A police report has revealed that most attacks on minorities since August 4, 2024, were politically motivated. The government has already pledged compensation for the victims of these incidents.
The report, published by the police on Saturday (January 11), noted that the interim government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward communal attacks. The Prime Minister’s Press Wing stated, “The interim government has instructed the police to arrest the perpetrators of any communal violence.” The government also reiterated its promise to compensate the victims of these attacks.
The report emphasized the interim government’s commitment to upholding human rights irrespective of religion, ethnicity, race, gender, or gender identity.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council claimed that 1,769 communal attacks and acts of vandalism had been carried out against minorities in the country. These included 2,010 incidents targeting the lives, properties, and places of worship of minority communities.
The police have collected the complaint list prepared by the Unity Council and contacted the individuals and authorities allegedly targeted in the violence. Police have investigated each location, institution, and individual listed by the council.
The report mentioned that victims were urged to file complaints with the police, and their safety has been ensured. Based on the investigations, general diaries, formal cases, and other legal measures have been taken.
Out of 1,769 complaints, the police have filed preliminary cases for 62 incidents, resulting in the arrest of at least 35 offenders. The investigation found that most attacks were politically motivated rather than communal.
According to the findings, 1,234 incidents were politically driven, 20 were communal, and 161 complaints were proven false.
The Unity Council reported that 82.8% of the total incidents (1,452 cases) occurred on August 5, 2024, the day Sheikh Hasina was ousted from power. They recorded 65 incidents on August 4 and 70 on August 6. Outside the Unity Council’s tally, police documented 134 communal violence complaints between August 5, 2024, and January 8, 2025.
The police have taken legal action in response to these complaints, filing 53 cases and arresting 65 offenders. In total, 115 cases have been filed and at least 100 individuals have been arrested for communal violence since August 4.
The Press Wing added that the police have launched a WhatsApp number for receiving communal violence complaints. They are in regular contact with minority community leaders, and a focal point at the police headquarters reviews all complaints received via the national emergency hotline 999. The police have pledged to address every complaint with the utmost importance.
Source: BSS
