Fear, Violence, Discrimination and Silence : The Daily Horrors of Being Hindu in Bangladesh

Updated: 10 July, 2025 4:02 pm IST

Ground reports from local Hindu organisations and courageous citizen journalists confirm that at least 9 atrocities like abduction of Hindu women, murder of people suspected to be associated with Hindu organisations, continuous denial of jobs to deserving Hindu candidates, loot and molestation of Hindu woman, hurting religious sentiments, targeted robbery and assault as well as dog-whistling against prominent Hindu personalities have occurred across Bangladesh during the last 72 hours. Systematic and state-sponsored atrocities against the indigenous Hindu minorities have continued uninterrupted in Bangladesh since the late 1940s. Only 1 out of the 9 abovementioned atrocities find any mention in the so-called mainstream media of Bangladesh. International attention and concern towards the plight of native Bangladeshi Hindus have been mostly limited to superficial statements and condemnations.

Being Hindu in Bangladesh :

“ Getting justice or compensation for damages in Bangladesh is nearly impossible for us Hindus. There is always a fear that something like what happened to the poor woman in Cumilla (gang-raped by 5 Islamists inside her house on 26^th June) or Paresh Chandra Shil (an elderly barber who was assaulted and then arrested on fabricated charges of blasphemy) or worse would happen to us and no one will be there to help us. In addition to the fear of being assaulted, robbed, murdered and raped, we are humiliated and discriminated against because of our Hindu identity. “

A Hindu victim of violence and arson from AbhayNagar in Jashore

“ We keep hearing slurs like Malaun (people cursed by Allah), cow-piss drinkers, anti-nationals and foreign agents and these labels are used to justify anti-Hindu pogroms and other atrocities against us. A significant percentage of our so-called muslim brothers and sisters regard the people performing the atrocities as nationalist heroes and consider covering up atrocities against Hindus as an act of patriotism”

A Hindu educator from Chattagram who had lost his job because of being a “ Dedaiya Halarfoya” (another slur commonly used against Hindus)

An overwhelming majority of the Bangladeshi Hindu population have to deal with humiliation and discrimination in their day-to-day life and live in fear of being murdered, robbed, abducted, forcibly displaced or raped.

Known Atrocities against Hindus from 7^th to 10^th July :

Inspite of specifically mentioning that they wanted only mutton Biriyani 4 Hindu men were served beef biriyani in the Chandpur Kacchi Dine restaurant without even informing them on 7^th July [1]. Hurting Hindu religious sentiments by mislabelling beef as mutton is a frequently used tactic to hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.
A gang of Islamists had broken into the house of Mahadev Karmakar in Kaliganj of Satkhira District during the intervening night of 6^th and 7^th July. Mahadev Ji and his family members were beaten with iron rods. The aggressors looted 10 tolas of gold and cash. Locals accuse the police of not taking any action against the Islamists.

A politician of the extremist Islamist party with a secular sounding name NCP (Narional Citizens Party) Hasnat Abdullah termed the Hindu editor of Kalbela Santosh Sharma as an “Indian spy” and falsely accused him of being involved in the “extra judicial killings” of July, 2024 [2].
A CCTV video from Chattagram captured 2 Islamists cornering a Hindu woman in an alleyway, snatching her ornaments and then attempting to molest her on 08.07.2025 [3].
Family members of Subhamita Rani, a Hindu girl from Magura had filed a police complaint mentioning that she was kidnapped by a muslim boy from the same area. As of 10^th July, the police has no lt taken any action or initiated any investigation.

Family members of a minor Hindu girl Mukta Rani Baishnab from Shalla of Sunamganj accuse Rashedul Islam of abducting her. Even after filing a police complaint, they have not received any help as of July 10^th.
Inspite of securing the first rank the BCS Exam, Pulak Deb is being denied a Government Job for over 1 year and 2 months. In an interview to Bangla News and other mainstream media, he mentions how the concerned authorities are ignoring all attempts to communicate with them [4].
The mortal remains of 20-year old Tushar Chandra Roy were recovered from Lalmonirhat on 09.07.2025. Originally from Pirgacha in Rangour Division, he was known for having links with Hindu Welfare Organisations. Local allege that he was murdered [5].
A muslim shopkeeper of the Jahanara Bastra Bitan below Choudhury Market had abused and kicked a Hindu woman in the chest for requesting to change a saree in Cox’s Bazar [6].

Conclusion:

Only 1 out of the 9 known atrocities had made it to the national media. None of the victims received any support from the police or administration. To qoute Human Rights Activist Sheikh Farid :

“ Even the most impoverished muslims in Bangladesh have a feeling of superiority and hate towards Hindus. They absolutely refuse to acknowledge that Hindus are their fellow countrymen and deserve basic human rights” [7].

Mere condemnation and statements from the International community is not enough. Decisive actions like strict economic sanctions on Bangladesh and international blacklisting of extremist preachers, politicians and organisations must be taken as soon as possible. It is high time that political parties and people with vested interests stop using the sufferings of Hindu Bangladeshis for furthering their own agenda, like vote bank politics.

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