Mandir Attack (March 17, 2022): A Mob vandalised and looted a Mandir in Dhaka.
- BNP Iftar Controversy (April 28, 2022): Beef served to Hindu guests at an Iftar in Sylhet.
- Narail Violence (July 15, 2022): A Mob vandalised a mandir and Hindu properties over a Facebook post.
- Anuradha Sen Murder (July 2022): A Hindu schoolgirl was abducted and killed in Nalitabari, Sherpur.
- Apo Rani Roy Murder (July 29, 2022): Hindu woman raped, murdered, and left in a paddy field.
- Mongla Mandir Attack (August 6, 2022): Madrasa students vandalised murtis at Kainmari Mandir.
- Barisal Mandir Vandalism (September 2022): Murtis smashed in a Durga mandir in Mehendiganj Upazila.
- Tangail Attack (November 18, 2022): Hindu home and puja site attacked by a political leader.
- Panskura Mandir Attack (January 5, 2023) : Hindus renovating a mandir were attacked in East Medinipur.
- Tarique Rahman’s Remarks (2023): Hindu scriptures were publicly insulted to incite hatred.
- Kotalipara Vandalism (January 15, 2023): Hindu family’s home destroyed over a blasphemy claim.
- Saraswati Puja Disruption (January 26, 2023) : Murti vandalised and worshippers attacked during Puja in Netrakona.
- Northwest Mandir Attacks (February 5, 2023) : 14 mandirs vandalised in three villages overnight.
- Comilla Protest Attack (October 13, 2023): Hindu protestors were injured during a rally against anti-Hindu remarks.
- Shailkupa Mandir Vandalism (November 6, 2023) : Murtis vandalised in a mandir in Bijulia village.
- Muradnagar Rape Case (June 26, 2025): Recent case, Hindu woman raped in Comilla; incident triggered national outrage.
Conspiracy Against Hindus and Bharat
The pattern of violence reveals a deliberate effort by Islamist factions, supported by certain political elements, to marginalise Hindus and stoke anti-India sentiment. Groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islami, and Ansarullah Bangla Team have exploited political instability to advance a radical Islamic agenda, framing Hindus as proxies for India. The interim government’s inaction and its pivot toward Pakistan have emboldened these groups, while anti-India rhetoric, particularly post-Pahalgam, has cast Hindus as internal threats. Politicians like Tarique Rahman and Bahauddin Bahar have fueled this narrative through inflammatory remarks, while the BNP’s disregard for Hindu sensitivities at the Sylhet Iftar event underscores societal complicity. The recurring use of fabricated blasphemy charges and social media posts as pretexts for violence suggests a strategic effort to justify attacks and land grabs, undermining Bangladesh’s secular identity and risking regional destabilisation.
