Hindu community in Bangladesh celebrates Rath Yatra
Dhaka: Over the past few years, Bangladesh has witnessed a massive crackdown on the minority Hindu community and concerns have been spiking about the security of the Hindus in the country. Hindu youth and men have been mercilessly killed on the streets of Bangladesh, Hindu houses have been torched down, women and young girls have been subjected to abuse and harassment.
For example, a report published by the Bangladesh-based Sanatani Foundation highlighted 111 incidents of persecution on the minority Hindu community between February 17 and April 30, 2026. This includes 24 murders and 16 cases of land grabbing. Also, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council enlisted 133 communally-oriented incidents in the first three months of 2026, including 25 killings. Hindus are thus leading a life of utter misery & constant fear in Bangladesh amid targeted violence, intimidation, vandalism of Hindu properties etc.
As a latest testament to the precarious situation of Hindus in Bangladesh, during the Rath Yatra of Bhagwan Jagannath, an Improvised Explosive Device(IED) was found, which was concealed beneath an umbrella. The discovered IED has raised questions about a terror plot targeting the Hindu community in Bangladesh, while they were assembled in a public space at a mass scale and celebrating the Rath Yatra. The IED has further escalated the fear of the Hindus and their ambiguous state in Bangladesh, who are subjected to relentless persecution.
As per the sources, IED was fitted with a battery and an electrical circuit and it is said that it was designed to be operated remotely. According to preliminary investigation, the IED would have exploded, if the culprits had pressed the button, from a distant location. However, the presence of the explosive device hidden behind the umbrella was discovered, thus a major catastrophe and tragedy targeting the Hindu community was thwarted.
The incident took place near Motijheel Metro Rail station in Dhaka, where the Hindu community was observing the Jagannath Rath Yatra. The exact motive and kingpins behind the heinous crime has to be found out, as per the sources. However, a 33 year old bystander is said to be injured, when the operation was on going, to safely dispose of the explosive device.
“Sources in the Bomb Disposal Unit said the IED was fitted with an electrical circuit and a battery. It contained around 1 to 1.5kg of sulphur packed inside a metal pipe, along with numerous small iron balls”, reported Bangladesh daily. Such a large & intense plot has further surfaced the concerns about safety & security of the minority Hindu community in Bangladesh, who has been repeatedly victim of targeted attacks.
