2025 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence

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2025 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence refers to the wave of systematic violence, discrimination, and human rights violations perpetrated against the Hindu community in Bangladesh during 2025. These acts of violence encompassed a range of criminal activities, including the vandalism of temples and idols, arson and looting of Hindu homes and businesses, murder, rape, harassment, and land grabbing.

Contents

Reports, statistics, and responses

At a press conference on July 10, 2025, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCOP), Bangladesh's largest minority rights organization, reported 258 incidents of violence against minorities during the first six months of 2025, including 20 rapes and 59 attacks on places of worship. The organization further noted that this was part of a broader picture totaling 2,244 incidents of violence during the period from August 4, 2024, to June 30, 2025. [1] BHBCOP directly accused the interim government of "inaction" and "denial" and claimed that the government's strategy of labeling the violence as “political incidents” has further emboldened the perpetrators. [2]

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a Bangladeshi human rights organization, reported 160 attacks on Himdus between January and September 2025; this figure included 60 separate incidents of vandalism targeting Hindu idols. [3]

A UK Home Office report, in its analysis of the statistical discrepancies between the two organizations, noted that this disparity in numbers is due to some incidents being identified as communal violence while others are classified as political violence. [4]

In a factsheet published in July 2025, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) stated that “religious freedom conditions in Bangladesh declined.” Citing BHBCOP's data for the first three months of 2025, USCIRF reported that a total of 92 incidents were documented, including 11 murders, 3 rapes, 25 attacks on temples, and 28 incidents of vandalism. The report identified a “sense of fear” among community members, noting that in some areas, “Hindu women have stopped wearing bangles and bindis to avoid being harassed.” The commission also highlighted the case of Hindu priest Chimnoy Krishna Das Prabhu, who was arrested in November 2024 and had not received bail as of 2025. [5] [6]

An Amnesty International report stated that ‘Religious minorities and Indigenous Peoples faced violence’ and that ‘incidents of mob violence... have continued to destroy the lives of minority communities’. [7]

In July 2025, Human Rights Watch stated that the interim government was ‘falling short’ on its human rights agenda, noting "an alarming surge in mob violence" and "continuing violations against minority communities". [8]

In response to the statistics presented by human rights organizations, the interim government has denied these claims. The Chief Adviser's press wing stated that of 22 minority killings (across 23 incidents), not a single one was linked to communal violence. [9] On September 30, BHBCOP released a statement calling it a "denial of truth" in response to the Chief Adviser describing the violence as 'baseless' in an interview at the United Nations. The council reminded the interim government of the meeting held with them in August 2024 and of the UN fact-finding commission's report in February 2025. [10] [11] On August 7, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) issued a statement criticizing the interim government, saying it had "failed to meet people's expectations." ASK cited a lack of effective measures against nationwide mob terrorism and violence against minorities. [12]

Chronology

January 1: A Muslim man, disguised as a Hindu, entered a temple in Borolekha upazila of Moulvibazar, where he vandalized a murti and looted money and jewelry. The Officer-in-Charge of Borolekha Police Station reported that the individual had been arrested. [13]

January 15: A murti was vandalized at the old Pathaboli temple in Kaliakair, Gazipur. [14]

January 31: A murti of Goddess Saraswati was vandalized at a Kali temple in the Bhatilakshmipur area of Faridpur district. Police from the Faridpur Kotwali Police Station later arrested the alleged vandal, Mohammad Mirazuddin. He had previously been arrested for vandalizing another Hindu temple on February 7, 2024, but was subsequently released, having been declared mentally unstable. [15]

February 3: In Bauphal upazila, Patuakhali, a Hindu woman committed suicide out of distress after being harassed by Ridoy Rayhan, the son of a local Jatiya Party leader. [16]

February 12: A Kali murti was vandalized at the Dakshin Kalibari temple in Haluaghat upazila, Mymensingh. [17]

February 14: The Sarbajanin Durga temple and Hindu-owned shops in Nazirpur, Pirojpur, were attacked. When Hindus attempted to intervene, 10 people were injured in the ensuing assault by the perpetrators. [18]

February 20: In the Dilalpur area of Pabna city, perpetrators broke the lock of the Shri Shri Rakshakali Mata temple, entered, and vandalized the murti inside on two separate occasions. Police arrested a leader of the Swechhasebak Dal in connection with the incident. [19]

March 1: A murti was vandalized at the Shikha Smriti Sarbajanin Durga temple in Kazipur, Sirajganj. [20]

March 13: A murti at the Shri Shri Mahamaya temple in Raipur, Lakshmipur, was vandalized. [21] On the same day in Nazirpur, Pirojpur, an Awami League leader and his associates demolished a temple and houses. [22]

March 17: In Raipura upazila, Narsingdi, a Hindu housewife was raped inside her home. The assault was filmed, and she and her husband were threatened with decapitation if they reported the incident. In a joint operation, two teams from RAB-11 CPSC Narsingdi and RAB-14 Bhairab arrested the rapist, Rakib Mia, along with two others. [23] [24]

March 29: In Sakhipur upazila, Tangail, a mob, identifying themselves as 'Tawhidi Janata', gathered after spreading rumors and proceeded to attack, vandalize, and set fire to a Hindu home. [25] The attackers also publicly burned an image of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. [26]

April 14: The garbhagriha (inner sanctum) of the central temple at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) was vandalized. [27]

April 16: Kanti Lal Acharya, the acting headmaster of Haji Tobarok Ali Chowdhury (TAC) High School in Bhatiary, Sitakunda, Chattogram, was forced to sign a resignation letter by a group comprising local BNP and affiliate organization leaders [28]

May 22: Eighteen homes belonging to Hindus in Daharmasihati village, Abhaynagar upazila, Jashore, were set on fire, vandalized, and looted. One victim reported that no administrative personnel arrived for nearly four hours after the arson began. Another victim stated that hundreds of people had attacked the village. [29] [30]

May 31: In Sitakunda, Chattogram, a murti at the Sarbajanin Shri Shri Mahasmashan Kali and Shiva Temple in the hilly village of Jangal Salimpur was vandalized and then set on fire. [31]

June 26: On the eve of the Hindu community's Rath Yatra festival, Bangladesh Railway officials demolished the Khilkhet Durga temple in Dhaka's Khilkhet area with bulldozers. The government's official explanation was that the temple had been constructed on "land owned by Bangladesh Railway" during the 2024 Durga Puja without any prior permission. [32] India's Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned the incident; a ministry spokesperson stated that "extremists" had been pressuring for the temple's demolition and that the interim government, rather than protecting it, permitted its destruction by framing it as "illegal land use." [33] In a joint statement, the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and the Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja Committee called the incident an event that "has created a deep wound in the minds of the Hindu community." [34]

June 26: In a village in Muradnagar, Comilla, perpetrators broke down the door of a residence, then raped and tortured a Hindu woman. They filmed the assault and circulated the video online. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council demanded exemplary punishment for the culprits. [35] [36]

July 21: A 10-foot-high Kali deity was vandalized at the Haludanga Shri Shri Mahasmashan Kali temple in Lalpur upazila, Natore. [37]

July 26: A derogatory post about Muhammad was shared on Facebook from a "fake ID" created in the name of a local Hindu student. Following accusations that the student himself had shared the post, police took him into custody. Subsequently, thousands of Islamists attacked a Hindu locality in Betgari Union of Gangachara upazila, Rangpur. They vandalized, extensively looted (furniture, cattle, cash, gold jewelry), and set fire to 15 to 20 Hindu homes. [38] [39] The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, [40] the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Basad), Mahila Parishad, Udichi Shilpi Gosthi, [41] and faculty and students from various public universities, including Jahangirnagar University, strongly condemned the attack and demanded a fair investigation. [42]

July 29: A murti was vandalized during the night at the Khaskandi Sarbajanin Shri Shri Kali and Durga temple in Kanaipur Union, Faridpur Sadar. [43]

August 7: Murtis were vandalized at two temples in Madaripur Sadar upazila: the Shri Shri Ganesh Pagol temple and the Radhakrishna temple. [44]

September 1: A murti in a temple in Sadullapur upazila, Gaibandha, was set on fire. [45]

September 14: A murti was vandalized at the Rakshakali temple in Swarupdaha Palpara, Mirpur upazila, Kushtia. The perpetrators removed and took the temple's CCTV camera and memory card. [46]

September 16: A portion of a Durga murti was broken at the temporary Kandulia puja mandap in Netrokona Sadar. Police gave assurances that preparations were being made to file a case. [47]

September 17: Perpetrators vandalized six deities at the Kashimpur Smashan (crematorium) temple in Gazipur city. [48]

September 20: Seven deities were vandalized at the Tariapara temple in Sarishabari upazila, Jamalpur. [49]

September 23: The heads of six murtis (sacred statues of deities) were broken in the early morning at the Phulhari Haritala Sarbajanin puja temple in Jhenaidah. Police reviewed CCTV footage and arrested a man named Monjer Ali. [50]

September 25: Four deities were vandalized at the Dararpar Kali temple in Nilphamari. [51]

September 26: A deity was vandalized at a Kali temple in Bishwaspara village, Shivalaya upazila, Manikganj. [52]

October 4: Local Hindus caught a perpetrator red-handed while he was vandalizing three deities, including a Lakshmi deity, at the Daspara temple in Tongibari upazila, Munshiganj. Police subsequently arrested him. [53]

October 8: Perpetrators vandalized a deity at the Shri Shri Lakshmi temple in Sirajdikhan, Munshiganj. The Officer-in-Charge of Sirajdikhan Police Station stated that efforts were underway to apprehend the culprits. [54]

November 8: Eleven deities were vandalized at the Sarbajanin Radhagobinda Raslila temple in Elenga, Kalihati upazila, Tangail. [55] On the same day, Radha-Krishna murtis were vandalized in Nagarkanda, Faridpur. [56]

References

  1. ↑ "Attacks on minorities: 258 incidents in first half of 2025". The Daily Star . 2025-07-11. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  2. ↑ Alam, Julhas (2025-01-30). "Bangladesh minority rights group accuses interim government of failing to protect minorities". The Independent . Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  3. ↑ "Violence Against Religious Minorities January-September 2025" (PDF). Ain o Salish Kendra . Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  4. ↑ Chaudhury, Dipanjan Roy (2025-06-21). "UK report downplays minority persecution in Bangladesh" . The Economic Times . Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  5. ↑ Hasan, Sema. "2025 Factsheet Bangladesh" (PDF). United States Commission on International Religious Freedom . Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  6. ↑ "US says Bangladesh's religious freedom declines". New Age . 2025-11-14. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  7. ↑ "Bangladesh: Interim government must take immediate actions to protect Hindu and other minority communities". Amnesty International . 2024-08-14. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  8. ↑ "Bangladesh: Year since Hasina Fled, Rights Challenges Abound". Human Rights Watch . 2025-07-30. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  9. ↑ "Killings of 23 minorities found to have no link with communal violence: CA press wing". Prothom Alo . 2025-02-03. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  10. ↑ "Minority community leaders denounce Yunus". New Age . 2025-11-15. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  11. ↑ "Violence against Hindus not increased, crime under control: Chief Adviser". Prothom Alo . 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  12. ↑ "One year of interim govt: Rights violations persist amid weak law and order". The Daily Star . 2025-08-08. Retrieved 2025-11-14.
  13. ↑ "Man lands in jail for vandalising idols in Moulvibazar temple". The Daily Star. 2025-01-01. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  14. ↑ "Idol found broken at Gazipur temple". The Daily Star. 2025-01-16. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  15. ↑ পূজার তিন দিন আগে ফরিদপুরে সরস্বতী প্রতিমা ভাংচুর, যুবক আটক. Voice of America - Bengali (in Bengali). 2025-02-01. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  16. ↑ "19-year-old girl dies by suicide". The Daily Star. 2025-02-05. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  17. ↑ হালুয়াঘাটে কালী মন্দিরে প্রতিমা ভাঙচুর. Janakantha (in Bengali). 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  18. ↑ নাজিরপুরে দোকান ও মন্দিরে ভাঙচুর; আটক ৩. Daily Kalbela (in Bengali). 16 February 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "Idol damaged in Pabna temple; one arrested". The Daily Star. 2025-02-24. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  20. ↑ সিরাজগঞ্জে রাতের আঁধারে মন্দিরের প্রতিমা ভাঙচুর. bdnews24.com (in Bengali). 2025-03-02. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  21. ↑ "Youth seen on CCTV detained for vandalizing idol inside Lakshmipur temple". Dhaka Tribune . 2025-03-15. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  22. ↑ আ.লীগ নেতার বিরুদ্ধে মন্দির ভাঙচুরের অভিযোগে মামলা. Daily Inqilab (in Bengali). 2025-03-15. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  23. ↑ "Woman raped in Narsingdi". The Daily Star. 2025-03-17. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  24. ↑ নরসিংদীতে গৃহবধূ ধর্ষণ ও হত্যার হুমকিদাতা রাকিব গ্রেপ্তার. Bangladesh Pratidin (in Bengali). 2025-03-20. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  25. ↑ "Hindu man's house vandalised in Tangail over 'Facebook comment'". The Daily Star. 2025-03-30. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  26. ↑ "Facebook hack, Hindu Saha house vandalized, Goddess Laxmi desecrated". Human Rights Center for Bangladesh. 2025-10-31. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  27. ↑ নোবিপ্রবির উপাসনালয় ভাঙচুর. Rising BD (in Bengali). 2025-04-14. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  28. ↑ "'Cannot sleep at night after seeing video of our father being harassed'". Prothom Alo . 2025-04-18. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  29. ↑ "Fear grip Matua village in Jashore after arson centring BNP leader's murder". jagonews24.com . 2025-05-25. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  30. ↑ Tanvee, Jannatul (2025-05-25). যশোরের অভয়নগরের সংখ্যালঘু মতুয়া হিন্দু গ্রামে আগুন-কী ঘটেছিল. BBC News (in Bengali). Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  31. ↑ সীতাকুণ্ডে একটি মন্দিরে প্রতিমা ভাঙচুর, আগুন. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 2025-06-01. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  32. ↑ "Temporary mandap removed from railway's land in Khilkhet lawfully". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . 2025-06-27. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  33. ↑ "'Grave concerns': India slams Bangladesh over Durga temple demolition in Dhaka; slams Yunus govt of inaction". The Times of India . 2025-06-27. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  34. ↑ Das, Sajal (2025-06-28). ঢাকার খিলক্ষেতে পূজা মণ্ডপ ভাঙা ও উচ্ছেদ নিয়ে কী জানা যাচ্ছে?. BBC News (in Bengali). Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  35. ↑ Singh, Namita (2025-07-01). "Bangladesh reels after rape of Hindu woman filmed and shared online". The Independent . Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  36. ↑ Ng, Kelly (2025-06-30). "Uproar over sexual assault in Bangladesh after video spreads online". BBC News . Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  37. ↑ নাটোরে শ্মশানের কালীমন্দিরে প্রতিমা ভাঙচুর. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 2025-07-22. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  38. ↑ Roy, S Dilip (2025-07-30). "1,200 sued over attack on Hindu homes in Rangpur". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  39. ↑ "Haunted by 2017, hunted again in 2025: Mobs leave Gangachara's Hindu families scarred and scattered". bdnews24.com . 2025-07-30. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  40. ↑ রংপুরের ঘটনায় দোষীদের শাস্তি দাবি ঐক্য পরিষদের. Daily Kalbela (in Bengali). 2025-07-29. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  41. ↑ গঙ্গাচড়ায় হিন্দুদের বসতঘরে হামলার নিন্দা, জড়িতদের গ্রেপ্তার দাবি. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 2025-07-29. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  42. ↑ রংপুরে হিন্দুপাড়ায় হামলার প্রতিবাদে জাহাঙ্গীরনগর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে বিক্ষোভ মিছিল. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 2025-07-29. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  43. ↑ "Idols vandalised at Hindu temple in Faridpur". The Daily Star. 2025-07-30. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  44. ↑ মাদারীপুরে রাতের আঁধারে দুটি মন্দিরের প্রতিমা ভাঙচুর. bdnews24.com (in Bengali). 2025-08-07. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  45. ↑ "Idols burnt, damaged in Gaibandha over Hindu temple management feud". The Business Standard . 2025-09-03. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  46. ↑ "Idols vandalised in Kushtia temple". The Daily Star. 2025-09-16. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  47. ↑ নেত্রকোনায় দুর্গা পূজা মণ্ডপে মূর্তি ভাঙচুর, আতঙ্কে স্থানীয়রা. Janakantha (in Bengali). Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  48. ↑ Report, TBS (2025-09-23). "2 minors held over idol vandalism in Gazipur". The Business Standard . Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  49. ↑ "One held for vandalising idols in Jamalpur temple". The Daily Star. 2025-09-22. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  50. ↑ ঝিনাইদহে প্রতিমা ভাঙচুর, একজনকে আটক. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 2025-09-23. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  51. ↑ নীলফামারীতে প্রতিমা ভাঙচুর, যুবক গ্রেপ্তার. Ajker Patrika (in Bengali). 2025-09-26. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  52. ↑ "Idols vandalised at Manikganj temple". The Daily Star. 2025-09-28. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  53. ↑ মুন্সীগঞ্জে প্রতিমা ভাঙচুর, মানসিক রোগী সুইপার আজিজুল হাতেনাতে ধরা. Amar Desh (in Bengali). 2025-10-04. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  54. ↑ সিরাজদিখানে লক্ষী প্রতিমা ভাঙচুর, একজনকে আটক. Granagar Barta (in Bengali). 8 October 2025. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  55. ↑ এলেঙ্গাতে রাধাগোবিন্দ রাসলীলা মন্দিরের প্রতিমা ভাঙচুর. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 2025-11-08. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
  56. ↑ নগরকান্দায় রাধা–কৃষ্ণের মূর্তি ভাঙচুর: এক যুবক আটক. Dainik Ghoshana (in Bengali). 2025-11-09. Retrieved 2025-11-15.
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