Ever-since Mohammad Yunus took over the interim government on August 8, 2024, following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the country has witnessed a surge in violence against Hindu minorities.
Just type Bangladesh on Google and you’ll see is fire, murder, rape and protests.
Hindu Minorities in Bangladesh, which constitutes up around 8% of the population, are being attacked due to their support to the Awami League, a secular party led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted on August 5, 2024.
After her exit, weak law enforcement created a power vacuum, allowing mobs, often tied to opposition groups like the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, who target Hindu homes, temples, and shops. However, Past political changes between 1992 and 2001 saw similar violence.
Recent Terrifying Scenes in Bangladesh
In the wake of such attacks, a particularly horrific gang-rape incident in Cumilla in June 2025 has sparked widespread protests, with students and minority communities demanding justice and accountability in the matter.
The Cumilla Rape Case
On June 26, 2025, a 21-year-old Hindu woman was allegedly gang-raped in Muradnagar, Cumilla, by five men, including Fazor Ali, a local politician linked to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The assault, which occurred during the Hari Seva festival at the victim’s father’s home, was filmed and shared online, intensifying public outrage.
Key details include:
- Incident and Arrests: Neighbors intervened after hearing screams, but Ali initially fled. Police arrested him in a predawn raid in Dhaka’s Sayedabad area on June 29, 2025, along with four others for circulating the video.
- Protests: Students at Dhaka University, particularly from Jagannath Hall, a dormitory for minority students, held marches on June 29, condemning the assault and demanding justice. Hindu communities, women’s rights groups, and students protested across Dhaka, Bogra, and Cumilla, calling for stricter laws to protect minorities.
- Judicial Response: The Bangladesh High Court ordered the removal of the viral video and directed authorities to provide the victim with protection and medical support.
- Sajeeb Wazed’s Reaction: Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, son and advisor to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, expressed outrage on X, blaming the Yunus administration for a rise in mob attacks, terrorism, and rapes over the past 11 months. He highlighted the Cumilla case as evidence of deteriorating safety for minorities.
Previous Incidents of Violence Against Hindus
Not the first time, but the Hindu community has faced recurring violence, particularly since Hasina’s ouster, with several notable incidents, including:
- August 2024 Attacks: Following Hasina’s resignation on August 5, 2024, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) reported 2,010 incidents against minorities from August 4 to August 20, including attacks on 157 homes, businesses, and 69 temples across 45 districts. Five Hindus were killed, two confirmed as Awami League members.
- Sunamganj Mob Attack: In December 2024, Krishna Das, a Hindu farmer in Sunamganj, saw his home attacked by a Muslim mob over an alleged blasphemy incident involving a Hindu youth’s Facebook post. The Loknath Temple in Dowarabazar was also vandalized.
- Dinajpur Temple Vandalism: In June 2025, the Mahastri Manasa and Durga Temple in Dinajpur was vandalized, described by the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) as an act to terrorize Hindus.
- Lalmonirhat Lynching: In June 2025, a Hindu father and son in Lalmonirhat were attacked by a mob over false blasphemy allegations, prompting protests by Hindu students at Dhaka University.
- Chittagong Hill Tracts: Since August 2024, Hindus and Buddhists in this region have faced increased attacks, with Yunus criticized for downplaying their communal nature.
However, the Yunus administration has faced sharp criticism for its perceived inaction in protecting minorities and stabilizing the country ahead of the 2026 elections. Yunus has been slammed multiple times for his handling of violence against Hindu minorities and broader governance issues.
Why Hindus Are Targeted?
Hindus are often targeted due to their perceived allegiance to Hasina’s Awami League, seen as a secular party compared to the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, which have been criticized for anti-minority stances.
Key reasons include:
- Political Retribution: Hindus, traditional Awami League supporters, are viewed as proxies for the party, making them “soft targets” during political upheavals. A January 2025 police report noted that most of the 1,769 incidents since August 2024 targeted Awami League affiliates, though communal motives are also evident.
- Historical Context: Violence against Hindus has occurred during past political transitions (e.g., 1992, 2001, 2013, 2022), often tied to their support for the Awami League. The lifting of the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami in August 2024 has been cited as emboldening extremist groups.
- Misinformation: False narratives, often spread by Indian media and Awami League supporters like Sajeeb Wazed, exaggerate communal violence to discredit the interim government, but real attacks persist, fueled by a law enforcement vacuum.
Sheikh Hasina’s Ouster and 2024 Protests
Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s longest-serving prime minister, was ousted on August 5, 2024, after 15 years in power. Her ouster from the country has been fuelled by several reasons including:
- Quota Reform Protests: In July 2024, students protested the High Court’s reinstatement of a quota system reserving government jobs for descendants of 1971 freedom fighters, seen as favoring Awami League allies. The movement, led by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, escalated into a broader anti-government uprising over corruption and authoritarianism.
- Violent Crackdown: Clashes resulted in over 1,400 deaths, mostly from security forces’ actions, with 12-13% of victims being children. Hasina’s orders to “curb anarchists with iron hands” intensified the violence.
- Hasina’s Flight: On August 5, as protesters stormed government buildings, including her residence, Hasina fled to India via helicopter with her sister, Sheikh Rehana, after military and police warnings of an impending civil war.
- Interim Government: Muhammad Yunus was appointed interim leader on August 8, supported by students and the military, to oversee reforms and elections by 2026.
What once stood as a fragile yet functioning democracy now lies in ashes. With Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, Bangladesh has plunged into a storm of uncertainty, communal violence, and political chaos. As the nation spirals further into chaos, one haunting question remains—how long can Bangladesh survive this descent into darkness?