With only 14 days left until the election, which includes a controversial referendum on constitutional reforms potentially eroding secularism, minority rights leaders have highlighted how violence and intimidation could suppress minority voter turnout.
This comes against a backdrop of the interim governmentโled by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus since August 2024โfacing accusations of aligning with Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, thereby creating an environment where perpetrators of anti-minority violence operate with impunity.
In a poignant press conference held at the Tofazzal Hossain (Manik Mia) Auditorium of the National Press Club in Dhaka on January 29, the Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad (BHBCOP) issued a stark condemnation of the ongoing communal violence targeting religious and ethnic minorities.
The event painted a grim picture of systemic persecution, denial by authorities, and a pervasive culture of impunity fostered by the interim government, which critics allege is backed by Jamaat-e-Islami and jihadist elements.
The press conference, addressed by Acting General Secretary Monindra Kumar Nath, continued this tradition by presenting partial data on attacks from January to December 2025, while extending concerns to the current year and the impending election. Nath expressed gratitude to journalists for amplifying minority voices, underscoring the council’s role in countering official narratives that minimise or deny communal motivations behind the atrocities.
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The BHBCOP provided a chilling compilation of 522 documented communal incidents in 2025, drawn from national newspapers and media reports. This figure, described as partial, reveals a pattern of targeted aggression against Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and indigenous communities:
– Murders: 61 incidents resulting in 66 deaths.
– Sexual Violence: 28 cases of rape, gang rape, and harassment of women.
– Attacks on Places of Worship: 95 incidents involving assaults, idol vandalism, looting, and arson.
– Land Grabs on Religious Sites: 21 attempts or successful occupations of temple lands.
– Attacks on Homes and Businesses: 102 cases of assaults, vandalism, looting, and arson.
– Kidnappings, Extortion, and Torture: 38 incidents.
– Threats and Assaults: 47 cases.
– Arrests and Persecution Under Blasphemy Allegations: 36 individuals.
– Forced Evictions and Property Seizures: 66 incidents.
– Other Incidents: 29 miscellaneous acts of violence.
These statistics underscore the severe plight of minorities, who face not only physical harm but also economic ruin and displacement. Women and children are particularly vulnerable, with rapes and abductions exacerbating trauma in already marginalised communities.
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The council noted that violence has persisted into 2026, with 42 incidents reported by January 27, including 11 murders, 1 rape, 9 attacks on temples/churches, and 21 assaults on homes/businesses or land grabs.
Specific examples highlighted in the release illustrate the brutality:
– In Satkhira’s Ashashuni, Animesh Sarkar was murdered and hanged from a tree.
– In Natore’s Lalpur, van driver Sukumar was beheaded.
– In Savar’s Ashulia, gold trader Dilip Das was hacked to death in front of his wife.
– In Gopalganj’s Kotalipara, Piyas Majumdar was suffocated.
– In Dinajpur’s Birle, Bhavesh Chandra Roy was beaten to death.
– In Noakhali’s Subarnachar, Subrata Das was brutally hacked.
– In Dinajpur’s Nawabganj, indigenous youth Shubho Soren was murdered.
– In Mymensingh’s Valuka, Dipu Chandra Das was beaten and burned alive over false blasphemy charges, and Bajendra Biswas was shot.
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– In Faridpur’s Saltha, fish trader Utpal Sarkar was killed.
– In Narsingdi, gold trader Prantosh Sarkar was shot.
– In Rajbari’s Pangsha, Amrit Mandal was lynched.
– In Rangpur’s Taraganj, freedom fighter Yogesh Chandra Roy and his wife, Suborna Roy, had their throats slit.
– In Chittagong’s Raojan, 5 Hindu and Buddhist homes were locked and set on fire.
– In Pirojpur Sadar, 5 Hindu homes were torched.
These acts, often involving mobs, reflect a culture of fear where minorities live in constant dread, leading to internal displacement. Students, youth, women, and businessmen are relocating for safety, disrupting lives and livelihoods.
Culture Of Impunity
A core theme of the press release is the interim government’s alleged culture of impunity, enabled by its perceived backing from Jamaat-e-Islami and jihadist factions. The BHBCOP critiqued Chief Adviser Yunus’ January 19, 2026, Facebook post, which claimed only 71 of 645 investigated incidents in 2025 were communal, dismissing the rest (574) as non-communal (e.g., neighbour disputes, land issues, thefts). The post limited communal acts to temple vandalism (38), theft (1), arson (8), threats/idol damage (23), and one murder.
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The BHBCOP condemned this as a “bizarre redefinition” of communalism, restricting it to attacks on worship sites while ignoring broader violence like murders and rapes. They argued this narrative misleads domestic and international audiences, fostering impunity by absolving perpetrators.
Despite reports from UN inquiries, human rights groups, and media confirming communal motives, the government denies or deflects, allowing attackersโoften linked to Islamist elementsโto evade justice.
Notable cases include the arrest of ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari on sedition and murder charges and false cases against BHBCOP General Secretary Advocate Rana Dasgupta, forcing minority leaders into hiding or jail. The council demanded the withdrawal of these cases and the unconditional release of detainees.
Electoral Concerns
With the election looming, the press release warned that ongoing violence could deter minority voters, undermining inclusivity. Minorities, traditionally supporting secular parties, now face intimidation, potentially suppressing turnout. The referendum’s push for reforms diluting secularismโpromoted directly by the government and Election Commissionโwas labelled partisan and unfortunate.
The council issued seven demands to the Election Commission and government:
1. Ensure a level playing field for minority voters and candidates.
2. Ban religious and communal appeals in campaigns, with penalties including candidacy cancellation.
3. Create a safe environment for voting, deploying the army if needed.
4. Designate minority areas as “high-risk” with enhanced security and monitoring cells.
5. Publicise minority protection measures via the media.
6. Prohibit using religious sites for campaigning.
7. Treat hate speech as criminal under relevant laws, with immediate candidate disqualification.
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Additionally, they urged political parties to incorporate eight demands in manifestos, including minority protection laws, commissions, property restitution, reserved seats, anti-discrimination laws, and extra holidays for minority festivals.
The BHBCOP’s press release exposes a humanitarian crisis where minorities endure relentless violence amid governmental denial, perpetuating a culture of impunity under an interim regime accused of Islamist leanings. This not only erodes communal harmony but also threatens democratic processes.
The council’s demands seek to restore faith, but past disappointments breed scepticism. As elections approach, international scrutiny is crucial to prevent further marginalisation and ensure a truly inclusive Bangladesh. Without action, the nation’s wounds risk festering, alienating a significant portion of its population.
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