Muslims are attacking Hindus in Bangladesh amid unrest that has gripped the country. Within 24 hours of the fall of the government, there were reports of Hindus being attacked, their houses and temples ransacked, and their valuables looted in as many as 27 districts of Bangladesh
The country’s former prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, fled the country on Monday after a violent crackdown failed to quell a nationwide movement against her government. As thousands of protesters celebrated her ouster that afternoon, reports began to emerge of retaliation against members of Hasina’s party, the Awami League, and against those seen as her allies, including the Hindu minority.
Tensions between Muslims and Hindus in Bangladesh have boiled over in the past, including violent clashes across the country in 2021, according to a New York Times report.
Bangladesh is a country with approximately 170 million people – 150 million of whom are Muslim and the rest Hindu, Christian, or Buddhist, among others.
This explains why it is so dangerous for people of other faiths: they are severely outnumbered.
In addition to the party’s offices and the homes of its members, the rioters targeted Hindus, torching their homes and vandalizing temples, according to witnesses and local media. Fears of more attacks were amplified in the absence of a government and with law enforcement retreating from sight in many parts of the country.
There were attacks on the homes of Hindus and their temples in at least four districts of Bangladesh, including villages near Chattogram, the country’s second-most-populous city, according to witnesses and the relatives of people whose properties were targeted.
Bangladesh is currently experiencing significant political turmoil and unrest. The situation escalated in early August 2024 when Hasina resigned and fled to India amid widespread protests. The protests, initially sparked by opposition to a quota system in government jobs, transformed into broader anti-government demonstrations, leading to violent clashes and a high death toll.
The military has taken over, with Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus forming an interim government and pledging to investigate the deaths of protesters. The unrest has led to severe security measures, including curfews and restrictions on gatherings and internet usage. There have been significant disruptions to daily life, including transportation, education, and communication services.
Meenakshi Ganguly, the deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch, described the reports of violence against Hindus as “extremely concerning.”
“Hindus are apparently being attacked because they traditionally supported her Awami League party. Bangladeshis came out on the streets to demand an end to authoritarianism, and these attacks undermine their just demand for human rights,” she said.
The hope is that Yunus, the so-called banker for the poor, will bring democracy back to Bangladesh after years of autocratic rule.
On Thursday, he emphasized the need for “discipline” as Bangladesh begins to rebuild.
“Hard work and get it done,” the smiling professor added as he made his way through the airport. “New opportunities have arrived.”
Some observers believe that while the protests have included a range of demands, there is no clear indication of an Islamic revolution taking place.
But Dr. Talaat Fahmi, a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood, welcomed the Islamic revolution.
“In the context of the Muslim Brotherhood’s continuous monitoring of developments in Bangladesh, the group salutes the revolution of the people of Bangladesh which has achieved its first goals by removing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who ruled the country with iron and fire, took lives, and destroyed crops and offspring,” he said in a statement.
“The group looks forward to the people of Bangladesh being able to complete the goals of the revolution and to have the choice of a civilian government that reflects their aspirations away from military interventions and their attempts to control the reins of the country.
“In this regard, the group renews its firm position in supporting the right of peoples to live in freedom, justice, and human dignity.”
The international media, as well as humanitarian and feminist organizations are being accused of being bluntly silent over the genocide and Islamic gender-based violence occurring in Bangladesh.
It is not rare that victims of Islamic patriarchy are ignored and denied any basic acknowledgement to their suffering and personal and collective tragedy.
In the case of Bangladesh, there is no question that the Hindu population is being subjected to abuse and oppression.
It is time for the international community to start paying attention to the Islamic revolution taking place there.