Over the last decade, Bangladesh has witnessed a recurring pattern of targeted violence, legal intimidation, and social unrest linked to allegations of blasphemy. According to reports from the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM), extremist elements have frequently leveraged fake blasphemy claims to justify attacks on Hindu communities, often acting with impunity.
The documented cases, spanning 2012 to 2025, cover incidents triggered by alleged social media posts, classroom remarks, cultural performances, or personal expressions. In many instances, mobs carried out violent assaults before preliminary investigations were completed, attacking individuals, families, temples, and entire neighbourhoods.
In some cases, accused individuals were arrested under the Digital Security Act or other provisions, ostensibly for “protective custody,” while police and army units were deployed to prevent wider violence. Yet in many instances, authorities failed to prevent mob-led destruction of property, assaults, or intimidation campaigns.
The persistent cycle of fabricated blasphemy allegations has left Hindu and other minority communities in a state of fear and insecurity. Activists point to the systematic use of such claims by Islamist networks as a means of consolidating power, creating social divisions, and enforcing control over vulnerable communities.
The report highlights 24 incidents, as part of this broader pattern, showing that the exploitation of fake blasphemy cases remains a continuing threat to minority rights and social stability in Bangladesh.
1. Hindu Man Beaten to Death Over Alleged Blasphemy in Bangladesh
Mymensingh, Bangladesh, December 18, 2025
In the Bhaluka sub-district of Mymensingh, Bangladesh, a Hindu man was reportedly beaten to death by a mob on Thursday night over alleged blasphemy. Following the assault, the attackers tied his body to a tree and set it on fire. The incident occurred near Square Master Bari in the Dubaliya Para area of Bhaluka. Police identified the deceased as Deepu Chandra Das, who worked at a local garment factory and was residing in a rented house in the area.
According to media reports, Ripon Mia, the duty officer at Bhaluka police station, stated that around 9 p.m., Deepu was allegedly accused of making offensive remarks against the Prophet Muhammad. An angry mob reportedly apprehended him and subjected him to a brutal beating, resulting in his death at the scene.
Police confirmed that after the killing, the assailants tied Deepu’s body to a tree and set it on fire. Authorities arrived at the scene shortly after receiving information about the incident and brought the situation under control. The body was recovered and sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital morgue for post-mortem examination. Officials noted that no formal complaint has yet been filed in connection with the case.
2. Bangladesh: Baul Singer Abul Sarkar Arrested Over Alleged Blasphemy, Followers Attacked by Mob
Manikganj, Bangladesh, November 19-23, 2025
On November 19, Bangladeshi authorities arrested prominent Baul singer Abul Sarkar over allegations of blasphemy. Sarkar was accused of making derogatory remarks against Islam and Allah during a musical performance. He was presented in court on Thursday and subsequently remanded to jail.
The police complaint against Sarkar was filed by Mufti Mohammed Abdullah, who alleged that the singer disrupted communal harmony and committed blasphemy during his performance at the Khala Pagli fair on November 4.
Following his arrest, violent Muslim mobs under the banners of ‘Tawhidi Janata’ and ‘Alems-Ulama’ reportedly confronted Sarkar outside the court premises, demanding strict punishment. According to Sarkar’s assistant, Raju Sarkar, extremists cropped videos of his statements to portray him as anti-Islam. He said Sarkar had posed a question to a fellow Baul singer and criticised religious fundamentalism, but his remarks were taken out of context to falsely accuse him of blasphemy.
On November 23, the followers of Abul Sarkar were attacked with sticks and bricks during protests demanding the singer’s release. The incident occurred in Manikganj town, Dhaka Division, leaving four people injured. Manikganj Additional SP (Crime and Operations) Md Abdullah Al Mamun stated that one group demanded Sarkar’s punishment while another demanded his release, and a section of the Tawhidi Janata attacked his supporters. Police intervened immediately.
Videos circulating on social media show the mobs chanting calls for violence against Bauls, including phrases translated as “Pick one Baul at a time and slaughter them.” Baul singers, representing one of Bangladesh’s oldest cultural traditions, are reportedly living under heightened fear following these events. Authorities have previously been criticised for using blasphemy allegations to target religious and ethnic minorities in the country.
3. Bangladesh: Hindu Man Beaten and Arrested Over Alleged Blasphemy for Wishing Atheist Blogger
Sitakunda, Chattogram, Bangladesh, August 9, 2025
On August 9, a 25-year-old Hindu man, Bijoy Debnath, was reportedly beaten by a Muslim mob for wishing “Happy Birthday” to Asad Noor, an atheist blogger living in exile. The incident occurred on the streets of Sitakunda municipality in Chattogram district.
According to reports, the mob, including student protestors, accused Debnath of supporting so-called anti-Islamic posts by Noor. The attackers also alleged that Debnath burned a paper containing Arabic words with a cigarette, framing him in a blasphemy case. After assaulting Debnath, the extremists handed him over to the police. Authorities arrested him and charged him with insulting the Prophet Muhammad and Islam. Following the arrest, student protestors and members of the group Tawhidi Janta staged a march against Debnath.
Asad Noor has publicly supported Bijoy Debnath and demanded his immediate release. Debnath’s birthday greeting to the atheist blogger, which took place on Friday, August 8, preceded the attack.
4. Rangpur: Teenager Arrested Over Alleged Insult to Prophet, Mob Attacks 14 Houses
Gangachara, Rangpur, Bangladesh, December 21, 2025
A 17-year-old teenager was arrested in Gangachara, Rangpur, on allegations of insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Following the arrest, an agitated mob attacked the homes of the Sanatan community in Aldatpur village of Betgari Union on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, vandalising at least fourteen houses.
Police and army forces were deployed to the area to bring the situation under control. Authorities reported that the arrested teenager is a third-stage student at a private polytechnic institute and resides in the village of Vedgari Union.
The police stationed near Aldadpur Government Primary School observed the mob attacking houses about 500 yards away. Military personnel intervened shortly thereafter, causing the attackers to disperse. Local resident Pramod Mohant said the village lies near the border of Kishoreganj Upazila of Nilphamari.
Earlier in the day, a human chain had been organised from Banglabazar in Kishoreganj to Khilalganj, but the police initially did not intervene. Around 3 p.m., the mob gathered from Khilalganj market, chanting slogans and attacking the homes of the traditional religious community. Several houses were vandalised and looted during the attacks.
5. Bangladesh: Hindu Father and Son Assaulted Over Alleged Blasphemy; Another Case Emerges
Lalmonirhat and Dinajpur, Bangladesh, June 16–22, 2025
In Lalmonirhat district, Bangladesh, a Hindu father and his son were assaulted by a mob on June 22 following unverified allegations of blasphemy. The victims, identified as Paresh Chandra Shil and his son Bishnu Chandra Shil, residents of the Goshala market area, were reportedly dragged from their home and beaten in broad daylight. Local sources stated that the claims against them, suggesting they made obscene remarks against the Prophet Muhammad, were baseless.
Eyewitnesses reported that the violence lasted over 30 minutes, during which the father and son were struck with sticks and fists in public view. Police intervened and rescued the pair, but later detained and arrested Paresh Chandra Shil after a complaint was filed by a local Islamist.
A parallel case surfaced in Parbatipur, Dinajpur district, where 24-year-old Hindu resident Sohag Das of Jaliapara village, Chandipur Union, faced death threats over an alleged Facebook post deemed offensive to the Prophet Muhammad. On June 17, protests were led by members of Al Insaf Islami Sangh and other Islamist organisations at Bashirbania Hat College intersection. Protesters carried banners demanding Sohag’s execution and urged the interim government, led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus, to introduce a blasphemy law with provisions for the death penalty.
The protests were led by figures including Hafez Md. Jahangir Alam, Md. Mokarram Hossain, Md. A. Quddus, and Tofazzal Haque, and videos circulating on social media showed crowds chanting slogans calling for immediate action against Sohag Das.
6. Moulvibazar: Young Man Arrested Over Alleged Offensive Comments on Islam
Moulvibazar, Bangladesh, May 14, 2025
Police in Moulvibazar have arrested 23-year-old Bikash Dhar Dipta for allegedly making offensive remarks about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad on social media. Bikash was taken into custody from a rented house in the Sherpur residential area of Sadar Upazila on Wednesday, May 14. He is the son of Sudhir Dhar from Markona village in Moulvibazar Sadar Upazila and is currently a student in the Economics Department at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet.
Gazi Md. Mahbubur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Moulvibazar Model Police Station, confirmed the arrest.
7. Tangail: Hindu Youth Arrested Over Alleged Mockery of Prophet
Delduar, Tangail, Bangladesh, April 6, 2025
Akhil Chandra Mandal, a 40-year-old Hindu resident of Delduar South Para in Upazila Sadar Union, was arrested by the local administration for allegedly posting a mockery and indecent cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad on social media.
The incident occurred on Sunday, April 6, in the southern neighbourhood of Delduar. After the post circulated online, local residents became agitated and sought Mandal at a jewellery shop in the southern market. The youth took shelter in a nearby shop, where a crowd reportedly surrounded him and assaulted him before the arrival of police.
Delduar police, local BNP leaders, and eventually army personnel intervened to control the situation. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sabbir Ahmed and police member Md Azad Mia assisted in rescuing Mandal and moving him to a secure location with army support.
Later in the day, protesters gathered in front of the upazila council, chanting slogans. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer urged calm and assured that appropriate action would be taken promptly. The area remained tense following the incident.
8. Dinajpur: Calm Restored After Week of Tensions Over Facebook Post; Another Youth Arrested
Bantara and Bochaganj, Dinajpur, Bangladesh, April 8, 2025
Tensions in Bantara village of Dinajpur Sadar Upazila eased following a week of unrest after a young man allegedly posted offensive comments about the Prophet Muhammad on Facebook. The announcement for calm was made from the mosque, urging Hindu residents to reopen shops and continue daily activities without fear. Hundreds of community members from both Hindu and Muslim communities gathered later in the day to receive a message of harmony from local leaders, the UP chairman, the mosque imam, and other dignitaries.
The unrest began after the arrest of a teacher who had supported the youth’s comments on April 6. The incident caused widespread fear, with more than 200 Hindu families leaving their homes temporarily and shops remaining closed for several days. Local residents described the panic as severe, with some families enduring hunger and anxiety.
Local authorities provided reassurance to the affected families, including food and financial assistance. Acting UP Chairman Shahidul Islam stated that measures were taken to prevent further conflict and emphasized that not all community members should be blamed for the actions of one individual.
Meanwhile, in Bochaganj Upazila, another young man was arrested on similar grounds. Police said he had made a derogatory comment about Islam on a social media post related to Palestine. Outraged locals staged protests and human chains demanding legal action. The youth was apprehended from the Birganj bus stand area and later sent to jail following a court hearing.
9. Bangladesh: Hindu Man Hounded by Mob Over Alleged Blasphemy
Kalmakanda, Netrakona, Bangladesh, February 28, 2025
On February 28, a Hindu man named Supta Saha Anik was reportedly hounded by a Muslim mob in Kalmakanda Upazila, Netrakona district, after being accused of making objectionable remarks about Islam. The mob, reportedly comprising members of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and Tawhidi Janata, organised a protest rally following Jumma Namaz. They demanded Anik’s immediate arrest for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad and issued a 48-hour ultimatum.
Witnesses reported that the protesters raised violent slogans and threatened severe action against Anik in response to the alleged remarks.
10. Tangail: Hindu Family’s House Vandalised Over Facebook Post
Sakhipur, Tangail, Bangladesh, March 29-30, 2025
A Hindu family’s home in Barachona area of Sakhipur Upazila, Tangail, was vandalised on Saturday night following a Facebook post. The house belongs to Shankar Saha, son of Rakhal Saha of Barchan Union.
Local sources reported that Saha had posted a status allegedly calling Muslims thieves. The post circulated quickly on Facebook, and after Tarabi prayers at around 9 p.m., a crowd of local Muslims gathered to protest. During the protest, the mob vandalised Saha’s house.
Md. Zakir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sakhipur police station, stated that Saha claimed his Facebook account had been hacked. Police received a complaint at 9 p.m. and were dispatched to the scene, but the crowd had already attacked the house by that time.
11. Chittagong: Young Man Rescued After Attack, Injured Admitted to Hospital
Chittagong, Bangladesh, January 20, 2015
Police in Chittagong recovered a young man, identified as Talukdar, after he was reportedly attacked at his home in the Patenga Kathgarh area. The injured were admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for treatment.
According to Khulshi Police Station officer-in-charge Mojibur Rahman, Talukdar was rescued from the Lalkhan Bazar area on Wednesday night. Authorities received information that a group of people had surrounded him in the parking lot of the Lalkhan Bazar Amin Center. Police later recovered the injured man and transported him to the hospital.
Patenga Police Station officer-in-charge Shafiqul Islam confirmed that the police attended the scene following reports, and a video of the incident circulated on social media. The motive behind the attack is under investigation.
12. Sunamganj: Hindu Temples and Homes Vandalised Over Facebook Post
Dowarabazar and Barlekha, Sunamganj, Bangladesh, March 10, 2025
At least two Hindu temples were ransacked, and numerous homes and shops were vandalised in Manglargaon village, Dowarabazar Upazila, Sunamganj, on Tuesday night following a Facebook post by a 21-year-old Hindu man that reportedly hurt local Muslims’ religious sentiments. The officer-in-charge of Dowarabazar Police Station, Zahidul Haque, stated that the man was taken into custody for his safety as the mob attacked police personnel and attempted to snatch him.
The violence escalated to the destruction of houses, shops, and temples. Khokan Roy, general secretary of Kendriyo Loknath Mandir, reported that the Loknath temple was ransacked, valuables worth over Tk 15 lakh were stolen, nearly 100 houses were vandalised, and several shops, including gold jewellers’, were looted. The family temple of Guru Dey, president of the Upazila Puja Udjaan Parishad, was also targeted.
Army personnel arrived to control the situation, and along with local, political, and religious leaders, helped calm the area. Police filed a case under the Cyber Security Act against the accused, and he was later sent to jail by a Sunamganj court. A temporary army camp was set up in Manglargaon to prevent further incidents. Sunamganj Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ileas Mia indicated that the attack appeared preplanned.
On the same night, a separate attack in Gaziteka village of Barlekha Upazila, Moulvibazar, damaged the Sree Sree Kali Mandir temple, including the idol, a hand pump, part of the boundary wall, and tiles. No complaint had been filed regarding this incident.
Following these attacks, around 100 Dhaka University students demonstrated near the TSC, protesting the violence against the Hindu community.
13. Chittagong: Army Vehicle Attacked as Mob Demands Release of Arrested Youth
Patia, Chittagong, Bangladesh, September 29-30, 2024
A group of people attacked an army vehicle and vandalised parts of Patia police station in Chittagong on Monday, demanding the release of a young man arrested on charges of insulting the Prophet Muhammad on social media. One soldier was injured during the incident.
The arrested youth, a resident of Patia Upazila’s 4th ward, had been taken into custody by a joint team of Patia police and the Detective Branch from the North Motherbari area of Chittagong Metropolitan Port Police Station.
Following the arrest, local madrasa students and worshippers gathered in front of the police station, demanding the release of the accused. When police refused, the crowd vandalised the roundhouse built for trial candidates within the station premises. In the chaos, an army vehicle passing nearby was attacked, and two vehicles were damaged. The injured soldier received treatment at Patia Upazila Health Complex.
Additional police and army personnel were dispatched to the scene and managed to bring the situation under control. Patia Circle SP Ariful Islam stated that the mob acted in excitement without understanding the legal process.
14. Gopalganj: University Student Assaulted Over Alleged Blasphemy on Social Media
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University of Science and Technology, Gopalganj, Bangladesh, May 26-27, 2024
A student named Source Gain was accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad on social media, prompting a series of violent incidents on the university campus. Source Gain, a student of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University of Science and Technology, was confronted by fellow students on Sunday, May 26, at a shop in the New Market area of the campus. The students reportedly attempted to obtain a verbal confession before assaulting him and taking him to the proctor’s office.
Later in the evening, Source Gain submitted a written confession to the proctor, but he was reportedly beaten again by angry students. Dr. Mo. Kamruzzaman subsequently handed the student over to Gopalganj Sadar Police Station. The police first admitted him to Gopalganj Sadar Hospital and then transferred him to Khulna Medical Hospital. As his condition worsened, doctors arranged for further treatment in Dhaka.
In response to the incident, students staged protests on campus, demanding justice and calling for maximum punishment, including life expulsion, for the accused. According to reports, Source Gain was being transported under police guard from Khulna to Dhaka for medical care. Adverse weather conditions and storm-related road disruptions were delaying the ambulance, and the student remained unconscious.
15. Shariatpur: Young Man Arrested Over Facebook Post Allegedly Insulting Islam
Vedarganj, Shariatpur, Bangladesh, April 28-29, 2024
Sanjay Rakshit, a 40-year-old resident of Mahishar Union in Vedarganj Upazila, was arrested by local police after allegedly hurting religious sentiments by posting lines from a Lalon song on his Facebook Story. Rakshit, son of Hari Narayan Rakshit, reportedly wrote two lines from the song that some local residents claimed were offensive to Muslims. Screenshots circulated on social media showing the lines, which led to complaints being lodged with Vedarganj Police Station.
Officer-in-charge Mintu Mondal confirmed the arrest and said Rakshit was sent to Shariatpur District Jail to prevent potential social unrest. He declined to provide further details and advised inquiries be made directly at the police station.
16. Bangladesh: Hindu Youth Arrested Over Alleged Blasphemy Post on Facebook
Rangunia, Chattogram, Bangladesh, June 19, 2023
Police in Rangunia Upazila of Chattogram district arrested a Hindu youth, Dayal Hari Das Joni, on blasphemy charges after he allegedly posted a photoshopped image on Facebook that hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims.
According to available information, Dayal Hari Das Joni, a resident of Ghargra village in Rangunia Upazila, uploaded the image on his Facebook timeline on June 10. The image reportedly showed him standing on the Quran. Following the post, local Muslims expressed anger and organised protests, demanding capital punishment for the accused.
Police intervened amid the protests and detained the youth. A case was subsequently filed against him under the Digital Security Act. After the case was initiated, Dayal Hari Das Joni deleted the image and issued an apology on social media.
Investigating officer of Rangunia Police Station, Moin Uddin, stated that the case had been registered under the Digital Security Act and that the investigation was ongoing.
17. Bangladesh: Islamist Mob Surrounds Home of Hindu Teacher Over Alleged Blasphemy
Cumilla, Bangladesh, February 18, 2023
A mob of Islamist activists surrounded the residence of a Hindu schoolteacher, Pritam Sarkar, in Daudkandi Upazila of Cumilla district, accusing him of insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad. The incident occurred on February 13 and prompted the deployment of a large police force to prevent violence.
Pritam Sarkar, a teacher at Dr. Mosharf Hossain High School in Daudkandi, was accused by local individuals of making derogatory remarks about Islam while teaching. Following the allegations, a crowd gathered outside his house, chanting religious slogans and demanding his execution. Some members of the mob reportedly called for extreme punishment.
Police arrived at the scene and managed to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under control. No formal charges against the teacher were immediately confirmed by authorities.
18. Bangladesh: Hindu Schoolteacher Suspended After Blasphemy Allegations in Jessore
Jessore, January 29, 2023
A Hindu biology teacher, Newton Sarkar, was suspended from Dayapara Model Secondary School in Abhaynagar, Jessore, following protests over alleged remarks deemed offensive to Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
According to local officials, the controversy began during an eighth-grade science class on January 25, when some students claimed the teacher made disrespectful comments about religion. The school remained closed for several days due to public holidays, including Saraswati Puja.
When classes resumed on Sunday, students began protesting inside the school. The situation escalated as local residents, parents, and activists from Islamic religious groups gathered on campus, demanding punishment.
Newton Sarkar denied the allegations. He said he was discussing scientific concepts in class and explicitly told students to respect all religions, gods, and prophets. According to him, the students later changed their statements, and he does not understand why the issue escalated.
19. Bangladesh: Hindu Families Attacked After Facebook ‘Blasphemy’ Allegation, 8 Shops and 4 Houses Vandalised
Around 400-500 Islamist extremists attacked Hindu homes and businesses in Uttar Kandi village of Kotalipara upazila, Gopalganj district, on Sunday evening, January 15, 2023. During the attack, eight shops and four houses belonging to Hindu families were vandalised, according to media reports. The violence erupted after allegations that a Hindu youth had posted content on Facebook that was deemed blasphemous, allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of local Muslims. Following these allegations, the mob targeted the relatives of the accused, damaging their houses and shops.
Reports said that the accused youth has been living in India for the past seven years. His mother and sister had moved to India about three months earlier, and his father had reportedly sold his house and property and left for India about a week before the incident. The attack therefore took place in the absence of the accused.
Kotalipara Police Station officer-in-charge Mohammad Jilur Rahman said that the law and order situation was under control. He added that no formal complaint had been filed so far and that legal action would be taken if a complaint is lodged after investigation.
A secretary of the local Ulema Council condemned the incident and demanded action against those involved in the violence.
20. Bangladesh Tribunal Jails Former Hindu Group Leader for Seven Years Over Facebook Blasphemy Case
A cyber tribunal in Sylhet has sentenced Rakesh Roy, a former leader of a Hindu organisation, to seven years in prison over a Facebook post allegedly insulting Islam. The verdict was delivered by Judge Abul Kashem of the divisional cyber tribunal. State lawyer Mostafa Dilwar Al Azhar said the sentence was handed down under Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology Act, a provision that was later incorporated into the Digital Security Act. In addition to the jail term, the court also fined Rakesh Roy Tk 100,000.
Rakesh Roy, 43, was the organising secretary of the Sylhet Division unit of Hindu Mohajote. According to the prosecution, he was arrested on June 7, 2017, after a case was filed earlier that month over a social media post made five years ago. The tribunal recorded testimony from eight witnesses during the trial.
Mostafa said the convict had been out on bail during the proceedings and was sent to prison immediately after the sentencing. Rakesh’s lawyer, Ishtiaque Ahmed Chowdhury, said they were dissatisfied with the verdict and would file an appeal with the High Court.
21. Hindu Teacher Kakali Rani Accused of Blasphemy in Barisal, Bangladesh
A Hindu schoolteacher named Kakali Rani has been accused of insulting Islam in Nesarabad, Barisal district, amid protests by local Islamist groups. Kakali Rani teaches at Kamarkathi Girls Secondary School. The allegation was raised on September 12, 2022. Local Islamists claimed that during a class, Kakali Rani commented on a Muslim student wearing a burqa and allegedly made derogatory remarks about Islam and Prophet Muhammad.
Following these claims, on the morning of September 13, local Islamist groups organised a march and ransacked parts of the area, accusing the teacher of blasphemy. Kakali Rani has denied the allegations, stating that the accusations against her are completely baseless. Bangladeshi human rights activist and blogger Asad Noor raised the issue on social media and criticised the targeting of Hindu teachers through blasphemy allegations.
Local UP chairman Mohammad Tauhidul Islam Tauhid has been accused of instigating the agitation. Videos circulating on social media reportedly show him provoking local Islamists and instructing them on how to act against the teacher. His brother, Mahidul Islam Mahid, who is the secretary of the local Awami League unit, has also been accused of quietly supporting these activities. Tauhidul Islam’s father, Nesar Uddin, was identified as a Razakar during the 1971 Liberation War, and the upazila of Swarupkathi was later renamed Nesarabad after him.
Incidents of Hindu teachers being targeted on allegations of insulting Islam have occurred previously in different parts of Bangladesh. In Chandpur, a Hindu headmaster of Balshid Haji Akub Ali High School in Shahrasti Upazila was accused of insulting Islam for not saying “Bismillah.”
22. Hindu Teacher Hriday Mondal Accused of Blasphemy, Family in Fear After Arrest
Date: 7 April 2022, Munshiganj, Bangladesh
A Hindu schoolteacher named Hriday Chandra Mondal was arrested in Binodpur, Munshiganj, after being accused of insulting Prophet Muhammad and the Quran. Hriday Mondal is a teacher at Ram Kumar High School.
Following his arrest, his family said they are living in fear. Hriday Mondal’s wife, Babita Hawladar, stated that neighbours have been abusing them verbally. She said their son is unable to go to school due to the situation. “We are extremely scared and feel unsafe,” she said.
23. Minor Hindu Boy Sentenced to Five Years Under Digital Security Act Over Social Media Post in Rangpur
Bangladesh, February 11, 2023
A minor Hindu boy, Poritosh Sarkar, has been sentenced to five years in prison in Bangladesh under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a social media post, according to reports by Hindu Voice.
The case is linked to violence that took place on October 17, 2021, in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur district, where a large mob attack led to the burning of a Hindu fishing village. The incident occurred during a period when multiple parts of Bangladesh were witnessing unrest following a blasphemy allegation related to a Durga Puja pandal in Comilla.
Poritosh Sarkar, who was a Class 10 student at the time, was convicted under Section 31(1) of the Digital Security Act, which criminalises the publication of material that creates enmity, hatred, or hostility among communities or harms communal harmony. The verdict was delivered by Rangpur Cyber Tribunal Sessions Judge Abdul Mojid.
Police had earlier stated that Poritosh was 19 years old at the time and had confessed. However, his family and lawyer said no evidence was found linking him to the alleged post. They stated that his mobile phone was damaged beyond repair and that the Criminal Investigation Department was unable to conduct forensic examinations on the device.
Following the sentencing, a video surfaced showing police escorting Poritosh from court, during which he was heard shouting an appeal regarding the treatment of minorities in Bangladesh.
Those named by police in connection with the Pirganj violence include Rabiul Islam, the village mosque’s muezzin accused of making announcements over loudspeakers; Saikat Mandal, identified as a college student and Chhatra League leader; and Ujjal Hasan, who allegedly circulated screenshots of the disputed post. All are reported to be out on bail. Additionally, 74 people accused in the attack are on bail, while 72 others are reportedly on the run.
24. False Blasphemy Allegations Lead to Arson Attacks on Hindu Homes in Satkhira
March 30, 2012, Satkhira, Bangladesh
Seven Hindu families were targeted in arson attacks following false allegations of blasphemy in Satkhira district. In Fatehpur village, extremist Muslims set fire to the homes of seven Hindu families after high school students staged a play based on the story Huzoor Kebla by Abu Mansur Ahmed. The performance was later used as a pretext to accuse the Hindu community of committing blasphemy.
In a similar incident in Chakdaha village, rumours were spread deliberately, after which petrol was poured on more than ten Hindu houses and they were set on fire. The attacks were carried out following the circulation of unverified allegations, leading to widespread damage to Hindu homes in both villages.
The incidents documented above, spanning more than a decade, show repeated instances where allegations of blasphemy were followed by mob violence, vandalism, arrests, legal action, and long-term insecurity for Hindu individuals and communities in Bangladesh. These cases occurred across multiple regions and involved students, teachers, cultural figures, labourers, and families, with outcomes ranging from property damage and imprisonment to severe physical assault and death.
