There has been a worrying rise in Islamic extremism in Bangladesh, leading to an increase in violence against minorities, especially Hindus. The political vacuum following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has allowed Islamist parties to gain strength.
The situation in Bangladesh is dire for the Hindu community. There were numerous reports of violence and killings by extremist mobs. For example, during the recent Durga Puja celebrations, there were a series of attacks on the Hindu community, including an attack on the Puja Mandap. Three people were injured when miscreants attacked a procession immersing themselves in idols in Dhaka’s old city. Additionally, there have been reports of bomb attacks on puja mandaps and other acts of violence targeting the Hindu community.
On October 2, miscreants destroyed three idols being constructed for Durga Puja at Palpara Durga Mandir in Sujanagar, Pabna. According to a report by temple committee chairman Vision Pal, the idol’s hands and head were damaged. Islamic extremist groups in Bangladesh have issued threats against the minority Hindu community, urging them not to openly celebrate Durga Puja and opposing a national holiday for the festival.
These incidents raised serious concerns about the safety and security of ethnic minorities in the country. This situation requires urgent action to protect Bangladesh’s Hindu minority. This is a deeply worrying issue that highlights the need for stronger measures to ensure the safety and rights of all communities.
Hindu minorities say the Bangladeshi government has taken no action against the extremists, who have escalated attacks since the fall of the previous government led by Sheikh Hasina. For the theft of a golden crown from the Jeshoreshwari Kali temple in Satkhira district in southern Bangladesh on October 10, the Yunus government has rather placed the blame on the temple’s management, with monks and temple staff People are questioning why such valuable possessions were left unprotected. In Ramganj, Lakshmipur district, Bangladesh, four to five children, aged eight to nine, attending a local school or madrasa, were arrested for vandalizing Durga Puja idols. Administrators highlighted troubling thinking within the community and suggested that children were being encouraged to destroy idols for rewards. Critics warn that promoting hatred towards art and statues like Mujib’s perpetuates this practice, leading to a cycle of vandalism and intolerance.
Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has dismissed India’s concerns about attacks on Hindus as “unwarranted” and “baseless”. Yunus said the issue was exaggerated and was primarily political rather than communal. But attacks on Hindu temples during Durga puja were so alarming and widespread that, to maintain the appearance that the caretaker government was paying attention, Mr. Yunus responded to vandalism during the celebrations. Had to visit Dhakeshwari temple.
Recent threats against Hindus in Bangladesh have escalated dramatically, with extremist groups warning Hindus to leave the country within seven days or face violence. Incidents include public sexual abuse of Hindu women, vandalism of homes and places of worship, and the arson of the Indira Gandhi Cultural Center and its 21,000 books. The government led by Muhammad Yunus downplayed these atrocities and released radicalized terrorists from prison. There are alarming reports of kidnappings and forced resignations of Hindu officials. There are growing calls for Indian intervention, including proposals for the Balkanization of Bangladesh and the establishment of a Hindu autonomous region.
