Relief under Siege in Rangpur: Hindu Dharmaguru Threatened by Bangladeshi Forces as Grassroots Organisations overcome State Obstruction to Aid Displaced Hindu Families

Updated: 07 August, 2025 3:22 am IST

Mob Violence against Hindu Families over Unverified Blasphemy Allegations — Rangpur, July 26–28, 2025

At least 20 Hindu families in Betgari Union, Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur District, were left homeless and destitute after three days of targeted communal violence triggered by a blasphemy allegation against an 18-year-old Hindu youth. The attacks, marked by looting, arson and religious desecration, led to the displacement of over 50 Hindu families. At least three shops owned by Hindus, along with several Tulsi Manchas (sacred brick altars traditionally used in Hindu households for worshiping the Tulsi plant) were also vandalized.

Saturday, July 26, 2025 – The Spark

Ronjon Roy, an 18-year-old Hindu student, was accused of posting derogatory content about the Prophet Muhammad on Facebook using an account named ‘Ronjon Roy Lrm’.
That evening, a group of local Muslims, armed with sticks and makeshift weapons, attacked and vandalized a Hindu house, mistakenly believing it to be Ronjon Roy’s residence.
In an attempt to defuse the escalating tensions, Police arrested Ronjon Roy without verifying the authenticity of the alleged Facebook post [2].
Investigative journalists, including fact-checker Shohanur Rahman, later revealed that the posts had originated from a duplicate Facebook account, created to mimic Roy’s identity.

“The new profile had copied Ronjon’s photos and uploaded several posts that could be considered blasphemous” Rahman had stated [1].
No action was taken against those who created the fake account and circulated the fabricated content used to frame Ronjon Roy under false blasphemy charges.

Sunday, July 27, 2025 – Violence Erupts

At approximately 4:30 PM, a mob of 500–600 people had gathered outside Hindu homes in Betgari Union.
Hindu households were systematically looted and vandalized.
Three Hindu-owned shops—belonging to Dijen, Manoranjan, and Krishna Chandra Roy—were also ransacked.
The food, furniture, savings, and personal belongings of 20 Hindu families were looted or vandalized, leaving them penniless and destitute.
When law enforcement attempted to restore order, the Islamist mob turned on them, injuring three policemen—one of whom had to be hospitalized in critical condition. Local Hindus allege that after offering brief resistance, the police fled the scene, abandoning the defenseless Hindu families.

Monday, July 28, 2025 – Second Wave of Attacks

Mobs returned in the evening, armed with sticks and country-made weapons, launching a second round of looting and intimidation.
Over 50 Hindu families fled the area fearing further violence.
Police and army forces were eventually deployed to restore order, but no significant arrests were made. Most of the perpetrators managed to escape the area.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) Al Emran, head of Gangachara Police Station, admitted to allowing the mob to gather, believing it was a peaceful procession:

“They attacked suddenly after afternoon prayers. One policeman was seriously injured,” he said. He further added that the Muslim mob had carried out the attack, following the conclusion of afternoon Namaz

Hindu families who lost everything:

Family Head	Family Members
Ranjan Roy	5
Joychand Roy	2
Panchanan Mahanta	3
Babul Chandra Roy	5
Kishore Chandra Roy	3
Rabin Chandra Roy	3
Manik Mahanta	6
Atul Roy	10
Dharanikanta Mahanta	4
Dhananjay Roy	4
Subol Chandra Roy	4
Kamalakanta Roy	6
Manoranjan Roy	13
Liton Roy	3
Haridas Roy	4
Harikishore Roy	4
Abhilash Roy	3
Amrita Mahanta	5
Jayanta Mahanta	4
Pramod Mahanta	4
	104

Security Personnel and Administration oppose Distribution of Relief and Rehabilitation efforts; threaten Hindu Dharma Guru Sri Gopinath Das Brahmachari

A team of over 200 humanitarian volunteers, led by Hindu Dharma Guru Sri Gopinath Das Brahmachari, arrived in Aldadpur village, Rangpur, to deliver urgently needed relief and rehabilitation support to displaced and impoverished Hindu families on the early morning of 4^th August. The delegation included members of Hindu Rights and humanitarian organisations like Bangladesh Shommilita Sanatani Adhikar Andolon, Bangladesh Sankhalaghu Adhikar Party, Sanatani Adhikar Andolon, and Hindu Voice. Relief items such as rice, lentils, oil, soap, puffed rice, shampoo, and clothing were to be distributed to victims who had been driven from their ancestral homes.

The visiting teams also began documenting testimonies of affected families and collecting contact information to coordinate the rehabilitation of displaced families. As news of Sri Gopinath Das Brahmachari’s presence spread, a huge crowd of local Hindus gathered to seek his blessings and share their pain. They pleaded to be addressed at the Aldadpur Government Primary School grounds, asking, in collective anguish [3]:

“Will we be allowed to live in peace with even the minimum dignity of life?”

However, before the planned distribution could take place, hundreds of security personnel—including members of the Army, Police, NSI, and Ansar, accompanied by local Muslims—arrived at the site and forcibly halted the relief efforts. Sri Gopinath Das Brahmachari and senior leader Prasenjit Halder were taken into a nearby classroom by army officials and threatened with arrest.

According to Halder:

“A colonel—without a name badge—pulled us aside and threatened to tear down our banner and arrest us. He even behaved disrespectfully with Gopinath Prabhu. The presence of hundreds of local Hindus and over 200 volunteers was the only reason we were not arrested on the spot.”

No official aid or compensation has yet been extended to the Hindu victims by the unelected interim government, and this obstruction by state forces further underscores the atmosphere of systemic discrimination [4].

Sri Gopinath Das Brahmachari publicly expressed his deep disappointment with the security personnel and administration, stating that they were actively working to sabotage humanitarian assistance [5]. Army officers claimed they were “acting under orders from above” and prohibited any public address or congregation at the school.

Aftermath:

Despite threats and surveillance, volunteers were able to distribute relief materials door-to-door during the nights of 5 and 6 August, ensuring that aid reached the affected families. A second phase of rehabilitation and support is scheduled to begin on 10 August, focusing on facilitating the safe return of displaced Hindus to their homes and lands.

This incident raises grave concerns about the role of state actors in suppressing relief work and intimidating minority leaders, even in times of humanitarian crisis.

The international community must:

Hold Bangladeshi authorities accountable for the intimidation of humanitarian workers and the misuse of state security forces.
Uphold the rights of religious minorities, including their fundamental right to receive humanitarian aid without interference or discrimination.
Guarantee unhindered access for civil society organizations and community leaders to provide assistance and support to displaced and vulnerable populations.