Save Hindus in Bangladesh

 OHCHR received second-hand reports alleging incidents of sexual violence targeting women from distinct religious and indigenous communities, particularly after 5 August.421 Despite extensive efforts, OHCHR was unable to obtain first-hand testimonies, nor corroborate these allegations with additional information, nor could it establish exact dates for the alleged incidents. Safety concerns and the difficulty of accessing remote areas where victims were unwilling or unable to come forward due to fear of reprisals or social ostracism posed significant challenges. In alleged cases involving victims with disabilities or where the primary contacts were close relatives, such as a father or husband, obtaining victims’ consent or confidential accounts was nearly impossible, as privacy could not be guaranteed. These obstacles severely limited OHCHR’s ability to conduct thorough, trauma-informed interviews that prioritized victims' safety and confidentiality. The recurrence of these allegati...

 There has been a longer record of attacks on places of worship, especially temples and shrines, in Bangladesh.419 In terms of the period under consideration in this report, between 5 and 15 August, media and other local sources reported attacks on places of worship associated with Hindu, Ahmadiyya, Buddhist and Christian communities across several regions. According to information submitted to OHCHR, in Burashardubi, Hatibandha, Lalmonirhat three temples were attacked and set ablaze, along with the looting of approximately 20 houses, reflecting significant levels of community unrest. There was also an arson attack in Meherpur on a temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Specific incidents reported to OHCHR also underlined the complexities surrounding these attacks. For example, the Kali temple in Nandipara was attacked on August 7, but, upon investigation, it became clear that the damage stemmed not from religious intolerance, but rather a local dis...

 In the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), land conflicts and policies promoting the relocation of Bengalis from lowland areas to the CHT, often with the backing of the military, have marginalized local communities, sparking long-standing struggles. These communities are considered indigenous peoples by United Nations human rights mechanisms. 414 The Government of Bangladesh rejects the term indigenous and recognises these communities as ethnic minorities under the Constitution. A Peace Accord reached in 1997 was never fully implemented, and military presence and internal conflicts persist.415 In the days following the unrest, indigenous people encountered harassment from Bengalis, amid accusations of loyalty to the former Government. Tensions had been escalating since mid-July 2024, driven in part by protests over the quota system but also misinformation campaigns. These campaigns included a fabricated claim that a Bengali student had been denied admission in favour of an indigenous st...

 The Ahmadiyya Muslim community emphasizes its inclusion within the broader Muslim community, but still experience hostility and discrimination by some adhering to other Islamic schools of belief. This community faced targeted violence in the aftermath of the protests, with seven incidents reported between 5 and 9 August.412 OHCHR received credible allegations that, on August 5, a group led by religious clerics attacked several members of Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh district and caused the destruction of 117 houses and a mosque, with significant additional property losses. OHCHR also documented the case of a 16-year-old boy who was severely injured during this 5 August attack in Panchagarh. Following the attack, he had to undergo brain surgery and experienced fluctuating health, later dying from his injuries413 OHCHR is not aware of any steps taken by the authorities to ensure accountability for these incidents, including for the killing of the boy.

 In the aftermath of the former Government’s fall, widespread attacks were reported against Hindu homes, businesses, and places of worship, especially in rural and historically tense areas such as Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat, and Dinajpur, but also in other places such as Sylhet, Khulna, and Rangpur. This destruction was especially prevalent in areas perceived to be sympathetic to the Awami League, as Hindus have often been stereotypically associated with this political faction . OHCHR interviewed Hindu business owners and homeowners in some of these areas, who reported that their businesses, houses, land and religious sites had been targeted, while shops owned by Hindus were also looted. The violence often involved property destruction, arson, and physical threats, compounded by insufficient police responses, suggesting systemic impunity and potential political motives.405 For instance, one interviewee said that Hindu funeral sites and temples were vandalized in Thakurgaon, and other ...

On the morning of January 1, Hossain Tipu entered a temple chanting "Hare Krishna." He pretended to pray there before starting to vandalize the idols. During this time, he attacked a female priest of the temple. Once again, an incident of looting at a Hindu temple has taken place in Bangladesh. This time, the incident occurred in the Barlekha Upazila of Moulvibazar, where the idols at the Shri Shri Gauranga Mahaprabhu Sebashram temple were vandalized, and looting was carried out. According to reports, the police have arrested Hossain Tipu, a resident of Gaziteka, in connection with the incident. The president of the temple committee, Kripasindhu Dutta, alleged that on January 1, Hossain Tipu entered the temple in the morning while chanting "Hare Krishna." He pretended to engage in worship and then began smashing the idols. During this attack, the priest, Leela Rani Dutta, was injured. It was alleged that Hossain pushed Leela Devi to the ground. He then took valuable...

  The Hindu monk and spiritual leader has become the centre of significant controversy in Bangladesh following his arrest. Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari gained recognition for his skills as a child orator. Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former ISKCON priest and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilita Sanatani Jagran Jote, was arrested on November 25 by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's detective branch. The Hindu monk and spiritual leader was arrested on a sedition charge, which stems from his actions at a rally held in Chittagong in October. Accused of disrespecting the Bangladesh flag, the case was lodged under the country's 1860 Penal Code.  Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, known within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) community as Sri Chinmay Krishna Prabhu, is an influential religious leader in Bangladesh. As President of Pundarik Dham, he has long been a voice for those seeking religious freedom and minority protection. He previously hel...

Dhanmondi 32, the famous house-turned-museum in Dhaka, had a special place in Bangladesh’s politics. It served as founding father Mujibur Rahman’s house and was the centre of all his political activities until he died in 1975. But now, it has been reduced to ruins after vandals set fire to it and then destroyed it with hammers and shovels People watch as others take away the metals and electric wirings from Dhanmondi 32, the vandalised residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh's former leader and the father of the country's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. AP August 5, 2024, marked a turning point in Bangladesh’s political landscape, as students’ protests led to the downfall and eventual ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. On that day, her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house, Dhanmondi 32, was attacked, vandalised, and set on fire by angry mobs. Now, almost six months later, the historic house at  Dhaka’s Dhanmondi 32  has once again been a...

  Bangladeshi Hindus – seen as allies of ousted PM Sheikh Hasina – face mounting threats, amid anti-India sentiments. An India-based disinformation campaign isn’t helping them. Krishna Das, a small-scale farmer from Monglargaon village in Sunamganj, stands outside his ruined home  and recalls the mayhem caused by a Muslim mob following an alleged blasphemy incident. His family was  forced to flee in fear [Mehedi Hasan Marof/Al Jazeera] Dhaka, Bangladesh –  Krishna Das had never imagined that his peaceful life in Sunamganj, a northeastern district of Bangladesh, would come crashing down on a seemingly ordinary Tuesday evening last week. The trigger was an allegation of blasphemy. A young Hindu man, Akash Das, had allegedly posted an insulting comment about the Quran on Facebook. The comment quickly spread across social media, igniting protests and escalating tensions, particularly in the predominantly Muslim community of Dowarabazar, about 270km (168 miles) from the n...