Bangladesh has confirmed a worrying rise in communal violence targeting minorities, particularly Hindus, with 88 incidents reported between August 5 and October 22. The confirmation came on Tuesday from Bangladesh’s interim government, following growing concerns raised by India about the safety and welfare of its neighboring country’s minority communities. Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary to interim head of government Muhammad Yunus, revealed that 70 people have already been arrested in connection with these incidents.
The disclosure follows meetings between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and the Bangladeshi leadership, where Misri had voiced India’s concerns regarding the rising attacks on Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. During these discussions, India flagged the escalating violence and urged Bangladesh to take decisive steps to protect its minorities.
Alam stated that the majority of the reported incidents occurred after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in August, and these attacks were largely directed at Hindu communities. However, he clarified that some of the incidents involved individuals who had been associated with the previous ruling party or were the result of personal disputes, rather than being solely driven by religious animosity. Despite this, Alam acknowledged the violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, and assured that the police were taking appropriate action.
The government also stated that the number of cases and arrests is expected to rise, as new incidents of violence have been reported from areas like northeastern Sunamganj and central Gazipur, among others. Alam also mentioned that some of the victims of these attacks may have been members of the former ruling party, though the government continues to emphasize that Hindus were not specifically targeted for their faith in most of these incidents. He added that further details regarding incidents that occurred after October 22 will be shared soon.
The wave of violence against Hindus and other minority groups, along with the desecration of temples in recent weeks, has raised significant alarm in New Delhi. This surge in attacks has intensified concerns about the security of Bangladesh’s Hindu community and has added strain to the already tense bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh. Misri, who arrived in Dhaka on Monday for annual foreign office consultations with his counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin, expressed India’s deep concerns over the matter. Additionally, the recent arrest of monk Chinmoy Krishna Das has further complicated the situation and triggered strong reactions both domestically and internationally.
