Attack on Hindus in Bangladesh Since the Fall of Dhaka

The fall of Dhaka on August 5, 2024, following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, has triggered an alarming surge in violence against the Hindu community in Bangladesh. Satyaagrah has meticulously reported numerous atrocities targeting Hindus in the aftermath of these events. Within just three days of Dhaka’s fall, there were 205 attacks on Hindu temples, shops, and businesses, reflecting the alarming escalation in communal tensions.

The targeting of Hindus extends beyond physical violence to systemic exclusion. Reports revealed that as many as 60 Hindu teachers, professors, and government officials have been forced to resign from their positions under pressure from Muslim students and local authorities. This wave of resignations underscores the growing marginalization faced by Hindus in educational and governmental institutions.

Adding to the plight of the Hindu minority, human rights activist and exiled Bangladeshi blogger, Asad Noor, has exposed new forms of coercion. According to him, members of the Hindu community are now being forced to join ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’, a radical Islamic organization, further eroding their freedom and religious identity.

On September 6, 2024, Hindu devotees faced violence while carrying an idol of Lord Ganesha during a procession in the Kadam Mubarak area of Chittagong city. This attack highlights the vulnerability of religious gatherings to communal aggression. Less than three weeks later, on September 25, a radical Muslim man named Yasin Mia vandalized idols of Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities in Gouripur town in the Mymensingh district, just ahead of the sacred Durga Puja celebrations.

The violence against Hindu temples and idols did not stop there. On September 28, idols of Hindu deities were vandalized at the Rishipara Barwari Puja Mandap in Sujanagar Upazila, Pabna district, in the Rajshahi Division. A total of four idols were defaced. Just days later, on October 1, another five idols were destroyed at the Manikadi Palpara Barwari Pujamandap in the same region.

The pattern of attacks continued with the destruction of seven idols on October 3 at the Gopinath Jiur Akhara Durga Puja mandap in Kishoreganj, located in the Dhaka Division. This systematic targeting of Hindu religious symbols reveals a disturbing trend of deliberate attempts to intimidate and suppress the minority community.

The violence escalated further on November 5, when members of the Hindu community in Hazari Goli, Chittagong city, were attacked by police and law enforcement authorities, adding another layer of injustice and fear. Such incidents of state-linked aggression deepen the community's sense of helplessness.

On November 29, the horror culminated in Patharghata in the Chittagong district, where a violent Muslim mob attacked Hindu minorities and vandalized three temples.

The systematic targeting of Hindu religious sites in Bangladesh continues unabated, with recent attacks demonstrating both planning and intent to intimidate the Hindu minority. Among the sites attacked were the Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, the Shoni Temple, and the Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple, which were desecrated immediately after the conclusion of Jumma Namaz. The timing of the attacks raises serious concerns about their orchestration and the lack of preventive measures.

On November 30, 2024, the persecution extended to the Hindu intelligentsia with the arrest of Munni Saha, a prominent Hindu journalist, by the police in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka. This arrest underscores the efforts to silence voices that could shed light on the ongoing atrocities.

The cycle of violence continued into December. On December 13, 2024, extremists attacked the Mahashmashan Kali Mata Mandir, vandalizing seven idols of deities and stealing gold ornaments. This attack reflects not only religious hatred but also criminal opportunism targeting Hindu places of worship.

Another troubling incident occurred on December 19, when a Muslim man identified as Alal Uddin vandalized an idol at the Polashkanda Kali Temple in Haluaghat Upazila, Mymensingh district. Alal then attempted to create a fake alibi, which highlights the deliberate nature of these attacks. In a separate incident, a 37-year-old Muslim man named Azharul similarly vandalized multiple idols of deities in Haluaghat Upazila, further contributing to the pattern of targeted destruction.

The persecution under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has been systemic and relentless. The recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu and his aides, coupled with efforts to ban the Hindu organization ISKCON, exemplifies the strategic suppression of Hindu voices. Cases of sedition filed against Hindu protesters further highlight the attempt to stifle dissent and suppress any challenge to the ongoing discrimination.

Accusations of ‘blasphemy’ have become a convenient tool for targeting Hindus. Recent victims of such accusations include Hridoy Pal, Utsab Mandal, Partha Biswas Pintu, Akash Das, Pranta Talukder, and Utsab Kumar Gian, each representing the growing list of individuals subjected to persecution under the guise of religious sensitivity.

Despite these blatant acts of violence and oppression, there have been persistent attempts to downplay the violence against Hindus, labeling the incidents as ‘fake,’ ‘exaggerated,’ or ‘politically motivated.’ This denial further exacerbates the challenges faced by the Hindu community, as it diminishes their ability to seek justice and protection.

The continuous targeting of temples, idols, and individuals reflects the broader agenda of systematic persecution and intimidation faced by Hindus in Bangladesh. Each incident adds to the mounting evidence of an alarming trend that demands immediate and comprehensive international attention.