Amid significant political changes in Bangladesh, reports of severe persecution against the Hindu community are emerging with alarming frequency. Eyewitness accounts, viral videos, and social media posts highlight a wave of organised violence, with local reports implicating radical groups alongside the Bangladesh military in systematic attacks on Hindu neighborhoods. Since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, tensions have mounted, with Hindu leaders, families, and community organisations facing unprecedented levels of hostility, forcing many to appeal for international intervention.
On November 5, scenes of chaos erupted in Chittagong’s Hazari Goli neighborhood as a mob allegedly supported by military personnel stormed Hindu households, leaving a trail of devastation. Videos circulated widely on social media platforms reveal groups of armed assailants, reportedly including members of the Bangladesh Army, engaging in violent attacks, looting homes, and assaulting residents. The footage shows broken doors, ransacked rooms, and residents begging for mercy. Military officials, allegedly armed with detailed information identifying Hindu households, systematically targeted these homes, raising concerns of deliberate persecution facilitated by official channels.
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The situation turned dire when residents reported the destruction of CCTV cameras by the military, an alleged attempt to erase evidence of their involvement. Witnesses described the brutality inflicted on vulnerable community members, including a heart patient who was beaten and whose daughter was reportedly harassed. As night fell, frightened Hindu families recorded videos and shared them online, hoping to shed light on the violence unfolding around them. The attackers reportedly operated with impunity, intensifying fears among the Hindu community, who feel increasingly marginalised and vulnerable under the current regime.
Since Sheikh Hasina’s departure from office, violence and intimidation against Bangladesh’s Hindu minority have surged, with several leaders and activists from Hasina’s Awami League party reportedly targeted and killed. Community leaders have reported instances of abduction and intimidation, especially toward Hindu women and activists advocating for minority rights. Those who have attempted to speak out about the ongoing violence have faced accusations of treason, further stifling any dissent and instilling a climate of fear within the community.
The persecution has extended to religious institutions, with temples and gatherings under threat. ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), a prominent Hindu organisation in Bangladesh, has reportedly been singled out by radical factions. Community members allege that mobs have disrupted ISKCON events and vandalised temple property, with authorities seemingly turning a blind eye to the violence.
In a recent and particularly volatile incident in Chittagong’s Hazari Goli, members of the Hindu community gathered to protest a local Muslim trader, Osman Mollah, who allegedly made derogatory remarks about ISKCON and Sanatan Dharma. Frustrated by the lack of accountability, community members staged a peaceful demonstration in front of Mollah’s shop, demanding that he be held accountable. However, instead of addressing the grievances of the protesters, law enforcement swiftly moved Mollah to “safe custody” and then redirected their focus toward the demonstrators.
Shortly after, a combined force of police and military descended upon the protest, unleashing a crackdown that left multiple Hindu protesters injured. Witnesses recounted scenes of law enforcement wielding batons and using tear gas to disperse the crowd, detaining around 30 Hindu activists. Several videos captured police and military officers dismantling CCTV cameras in the area, an alleged attempt to prevent any recorded evidence of their actions from surfacing. By nightfall, the security forces had extended their patrols, launching raids on Hindu households and increasing pressure on the community to abandon further demonstrations.
Local authorities later justified their crackdown, claiming that Hindu protesters had initiated violence by throwing bricks and acid at security forces, an allegation that remains unsubstantiated. The Hindu community disputes these claims, arguing that they were exercising their right to protest peacefully.
In another high-profile case of religious persecution, a young Hindu student in Faridpur’s Kadirdi Degree College faced a life-threatening situation after being accused of blasphemy. The student, Hridoy Pal, a Class XI pupil, was accused of insulting Prophet Muhammad via a Facebook post. Hridoy, however, denied any involvement, explaining that he neither owned a mobile phone nor had access to the account alleged to have posted the content. His account had been hacked two years prior, he explained, yet this did little to pacify the frensied mob that gathered outside the college.
The mob, which included a large contingent of madrassa students, demanded that Hridoy be handed over to them. Videos from the scene depict hundreds of protesters converging on the college, vandalising motorcycles, and attempting to breach the principal’s office. College officials tried to manage the situation internally, but the rapid escalation led to the intervention of local law enforcement and political leaders, who attempted to de-escalate the situation.
After the arrival of the army, Hridoy was taken into their custody, but his ordeal continued. Shocking footage shows Hridoy, blindfolded and restrained, being paraded by army officials, who allegedly allowed members of the mob to slap and abuse him. One video even depicts an army officer striking Hridoy with a stick as the crowd hurls shoes and insults. The footage has sparked outrage, with community members questioning the army’s decision to treat the victim in such a demeaning manner rather than ensuring his protection.
These recent incidents, coupled with the increasingly tense atmosphere in Bangladesh, have intensified calls for international intervention. Leaders from the global Hindu diaspora, as well as human rights organisations, are urging the United Nations and other international bodies to take immediate action to address the escalating violence and ensure the protection of Bangladesh’s minority communities.
Prominent Hindu leaders have issued a plea, requesting foreign governments and international human rights organisations to take notice of the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh. They have emphasised the need for transparency and accountability from the Bangladeshi government and its military, citing the destruction of evidence and widespread detentions as indicative of a larger campaign of intimidation.
Despite these calls, the response from the Bangladeshi government remains largely muted, with officials denying allegations of military involvement in attacks on civilians. Meanwhile, the Hindu community continues to face an uncertain and perilous future, with many fearing that the violence will escalate without decisive international intervention.
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