2001 Bangladesh post-election violence

Last updated

2001 Bangladesh post-election violence were a series of violent incidents following the 2001 Bangladeshi general election. The religious minority, the Hindus, were victims of targeted violence by supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

In the 2001 Bangladeshi general election, the ruling Bangladesh Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina was defeated by the opposition party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by Khaleda Zia. Violence broke out between Bangladesh Awami League supporters and supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party with the support of Bangladesh Police. [3]

Incident

The violence mostly occurred in South West Bangladesh which had large Hindu communities. The attacks started after the election victory of Bangladesh National Party. The attacks were systematic with a motive to destroy the economic resources of the Hindu community, terrorize them into fleeing to India, and grabbing their properties. Hindus were targeted in Bagerhat District, Barisal District, Bhola District, Bogra District, Brahmanbaria District, Chittagong District, Feni District, Gazipur District, Jhenaidah District, Jessore District, Khulna District, Kushtia District, Munshiganj District, Natore District, Narayanganj District, Narsingdi District, Pirojpur District, Sirajganj District, Satkhira District, and Tangail District. [4]

In October 2001 in Lalmohan Upazila, Bhola District, Bangladesh Nationalist Party supporters attacked Hindus and Bangladesh Awami League supporters. They looted Hindu houses and houses of Muslims who provided shelter to Hindus. Women and children were raped by the attackers. The attackers looted everything from the houses and cut down trees on the victims properties. [4]

Mohammad Badrul Ahsan wrote in 16 November 2001 about 200 Hindu women were gang raped by members of Bangladesh Nationalist Party in Char Fasson Upazila, Bhola District. The youngest was 8 year old and the oldest was 70 year old. [5] [6] In Tuniaghara, Manirampur Upazila, Jessore District six Hindu families were forced to leave the area and two women were raped. [7]

Reactions and legacy

Newspaper analysis blamed the violence on inadequate law enforcement activities. They also blamed the unpreparedness of the local government and administration to tackle violence. [8]

In 2009, Bangladesh High Court ordered the a judicial investigation into the post election violence. In 2011, the judicial commission submitted the findings of its investigation. The report found evidence of targeted violence against the Hindu community by 25 thousand people which included 25 Ministers and Member of Parliaments of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party-Jamaat-e-Islami led alliance government. The reported was rejected by Bangladesh Nationalist Party and accused the investigation of being partisan. [9]

The commission reported that the number of rapes committed exceeded 18 thousand. The report also notes incidents of violence, arson, looting, and torture against the minority Hindu community of Bangladesh. [10] In 2011, a court in Sirajganj District sentenced 11 individuals to life time imprisonment for the Rape of Purnima Rani Shil in the 2001 post election violence. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh Nationalist Party</span> Political party in Bangladesh

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is a major political party in Bangladesh. Founded on 1 September 1978 by Bangladeshi president Ziaur Rahman with a view of uniting people with a nationalist ideology, BNP later became one of the two dominant parties in Bangladesh, along with its archrival Awami League. Initially a big tent centrist party, it later moved towards more right-wing politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hinduism in Bangladesh</span> Religion statistics in a country

Hinduism is the second largest religion in Bangladesh, as according to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, approximately 13.1 million people responded that they were Hindus, constituting 7.95% out of the total population of 165.15 million people. In terms of population, Bangladesh is the third-largest Hindu populated country of the world, after the neighboring countries of India and Nepal. Hinduism is the second-largest religion in 61 out of 64 districts of Bangladesh, but there is no Hindu majority district in Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delwar Hossain Sayeedi</span> Bangladeshi politician (1940–2023)

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi was a Bangladeshi Islamic leader, politician and public speaker, who served as a Member of Parliament representing the Pirojpur-1 constituency from 1996 to 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Bangladeshi general election</span>

General elections were held in Bangladesh on 1 October 2001. The 300 seats of the Jatiya Sangsad were contested by 1,935 candidates representing 54 parties and 484 independents. The elections were the second to be held under the caretaker government concept, introduced in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Bangladesh (1971–present)</span> Post-independence history of Bangladesh

The history of Bangladesh (1971–present) refers to the period after the independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami</span> Political party in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, previously known as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, is the largest Islamist political party in Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Bangladeshi general election</span>

General elections were held in Bangladesh on 5 January 2014, in accordance with the constitutional requirement that elections must take place within the 90-day period before the expiration of the term of the Jatiya Sangshad on 24 January 2014.

Ruhul Quddus Talukder "Dulu" is a Bangladeshi politician, lawyer, former deputy minister, and member of parliament representing the Natore-2 constituency. He is the organising secretary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Dulu was born in Natore Sadar Upazila, Natore District. He was a regular practitioner lawyer. Along with his legal career, he was also active in politics. In 1977, he joined the BNP's student organisation, Chhatra Dal.

2012 Chirirbandar violence refers to the attack on the minority Hindu community by Islamic extremists in Chirirbandar Upazila of Dinajpur District in the Division of Rangpur, Bangladesh on 4 August 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence</span> Violence in Bangladesh

On 28 February 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, the vice-president of the Jamaat-e-Islami to death for war crimes committed during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Following the sentence, activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir attacked Hindus in different parts of the country. Hindu properties were looted, Hindu houses were burnt into ashes and Hindu temples were desecrated and set on fire. While the government has held the Jamaat-e-Islami responsible for the attacks on minorities, the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership has denied any involvement. Minority leaders have protested the attacks and appealed for justice. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has directed law enforcement to start suo motu investigation into the attacks. The US Ambassador to Bangladesh expressed concern about attacks by Jamaat on the Bengali Hindu community.

2013 Bangladesh violence refers to the political instability, increase in crime and widespread attacks of minorities and opposition activists.

On 5 January 2014, the 10th general elections were held in Bangladesh. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami had already boycotted the elections. The buildup to the elections were marred by successive strikes and violence by the opposition parties. Victims claimed after the polls, workers and supporters of the opposition parties began attacking the minority Bengali Hindus. Accusing of looting, vandalising and setting the Hindu houses on fire in several districts across the country. Seven persons belonging to the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party were arrested in connection with the attacks. The National Human Rights Commission held the government responsible for the attacks on Hindus after the election. In India, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party condemned the attacks on minorities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sirajganj-1</span> Constituency of Bangladeshs Jatiya Sangsad

Sirajganj-1 is a constituency represented in the Jatiya Sangsad of Bangladesh (Dissolved) By Interim Government Of Bangladesh | Due To July Massacre And flee Of Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League On August 5 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. K. M. Bahauddin</span> Bangladeshi politician

A. K. M. Bahauddin Bahar is a Bangladeshi politician from Awami League and a former Jatiya Sangsad member representing the Comilla-6 constituency. His original name is Abul khayer muhammad bahauddin bahar

2018 Bangladesh election violence refers to a series of brutal attacks, mostly on opposition party candidates and clashes between ruling and opposition party men centering on the general election on December 30, 2018.

The rape of Purnima Rani Shil, then a child, took place during post-election violence against Awami League supporters and religious minorities in 2001.

From 13 to 19 October 2021, Muslim mobs instigated communal violence against Hindu communities across Bangladesh during the Durga Puja festival, in response to a viral video where Quran was kept under a temple idol's feet. More than 50 temples and makeshift worship arrangements were vandalised all over Bangladesh.

Towhidi Muslim Janata is a term that refers to any group of people that forms an informal islamist organization in Bangladesh. These groups are mainly known for violent attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh.

Following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, alleged attacks began on some of the homes, businesses, and places of worship of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. According to analysts, most of these attacks were not communal but a mix of political retributions or general criminal offences amid a law and order crisis in the country. The Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported that from August 4 to August 20, a total of 2,010 incidents of attacks on minorities took place across the country within this 16-day period. Among the incidents, homes of 157 families were attacked, looted, vandalised and set on fire while some of their businesses were also attacked, looted and vandalised. 5 Hindus were killed in these attacks, of which at least 2 were confirmed as Awami League members. Meanwhile, Indian media as well as India-based social media accounts began to disseminate disinformation and propaganda on the attacks; BBC Verify both confirmed some attacks hurt minorities and found that majority claims about the violence were unverified, exaggerated, or misleadingly framed. Fact checkers highlighted the situation's complexity and the difficulties in accurately assessing causes of violence.

2024 Bangladesh post-resignation violence took place after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, during the clashes between the protesters and opposition activists on one side, and the Awami League supporters, government and security officials on the other. On the day of the resignation, 25 police officers were killed. According to the Daily Sun, at least 119, including both the students and Awami League activists, were killed that day. According to Prothom Alo, 1,494 sculptures and monuments were vandalized across Bangladesh after the resignation of Sheikh Hasina.

References

  1. ↑ "Why Bangladeshi elections are a time for violence against minorities". ucanews.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018. The worst violence followed the 2001 election, which BNP and their Jamaat alliance won. Their supporters unleashed a months-long reign of terror, which included killings, rapes and destruction of homes.
  2. ↑ "Minorities targeted in Bangladesh political violence". IRIN. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Post-Election Violence in Bangladesh Kills 3". The New York Times . 4 October 2001. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  4. 1 2 Fazal, Tanweer (2013). Minority Nationalisms in South Asia. Routledge. p. 133. ISBN   9781317966470 . Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  5. ↑ Badrul Ahsan, Mohammad (16 November 2001). "The night of the lost nose-pins". www.hvk.org. The Daily Star. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "Perspectives on Perspective". Star Weekend Magazine. The Daily Star. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Rape Used As Weapon For Land And Votes In Bangladesh". Asian Tribune. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  8. ↑ Fazal, Tanweer (2013). Minority Nationalisms in South Asia. Routledge. p. 135. ISBN   9781317966470 . Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  9. ↑ Ethirajan, Anbarasan (2 December 2011). "Bangladesh panel submits findings". BBC News . Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "2001 violence on HindusCaretakers, BNP, Jamaat blamed". bdnews24.com . Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Bangladesh gang rape convictions". BBC News . 4 May 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.