Bangladesh has confirmed 88 incidents of communal violence against minorities, primarily Hindus, following the removal of then-premier Sheikh Hasina in August, according to Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary for interim government head Muhammad Yunus. The violence, which occurred between August 5 and October 22, has resulted in 88 cases being filed and 70 arrests, with these numbers expected to rise as new incidents are reported in regions such as Sunamganj and Gazipur.
The disclosure came a day after India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, raised concerns about the safety and welfare of minorities during his meetings with Bangladesh’s leadership. “The attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, have raised serious concerns in New Delhi,” Misri conveyed, describing the incidents as regrettable.
Alam further clarified that while some of the attacks targeted individuals who were former members of the ruling party, others appeared to be linked to personal disputes. “Although there were some incidents where Hindus were attacked, these were not necessarily due to their religious identity. Some of the violence was related to political affiliations or personal conflicts,” Alam said.
Despite the rising number of incidents, the government has maintained that the attacks on Hindus were not motivated solely by religious intolerance. “Violence occurred in certain situations, but the police are taking appropriate action,” Alam stated, adding that details about incidents after October 22 would be shared soon.
The recent spate of violence, including attacks on temples, has triggered strong concerns in neighboring India, which has called for urgent measures to protect minority communities in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government’s response to these incidents and the ongoing investigation will be closely monitored as tensions surrounding minority rights continue to escalate.
