Bangladesh has long been recognized as a beacon of communal harmony in South Asia, where people of all faiths coexist peacefully. The nation prides itself on maintaining a high standard of unity despite its religious diversity. The vast majority of Bangladesh’s population shares a common Bengali ethnicity, with the exception of a small percentage (less than 1%) of proto-Australoid and Tibeto-Burman communities residing in the hilly regions of Chittagong and Mymensingh. These communities, while ethnically distinct, live in harmony within their own areas.
However, like many countries in South Asia, Bangladesh’s minorities often face political victimization and are used as a vote bank by various political parties. Political violence in the country has occasionally affected minority communities, particularly during regime changes. After the recent fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, some political violence was directed at minorities, not due to religious differences, but because some members of the minority community were associated with the fallen Awami League party. Similar violence also targeted Muslim politicians from the same party.
In the aftermath of Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, certain groups have sought to destabilize the situation by spreading rumours and misinformation, particularly regarding alleged attacks on the Hindu community. These rumours, often accompanied by fake videos, have been widely circulated, even reaching Indian media outlets.
Spread of Misinformation
Claim 1: Jamaat-e-Islami Attack on a Hindu Hostel in Dhaka
A video was shared from the verified X (formerly Twitter) account ‘Baba Banaras’, where it was claimed that the banned political organization Jamaat-e-Islami carried out an attack on a Hindu hostel in Dhaka. The video is 1 minute and 26 seconds long and shows students of the hostel trying to hang onto the ledge to escape the attack. The video also mentions that during the incident, some students either fell down or, out of fear, jumped down, but it is not confirmed whether they survived or not.
However, questions have arisen regarding the authenticity of this claim and the video. If such an incident had occurred at a Hindu hostel in Bangladesh, it would have been widely covered by local media and authorities. Additionally, it is important to verify where and how the video was created, as it could be an example of fake news and rumour-mongering. Spreading such videos and information without verification can create unnecessary panic among the public and lead to social unrest.
Upon investigation, it was found that the viral video has no connection to a communal attack. The video is actually from Muradpur in Chattogram. On July 16, students gathered in Muradpur, Chattogram, to protest against an attack on quota reform activists by the student wing of the ruling party, Chhatra League. At around 3:30 PM that day, a clash suddenly erupted between members of Chhatra League, Jubo League, and Swechchhasebak League. Fleeing the clash, 15-20 Chhatra League members took refuge on the roof of a five-story building. The protesters then pursued them onto the roof and began to beat them. During the incident, Chhatra League members attempted to climb down pipes, and at least three of them fell from the roof.
Chhatra League reported that 100 of its members were injured in the incident. Ajker Patrika had earlier reported on July 17 under the headline, “Three Chhatra League Activists Injured After Falling from a Five-Story Roof While Fleeing Protesters in Chattogram.”
A report from the national daily Desh Rupantor confirmed that the building falsely claimed to be a Hindu hostel in Dhaka is actually located in Muradpur, Chattogram, near the Belal Mosque, and is named Mirdad Mansion.
Claim 2: Elderly Hindu Man Hanged After Being Killed by Jamaat-e-Islami
The same verified X account ‘Baba Banaras’ also shared a 20-second video last Tuesday (August 6), showing the body of a man hanging from a sculpture, claiming that the deceased was an elderly Hindu man killed and hanged by Jamaat-e-Islami.
A verified X account belonging to the Indian local news outlet ‘Sudarshan Bangla’ shared a 19-second video claiming that Muslim women have tied up Hindu women. The video shows a group of young women binding two other young women to a pillar.
Upon investigation by *Ajker Patrika’s* Fact Check department, it was found that the viral video, which claims to show Muslim women binding Hindu women, is actually from July 17. The video is related to an incident at the Begum Badrunnesa College in Dhaka, where students tied up two leaders of the college’s Chhatra League (the student wing of the ruling party) during a protest. The video has no communal angle, and the claim of Hindu women being tied up by Muslim women is false and misleading.
A reverse image search of the video led to information on an online news portal called Corporate Sangbad. According to the report, the man in the video is Shahidul Islam Hiron (75), the General Secretary of the Awami League in Jhenaidah Sadar Upazila and the Chairman of the local Porahati Union. Ajker Patrika’s correspondent in Jhenaidah, Abdullah Al Masud, confirmed that the person in the viral video is indeed Shahidul Islam Hiron. He was killed by an angry mob and hanged at the Payera Chattar (Pigeon Square).
Claim 3: Video Claiming Hindu Women Bound by Muslim Women is Misleading
Verified X account belonging to the Indian local news outlet ‘Sudarshan Bangla’ shared a 19-second video claiming that Muslim women have tied up Hindu women. The video shows a group of young women binding two other young women to a pillar.
Upon investigation by Ajker Patrika’s Fact Check department, it was found that the viral video, which claims to show Muslim women binding Hindu women, is actually from July 17. The video is related to an incident at the Begum Badrunnesa College in Dhaka, where students tied up two leaders of the college’s Chhatra League (the student wing of the ruling party) during a protest. The video has no communal angle, and the claim of Hindu women being tied up by Muslim women is false and misleading.
Claim 4: Misleading Claim about the Assault of Hindu Women in Bangladesh
An X account under the name ‘Ronit Antil’ shared a disturbing image of a young woman being abused, claiming that it depicts the assault of a Hindu girl in Bangladesh. The image is accompanied by a caption stating, “Alhamdulillah, this is how Hindus should be taught a lesson. All Hindus are agents of India. During the protests, 4 to 5 young men looted the property of Hindus at Dhaka University.”
The viral image shared with claims of a Hindu girl being assaulted in Bangladesh was found to be misleading upon further investigation. A reverse image search led to a report published by the Indian fact-checking organization Alt News, which clarified the context of the image. The viral image of a young woman being abused dates back to 2021 and is related to a different incident that occurred in India.
According to a BBC Bangla report, the image and the associated video were recorded in an apartment in the Ramamurthy Nagar area of East Bangalore, India. The incident involved a group of Bangladeshis, including both the perpetrators and the victim. The young woman depicted in the video was a victim of an international human trafficking ring. This context makes it clear that the image and the claims associated with it have no connection to the current situation in Bangladesh, and the misinformation is being used to stir communal tensions.
Claim 5: Bangladeshi student protesters are killing entire Hindu families and kidnapping their daughters.
An 8-second video was tweeted from an X account named ‘Rashmi Samant,’ claiming that Bangladeshi student protesters are killing entire Hindu families and kidnapping their daughters.
In the video, 10–12 young men can be seen forcing a young woman into a black van. The video has also been widely shared on Facebook with similar claims. According to these Facebook posts, the incident allegedly took place in Moishai village under Senbagh Police Station in Noakhali, Bangladesh. The girl in the video is said to be the daughter of Dulal Pal from Moishai village.
In an investigation regarding the video, a Facebook post was found on the page of Gautam Halder, Executive President of the Central Committee of the National Hindu Youth Alliance of Bangladesh, dated yesterday, Thursday (August 8).
In the post, he writes, “The daughter of Dulal Chandra Pal is being forcibly taken away in a van, cinema-style. She was being abducted by her former husband from the Pal family in Moishai village, Senbagh Police Station, Noakhali. Local people called the army, and they arrived at the scene and rescued the girl. To provide context, the girl was married, and the person who came to take her away was her ex-husband. He had attempted to abduct her twice before. The girl did not want to go with her husband, but he was trying to force her. When the army was informed, they came to the scene, rescued the girl, and handed her over to her family.”
To gather more information about the incident, Today’s Newspaper contacted the Senbagh correspondent, Mohammad Abdul Awal. He reported, citing Senior Warrant Officer Abdul Rahman, the officer in charge from the army, that the incident involving the young woman being taken away is not related to communal violence or abuse. It is a family dispute.
Abdul Awal further explained that 17 people came to abduct the young woman. Among them, three individuals, including one with a black van, were detained by locals and handed over to the army. One of these three was identified as Prosenjit, a resident of Bijoypur, Comilla, and a leader of the student wing of the ruling party. He was the leader of the group that came to abduct the young woman. The remaining 14 people fled the scene.
Claim 6: A Hindu woman has been publicly bound in Bangladesh
A 30-second video of a young woman with her mouth taped and hands bound behind her back has been posted by a verified X account named ‘The Jaipur Dialogues’. The claim is that this video represents the current situation of Hindu women in Bangladesh, where they are reportedly facing murder and rape.
In the investigation into the viral video, it was found that it has no relation to the alleged abuse of Hindu girls in Bangladesh. The video actually depicts a performance art piece by a student from the music department at Jagannath University. In March of this year, Fayruz Sadaf Abontika, a law student at Jagannath University, committed suicide by hanging herself in her home. She had held various activities at the university demanding justice, blaming a teacher and a classmate for her suicide.
It is worth noting that this same video had previously gone viral on social media under a different claim, where the young woman was inaccurately identified as a leader of the student wing of the ruling party. [1]
No Attacks on Hindu Houses and Property in Rangpur
There have been no incidents of attacks or vandalism on the homes and properties of minorities, including that of the deceased councilor Haradhan Roy, in Rangpur. Leaders from the Hindu community confirmed this during a meeting held at a community centre in the city under the banner of ‘Citizens’ Unity Against Discrimination’ in the afternoon.
They stated that various rumours are being spread on social media, but no minority community members are fleeing to India. They also affirmed that communal harmony in Rangpur remains intact and called for action against the spread of false information.[2]
Another viral video falsely claimed that a Hindu shop had been set on fire. Upon investigation, Dismiss Lab discovered that the footage was from an unrelated fire in July, which had destroyed 15 shops in Lakshmipur’s Mozu Chowdhury Hat, long before Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and unrelated to any communal violence.
Among the most egregious false claims was the rumour that the house of Bangladeshi cricketer Liton Das had been burned down. Dismiss Lab confirmed that this was untrue; the house in question belonged to former MP Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. Liton Das himself debunked the misinformation on Facebook.
They did not flee in fear; they went to India to participate in a religious festival.
Seven individuals from the Sanatan religious community in Nageshwari Upazila of Kurigram crossed the border into India to visit relatives and participate in a festival, not out of fear. They were detained by the Border Security Force (BSF) there. Later, the BSF handed them over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). However, rumours spread in the area that the seven people had fled the country in fear.
These seven individuals are residents of Tepakuti village in Nageshwari Upazila. They crossed into India on Saturday, August 10th, via the Siperhat border.
According to BGB sources, the detained individuals were Nikhil Chandra Biswas (50), son of Dharmeswar Biswas from Tepakuti village in Kedar Union, Manik Chandra Roy (45), son of Bharat Chandra Roy, Monmohan Chandra Biswas (46), son of Santosh Chandra Biswas, Subal Chandra Biswas (40), Daya Biswas (35), Nipul Biswas (36), son of Amal Biswas from Dholuyabari village, and Bipul Biswas (32). They illegally entered the Bhogdanga area of Dhubri district in Assam, India, at around 9:30 AM on Saturday through the Siperhat area of the Kedar border. At that time, BSF personnel detained them. Later, at around 4:30 PM on Saturday, they were handed over to the BGB.
As news of the detention spread, rumours began circulating that they had fled to India in fear and sought refuge there.
Nikhil Chandra, one of those who returned, stated that the seven of them went to Bhogdanga, India, to participate in the Vasan Puja. Manik Chandra Roy is a drummer. After the Puja, they went to visit a local member’s house, where the BSF detained them. Later, in the afternoon, they were handed over to the BGB through a flag meeting. The BGB then escorted them back home.
Nikhil Chandra also mentioned that the rumour of fleeing the country out of fear is not true. He confirmed that no violent incidents had occurred in their village.
International Reactions and Further Fact-Checking
Al Jazeera reported on the attacks and the spread of misinformation, with Bangladeshi social activist and writer Anupam Debashish Roy stating that while attacks on Hindu minorities had occurred, the numbers were being greatly exaggerated. Other false claims from Indian X accounts included a photo allegedly showing Hindu women being tortured, which turned out to be a 2023 image from Bengaluru, India, unrelated to Bangladesh. Another video falsely claimed that a Bangladeshi Hindu had been hanged, but Dismiss Lab found that the body belonged to a local Awami League leader in Jhenaidah.
Further complicating matters, an X account falsely claimed that attacks on Hindus had resulted in the burning of several temples, including ISKCON and Kali temples, and the deaths of 500 people. Dismiss Lab verified that the images accompanying these claims were not recent and were misleading.
Dismiss Lab also addressed the false claim that an incident involving two Chhatra League members tied up at Badrunnesa Government Women’s College was related to the abuse of Hindu women. Additionally, an arson attack at a restaurant owned by a Jubo League leader in Satkhira was falsely reported as a temple attack, and the deaths of 14 people in the same district were inaccurately reported as the deaths of seven Hindus.
After the fall of the government on August 5, police presence across the country became sporadic, with students stepping in to manage traffic and maintain order in various districts. Out of 639 police stations, only 538 remained operational as of Saturday, and even then, with minimal staff.
Rana Dasgupta, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, acknowledged some attacks on minority communities but emphasized that many fake videos and old photos were being used to spread misinformation. He mentioned that Indian media had even asked him about photos allegedly showing Hindus being burned to death, but he was unaware of such incidents.
German media outlet Deutsche Welle reported on August 8 that old photos were being used to spread rumours of rape and violence in Bangladesh. In a report titled “Fact Check: False Claims Fuel Ethnic Cleansing in Bangladesh,” they highlighted how many Indian media outlets and platforms like Facebook, Twitter, X, YouTube, and TikTok were recycling old images and videos to stoke fears of ethnic violence.
Deutsche Welle noted that these false reports included claims of attacks on cricketer Liton Das’s house and rape incidents that actually occurred in India. The report also debunked exaggerated claims about the destruction of Sheikh Hasina’s residence or Ganabhaban
Meanwhile, American media outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post also reported on the rumours of attacks on Hindu homes in Bangladesh. These reports noted that students and the public were stepping in to prevent violence, with political parties issuing stern warnings to their members to maintain religious harmony.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Bangladesh’s Hindu community leader Gobinda Chandra clarified that, according to his knowledge, no Hindu families have been attacked in connection with the Awami League. He stated, “As a leader of the Hindu community, I can confirm that these attacks are politically motivated, not religious.” He further mentioned that attacks on Muslim families in the country have been ten times more frequent than those on Hindu families.
Local media reports indicate that since Monday night, over 119 people—primarily Awami League leaders, activists, and police—have fallen victim to mob violence. AFP’s fact-checking editor, Kajir Uddin, informed Al Jazeera that among the casualties, only two were Hindus: one police officer and one Awami League worker.
Jafar Sohel, the editor of Dhaka Tribune, informed Al Jazeera that much of the Indian media’s reporting on Bangladesh is “generally uninformed.” “What is easily explainable should not be subject to erroneous analysis. However, the propagation of incorrect information by the Indian media indicates that it is often based on a general source rather than detailed investigation,” he added.
Incidents of Actual Violence
Despite the misinformation, some real incidents of violence against minorities did occur. On August 8 in Manirampur, Jessore, a violent incident took place at the home of a Hindu community member due to a financial dispute. The attackers, led by a teacher named Abul Hasan, vandalized the house and abducted the homeowner’s school-aged son. The boy was rescued about four hours later through the intervention of a local BNP leader. The dispute stemmed from a loan of three lakh taka that Abul Hasan had taken from the homeowner, Polash Ghosh, which had grown to five lakh taka due to interest. When a check given by Abul Hasan bounced, Ghosh filed a lawsuit that resulted in Hasan being fined and sentenced to prison. After his release on bail, Hasan led the attack on Ghosh’s home.
On August 10, SM Enamul Haque, the General Secretary of the BNP’s Paikgacha Upazila unit in Khulna, and member Kishore Mondal were temporarily suspended from the party after allegations of looting and arson at a Hindu businessman’s house were confirmed. They were stripped of their primary party membership and all party positions.
Government and Political Parties’ Responses
In response to concerns about minority persecution, the Bangladeshi government denounced the violence and vowed to hold those responsible accountable. On August 11, Foreign Affairs Adviser Hossain acknowledged the concerns surrounding the current political situation and expressed confidence that stability would soon be restored. He also addressed recent international reports on violence against minorities, clarifying that while some incidents, including attacks on Hindu households, had occurred, they were politically, not religiously, motivated. “Such violence is unacceptable under any circumstances,” he stated.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer, Shafiqur Rahman, has called on Hindu community leaders to assist with specific information if anyone engages in criminal activities under the guise of Jamaat-e-Islami. Referring to recent incidents of violence and looting, he urged them to be courageous and call out wrongdoings clearly.
There are no minorities, We are all Bangladeshi : Jamaat Chief Dr Shafiqur Rahman
Shafiqur Rahman made these remarks during a visit to Dhakeshwari Temple on Thursday morning, where he met with leaders of the Universal Puja Celebration Committee. He stated, “I want to make it very clear: if anyone associated with Jamaat-e-Islami or our student wing is involved in any criminal activities that go against our principles, that person is a criminal. I assure you, we will not only avoid protecting such individuals but will also ensure they face the consequences.”
Following attacks on temples and homes in the minority community, a group of Jamaat activists has been guarding various temples, including Dhakeshwari National Temple, since Tuesday. Against this backdrop, Shafiqur Rahman, along with other Jamaat leaders, visited Dhakeshwari Temple. The President of the Dhaka Metropolitan Universal Puja Celebration Committee, Jayanta Kumar Roy, and other leaders welcomed him with flowers.
During the discussion, Jayanta Kumar Roy questioned the Jamaat leaders, asking why the Hindu community faces persecution whenever there is a change in government. He referred to Prophet Muhammad’s Farewell Sermon, emphasizing the importance of protecting neighbours as a sign of true faith. He asked, “Why are our temples burned? Why are our businesses looted? Why are our mothers and sisters dishonoured? While you may call these criminals, people often associate these acts with Jamaat-e-Islami.”
In response, Shafiqur Rahman remarked, “It’s always someone else who gets blamed,” referring to the common tendency of shifting blame. Jayanta Kumar noted that the presence of Jamaat leaders at the temple would send a message across the country and the world—a message they wanted to convey. He expressed his belief that the Hindu community, too, would take to the streets if necessary, questioning, “Why are we subjected to so much oppression?”
Shafiqur Rahman affirmed, “We will all take to the streets together.”
Jayanta Kumar expressed his frustration, saying, “What wrong have we done? There are many things we can’t express, but in the end, we are human too.”
He shared an incident from his hometown of Ajmiriganj in Habiganj, where a Hindu man was attacked after being asked to pay 1.5 lakh taka. He mentioned that he had to request a local leader to intervene and stop the violence.
Addressing Shafiqur Rahman directly, Jayanta Kumar said, “You are at the top of Bangladesh’s political landscape. We’ve heard that when the military chief was present, the first person mentioned was Jamaat’s Ameer. Much has been said about this. The message should be clear: this country belongs to all of us. We must stand by each other in times of need.”
Shafiqur Rahman then asked, “Are you receiving the support you expected from us?”
“Yes, we are,” someone replied.
Shafiqur Rahman continued, “So, through the media, the whole country and the world have seen this. We didn’t come here for applause or political gain, but to do what is right as fellow human beings. We seek your cooperation, especially in times like these. If you ever feel we are in the wrong, let us know, and we will show you how we handle it.”
He concluded by saying, “If anyone within Jamaat engages in wrongdoing beyond our principles, they are a criminal. If such incidents occur, please inform us, and we will deal with them accordingly. We don’t concern ourselves with what others say about us. What matters is our conscience. If we are on the right path, the environment and people will bear witness to it.”
BNP and Jamaat-E-Islami Held Harmony Meeting at Madaripur
To ease tensions, particularly after student protests against the quota system and Sheikh Hasina’s resignation, the Hindu community in Madaripur expressed deep concern about potential attacks on their businesses, homes, and temples. Although no such incidents were reported in Madaripur, local Hindu leaders remained apprehensive.
To address these concerns, leaders from the district BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami organized a harmony meeting at the Radha-Gobinda Temple in Purana Bazaar, Madaripur, on August 8. The meeting, chaired by Bablu Das, President of the Madaripur Puja Celebration Committee and General Secretary of the Radha-Gobinda Temple, brought together Hindu businesspeople and leaders from the region. During the gathering, Hindu community members congratulated BNP and Jamaat leaders for their support.
Speakers at the event, including former UP Chairman Abu Taleb Mia, Jamaat leaders, and BNP activists, emphasized the need for continued communal harmony. They assured the Hindu community of their safety and highlighted their collective efforts to maintain peace and protect Hindu homes and temples across the district.
In Jessore, BNP Central Organizing Secretary Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and BNP Central Leader Akhteruzzaman met with leaders of the district’s Hindu community to reaffirm the party’s commitment to communal harmony.
Students launched a countrywide movement to protect minority communities
In Dhaka, over 200,000 students from universities, colleges, and madrasas, including institutions like Dhaka University and North South University, launched a countrywide movement to protect minority communities. This movement, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, has established rescue teams to prevent and stop violence against minorities. They have also organized a student coalition to ensure the safety of Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians during the current period of unrest.
Muslim Community’s Efforts to Protect Hindus in Bangladesh
Reports and images on social media depict various attacks on Hindu temples and homes, suggesting a significant threat to Hindu communities. However, local leaders in Brahmanbaria, which has a large Hindu population including students, have stepped forward to ensure the safety of Hindu families.
Munshi Aji Zulhuq, a local garment businessman from Brahmanbaria, informed Al Jazeera that efforts are being made to counter communal violence in the region. “We have observed how Indian media portrays attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. The situation is actually quite different,” he stated.
The local authorities have confirmed that Hindu temples are being protected. In particular, students, including madrasa students, have been volunteering to safeguard Hindu temples. This protection effort has been widely reported by local media and highlighted by outlets like The Wire and India Today.
Despite these efforts, some Indian media outlets have reported misleading headlines such as “Muslims attacking temples and threatening minorities” and “Students involved in temple attacks post-violence.”
Siddharth Bhardwaj, the editor of The Wire, explained to Al Jazeera that while there have been genuine and localized reports of attacks on Hindu places of worship, Indian media often exaggerates the scale and scope of these incidents. “Indian media sometimes uses the situation in Bangladesh to push their own political agendas, portraying the unrest as part of a larger international conspiracy involving Pakistan and China aimed at undermining India and Hindus,” Bhardwaj added.
Noreesh Farnandez, editor at the Indian news portal Scroll.in, noted that Hindu nationalist supporters in India are using the situation in Bangladesh as a platform to propagate their own agendas. “They claim that the fall of Hasina’s government is part of an international plot, which is a fabrication meant to justify their own ideological goals,” Farnandez said.
Despite the challenges, Bhardwaj emphasized that the genuine concerns about minority protection in Bangladesh are overshadowed by these exaggerated narratives. “The concerns about minority protection are real, but the portrayal by some Indian media outlets is not accurate,” he concluded.[3]
Similar allegation in the past
This type of misinformation is not new. Previously, similar allegations were investigated by Odhikar, a Bangladeshi human rights organization that was banned by the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Odhikar’s 2010 annual report documented the deaths of six members of the minority community and injuries to 384 individuals. In a subsequent 2011 report, Odhikar detailed an incident on January 13, 2011, in which Hindu shops in Jhenaidah were attacked by activists of the ruling Awami League, resulting in 20 injuries. The violence was reportedly triggered by the activists’ belief that the Hindus did not vote for their candidate.
By 2012, such attacks had become more frequent and were no longer limited to ordinary party members. They involved high-ranking officials from the Awami League, including its student wing (Chhatra League) and youth wing (Jubo League), often with the complicity of security and local administrative officials. Many of these incidents were reported in the mass media.
A recent analysis of anti-minority violence on the website Desh Rights reveals a troubling trend in Bangladesh. The attacks, carried out in broad daylight by well-known local figures rather than anonymous assailants, indicate a disturbing pattern of targeting minorities for political gain. Despite the extensive documentation of these attacks, there has been a lack of challenge from the political and intellectual elite against the government.
Communal violence has surged following major political unrest in Bangladesh. After the 2001 national elections, there were notable incidents of violence against Hindus as part of post-election unrest, which garnered international attention. Similarly, in 2012, 2013, and 2014, Bangladesh witnessed severe violence, including the Ramu incident of 2012, attacks on Hindus in February 2013 following a death sentence for a Jamaat-e-Islami leader, and violence after the 2014 national elections. The government and pro-government organizations have often blamed opposition groups and Islamists for these attacks.
Recent developments suggest that the ruling authorities are exploiting the chaotic situation for political gain rather than prosecuting the real perpetrators. Unlike the 2001 Four Party Alliance Government, which did not hold the opposition accountable for large-scale communal violence, the current Awami League Government is placing sole responsibility on the opposition for recent events. This strategy appears more aimed at recovering political capital than ensuring justice.
In some cases, pro-government and Awami League supporters were seen near attack sites before and after incidents, while Jamaat-e-Islami activists were reportedly protecting Hindu temples. Evidence also indicates that some attacks on Hindu families were driven by personal interests rather than purely political motives. Given these complexities, a prompt and impartial judicial investigation is essential to restore justice and address the root causes of the violence.[4]
A National Effort to Maintain Harmony
Despite the spread of misinformation and isolated incidents of violence, the Bangladeshi government, political parties, students, and the general public are working together to protect minority communities and uphold the nation’s legacy of communal harmony. The public’s efforts to guard temples, homes, and businesses, coupled with the outreach from political leaders to reassure minorities, demonstrate Bangladesh’s enduring commitment to peaceful coexistence.
Rana Dasgupta, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, praised the students for their proactive measures to protect minority communities and urged them to continue their efforts until a new government is established. He also encouraged other community leaders to follow suit.
In Sunamganj, Shariatpur, Habiganj, and other districts, local activists from Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir have been safeguarding temples at night, ensuring that Hindu families remain safe. These actions have been warmly received, with many expressing a desire to continue living together in harmony, free from religious conflicts.
As Bangladesh navigates this period of political change, the nation’s collective resolve to protect its diverse communities and combat misinformation remains strong. The ongoing efforts to maintain peace and security are a testament to the deep-seated values of unity and tolerance that define the country.
[1] বাংলাদেশে সংখ্যালঘু নির্যাতনের গুজবে সয়লাব এক্স, অধিকাংশ অ্যাকাউন্টই ভারতীয় (ajkerpatrika.com)
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYVjQvjNJy4
[3] ঢাকেশ্বরী মন্দিরে জামায়াতের আমির, হিন্দু নেতারা বললেন, কী দোষ করেছি আমরা | প্রথম আলো (prothomalo.com)
[4] http://odhikar.org/statistics/statistics-on-repression-against-religious-minority/
