2024 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence

Following the success of the Non-Cooperation Movement on August 5, 2024, a series of attacks targeting the Hindu community in Bangladesh began. Reports indicated that the violence, driven by political or random factors, coincided with a broader breakdown of law and order across the country. These attacks specifically targeted homes, businesses, and temples belonging to Hindus. Between 200-300 houses and businesses and 15-20 temples belonging to the Hindu community were attacked by mobs in at least 52 of the country's 64 districts since 5 August. As of 13 August, at least five people from the Hindu community have been killed in these attacks.

In the wake of Sheikh Hasina's resignation as Prime Minister, Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance announced that Hindus across the country faced a surge of attacks, with 278 reported incidents across 52 of the country's 64 districts .

Attacks

Due to its nominal avowal of secularism, Bangladesh's religious minorities, most notably Hindus tended to favour the centrist Awami League over the right-wing BNP-Jamaat-i-Islami alliance, and so were widely believed to be strong supporters of the Sheikh Hasina regime, since the 2001 anti-Hindu violence orchestrated by the BNP and the 2013 anti-Hindu violence orchestrated by Jamaat. Although during the over 15 years long regime of Sheikh Hasina, they also faced several acts of violence instigated and provoked by the direct and indirect support of local Awami league leaders, most notably 2021 anti-Hindu violence. Nevertheless, only hours after Hasina's departure, communal elements began organising attacks again against Hindus in Bangladesh. In total, according to the Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council, there have been over 200 attacks on Hindus or their properties spread over 52 districts.

On 4 August, Kajal Roy, a Hindu councilor from the Awami League in Rangpur, was killed along with his nephew. Properties, houses and temples belonging to the Hindu community have been burned, looted, or vandalized.

On 6 August, a retired school teacher Mrinal Kanti Chatterjee was killed and wife and daughter injured at their home in Bagerhat Sadar Upazila. In Jessore district, mobs looted 25 shops and houses belonging to Hindus in Nerkelbaria Bazar in Bagherpara Upazila. Mobs burned another 25 shops and houses in Dhalgram union in Bagherpara Upazila, and attacks occurred in several villages of Manirampur and Abhaynagar upazilas. Mobs in Hatiya Upazila of Noakhali district attacked three houses and four businesses belonging to Hindus. More than 100 people attacked the house of a Hindu in Dhamrai upazila. In Kuakata, miscreants attacked the house of a Hindu Awami League leader as well as a temple, while the house of the Kalapara Mayor, Bipul Chandra, came under attack as well. In Natore district, miscreants vandalised and looted six houses and the Jotdaiboki Shib and Kali Temple belonging to Hindus.

In Meherpur, nine houses of Hindus were attacked, including one of an Awami League leader. At least 40 shops belonging to minority communities were looted in Bochaganj Upazila in Dinajpur district. In Chandpur District, miscreants attacked and torched the house of school principal Ratan Kumar Mazumder in Chandpur town and school principal Haripad Das in Faridganj Upazila. In Shariatpur, miscreants destroyed the Dhakua Manasa Bari temple in Shariatpur and attempted to attack Hindu homes, foiled only by the Army's arrival. Miscreants looted homes and businesses belonging to minorities in Koyra Upazila of Khulna District. In Faridpur district's Madhukhali Upazila, miscreants attacked several homes and businesses and damaged a Kali temple, as well as beating up a Hindu homeopathy doctor. In Sadarpur Upazila, two Hindu-owned shops were looted. On 5 August, the 140-year old home of folk singer Rahul Ananda in Dhaka's Dhanmondi was torched along with 3,000 handmade musical instruments, which was initially reported as a communal attack. A Facebook post shared by his band later clarified the fire spread to the house from the adjacent Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, which had been targeted by arsonists.

On 7 August, Hindu houses, businesses and temples were attacked in Chirirbandar, Parbatipur and Birampur upazilas in Dinajpur district. In Gournadi Upazila of Barisal District, miscreants looted a Hindu-owned clothing store and assaulted a Hindu schoolteacher in her home. Arsonists also tried to burn down the home of a prominent Hindu businessman of Barisal city, but were foiled by the locals.

Misinformation by Indian media

Indian media outlets were claimed to be disseminating disinformation regarding attacks on minorities in Bangladesh with an intent to destabilize the country after Hasina's departure. Gobinda Pramanik, president of the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance, criticized the Indian media, suggesting that they inaccurately portrayed the situation. Pramanik stated that the incidents of vandalism targeted only the homes of certain Awami League leaders, both Hindu and Muslim, who had a history of aggressive actions. He further noted that members of opposition parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, were involved in protecting Hindu temples and homes from potential attacks.

BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy also refuted claims made by Indian media that his party is anti-Hindu, asserting that the BNP has been inclusive of all communities in Bangladesh and has consistently supported all religious groups. He highlighted his own role as a former minister in a BNP-led government and as a member of the party's highest decision-making body.

Numerous India-based social media accounts circulated several misleading videos and images about attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus, using hashtags such as #AllEyesOnBangladeshiHindus and #SaveBangladeshiHindus, which were subsequently debunked by several fact-checking organizations. A false report also claimed that the house of Bangladeshi cricketer Liton Das had been set on fire, which was later debunked. Das himself refuted the claim in a Facebook post.

Quoting LoP West Bengal Legislative Assembly & BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, several Indian media channels renowned for their loyalty towards the ruling party falsely claimed that more than 10 million Bangladeshi Hindus are heading towards India to seek refuge, adding that Bangladesh is becoming an "Islamic State". According to Bangladeshi political analyst Zahed Ur Rahman, Indian media viewed the situation in Bangladesh through "their Islamophobic eye", despite the view in Bangladesh that it was a popular movement.

Analysts Farid Erkizia Bakht and Siddharth Varadarajan suggested that India's intent to destabilize Bangladesh through this disinformation campaign stems from the disappointment of losing a valuable ally like Sheikh Hasina and from apprehensions about the new government in the country.

BBC Verify found that while some attacks on minorities were confirmed, many claims were either unverified or exaggerated, highlighting the complexity of the situation and difficulties in accurately assessing the violence.

Reactions

Further information: 2024 Bangladesh Hindu protests

Hindu community demonstrating at Kurigram

Hindu community demonstrating at Shahbagh, Dhaka

The looting and fear of looting of Hindu houses has caused Hindus to attempt to flee. On 7 August, around 700-800 Hindus in Thakurgaon district attempted to leave Bangladesh for India but were stopped at the border by India's Border Security Force (BSF) and returned after promises of safety from Bangladeshi authorities. Later on 8 August, video footage showed 300 Hindus at a border post across from West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district attempting to flee to India who were later dispersed by BSF personnel. On 10 August, another 500-600 Hindus gathered at the border in Hatibandha Upazila of Lalmonirhat district attempting to flee into India but were stopped by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

Starting on 9 August Hindu organisations led protests across Bangladesh against the violence. Large protests took place in Shahbag in Dhaka for two consecutive days. On 10 August a large rally took place in Chittagong to call for an end to the violence. On 11 August further protests were reported from Tangail, Jamalpur, Moulvibazar,, and Bogra. The demonstrators demanded action against the attackers of Hindu temples and properties as well as a 10% for minority communities in seats of the Jatiya Sangsad, formating of foundations for minority religions, return of property seized under the Vested Property Act and a five-day holiday for Durga Puja.

There were also some instances reported of students and members of the Muslim community, including BNP activists and madrasa students standing guard at temples and churches. The coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement distanced themselves from the attacks and pleaded with the people not to carry out such attacks. On 13 August, Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, visited the Dhakeshwari Temple to reassure Hindus that they are equal citizens in Bangladesh.

See also

• Persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh
• 1990 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence
• 2013 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence
• 2014 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence
• 2021 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence
• 2016 Nasirnagar Violence
• Freedom of religion in Bangladesh
• Human rights in Bangladesh