Attacks on Hindu minorities have increased since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh in August 2024. According to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) and other reports, there were more than 2,442 attacks on Hindus from August 2024 to June 2025, including vandalism of temples, burning of houses and killings. Many of these murders took place on charges of political vendetta or alleged blasphemy. In some reports they were linked to religious hatred, while in others political reasons were cited.

Houses of Hindu families set on fire, 7 year old girl burnt alive

The latest incident of atrocities on Hindus is from Chittagong, where the houses of two Hindu families were burnt. Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen released a video in which Islamic fundamentalists burnt the houses of many Hindus in Chittagong. The incident occurred on December 23, 2025, resulting in property damage and the death of the family’s pets. According to reports, the victims were identified as Jayanti Sangha and Babu Shukusheel. The family was inside their house at the time of the incident. Eyewitnesses said that the family had to run away by cutting the fence to escape the flames, because all the doors were closed.

Earlier, late on the night of 19th December, some miscreants had locked a house from outside in Lakshmipur Sadar, poured petrol on it and set it on fire. A 7-year-old girl died after being burnt alive in the fire, while three people were seriously burnt. According to the police, the incident took place at around 1 o’clock in the night. A 7 year old girl died on the spot due to the fire.

Murdered on charges of blasphemy

On December 18, Hindu youth Dipu Chandra was beaten to death in Bhaluka near Dhaka. The attackers had accused Deepu of blasphemy. Deepu used to work in a textile factory. It was claimed that Deepu had made comments on Facebook that hurt religious sentiments, but the investigation did not find evidence of any such comment. Whereas this murder was the result of a dispute over work in the factory.

The process of killing Hindus did not stop here, but the atrocities reached their peak only in December.

• In Rangpur, shopkeeper Uttam Kumar Burman was lynched to death on charges of blasphemy. 12 people were arrested.
• Jeweler Prantosh Karmakar shot dead in Narsingdi.
• Fish trader Utpal Sarkar was killed in Faridpur.
• Freedom fighter couple Yogesh Chandra Roy and Subarna Roy were brutally beaten in Rangpur and died from head injuries.
• Apart from this, in August 2024, school teacher Mrinal Kanti Chakraborty was murdered by entering his house in Bagerhat.

At least 5 Hindus were killed in the initial violence of August 2024, but most of the names were not made public. BHBCUC linked the murder of 9 Hindu men in September 2024 to religious hatred, while some investigations suggested political reasons. Overall, after Hasina’s departure, 23 to 27 Hindu murders have come to light.

Fear of worsening situation before elections in Bangladesh

The interim government of Mohammad Yunus condemned the incidents and made several arrests, but the minority community is demanding protection. India has also expressed concern. Experts say that many attacks took place because of Awami League supporters, but religious tension has also increased. The situation is likely to worsen before the February 2026 elections.

Hindu population in Bangladesh is very less, but atrocities are more.

According to the Population and Housing Census 2022 report, the Hindu population in Bangladesh is about 1.31 crore, which is 7.95% of the total population. These figures were released by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). At that time the total population of the country was 16.52 crores. No new census was conducted after 2022.

According to Worldometer estimates, the total population of Bangladesh will reach about 176 million by December 2025. If the percentage remains the same then the Hindu population could be around 1.4 crores, but many reports say that the Hindu percentage is decreasing due to migration, low birth rate and other reasons.

The situation in Bangladesh has deteriorated rapidly after the murder of youth leader Sharif Usman Hadi and mob lynching of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das. These incidents not only sparked widespread protests within the country, but also plunged India-Bangladesh relations into another diplomatic crisis. The effect of this tense situation is visible from Dhaka to Delhi. Visa services are suspended, questions are being raised on the security of embassies and concern has also increased at the international level. Big things related to recent unrest in Bangladesh:

Situation worsened after the assassination of Sharif Usman Hadi
Protests started across the country after the shooting death of youth leader Sharif Usman Hadi in Dhaka. Hadi was one of the leading figures in last year’s ‘July uprising’ and his death further increased political tensions. After Hadi’s assassination, anti-India slogans and demonstrations intensified, due to which the Bangladesh government suspended visa services in India.

Outrage over mob lynching of Dipu Chandra Das
The lynching of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh on alleged blasphemy charges sparked outrage among the minority community. This was described as an example of religious fanaticism and administrative inaction.

Demonstration of Hindu organizations in Dhaka
Hindu religious organizations and minority rights groups demonstrated outside the National Press Club in Dhaka. The protesters said that Dipu Das was killed on false charges. India summoned Bangladesh’s ambassador and expressed strong objection to the security of minorities, threats to embassies and ‘misleading narrative’.

America talked to Yunus
US Special Envoy Sergio Gore discussed the recent events over the phone with Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus. During this, Yunus reiterated his commitment to hold general elections on 12 February.

Yunus’s claim regarding elections
Yunus said the interim government was committed to fair and peaceful elections, but he also accused supporters of the ousted Awami League of disrupting the elections. Sharif Hadi’s organization ‘Inquilab Manch’ gave an ultimatum of 24 hours and warned of mass movement if justice was not given. The organization demanded an investigation by international agencies.

Attacks on media institutions and damage to democratic image
The protesters attacked several media offices including Pratham Aalo and The Daily Star. Pratham Aalo had to stop print edition for the first time in 27 years. Yunus condemned the attacks. A few days after Hadi’s assassination, student movement leader Motaleb Sikdar was shot in Khulna, further increasing fears of targeted violence.

Visa services suspended due to security reasons
Earlier, New Delhi-based Bangladesh High Commission had announced to temporarily stop visa and consular services citing security concerns. This decision has been taken at a time when India had closed its visa application centers in Bangladesh. These centers were targeted by the mob in the violence that broke out after the assassination of Osman Hadi.

Sheikh Hasina’s allegations against the interim government of Bangladesh
The interim government of Bangladesh has indicated that it may review the presence of its diplomatic missions in India if the situation worsens. At the same time, India has made it clear that it will remain alert regarding the safety of minorities and regional stability. Meanwhile, ousted PM Sheikh Hasina has accused the Yunus government of promoting extremists and spoiling relations with India.

Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das was beaten to death by a mob in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh district of Bangladesh and the body was burnt after tying it to a tree. A new twist has emerged in the investigation of this terrible incident.

Initially it was reported to be a case of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad, but the investigation by the police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) did not find any concrete evidence of this allegation. Investigating officers say that the real reason for the murder was the old enmity regarding work dispute inside the factory, production target, overtime and recent promotion examination.

Handed over to the mob due to dispute in the factory

According to the Dhaka Tribune report, 27-year-old Dipuchandra Das was a floor manager in a garment factory named Pioneer Knitwears (BD) Limited. He had recently appeared for the promotion examination for the post of supervisor. Senior manager of the factory, Saqib Mahmood, said that at around 5 pm, some workers started protesting inside the factory, accusing Deepu of hurting religious sentiments. Deepu’s brother Apu Chandra Das told that Deepu was already having disputes with many colleagues. These disputes were about working conditions, targets and benefits for workers.

On 18 December 2025, the dispute escalated and the floor in-charge of the factory forced Dipu to resign. After this he was taken out of the factory and handed over to the mob. Apu got a call from Deepu’s friend Himel that Deepu was being taken to the police station, but after some time it was learned that he had died. When Apu reached the spot, the dead body was found burnt.

Beaten to death, tied to a tree and burnt

According to the police, Deepu was beaten near the highway, about a kilometer away from the factory. After death, the body was tied to a tree, kerosene was poured on it and it was set on fire. Horrific videos of the incident went viral on social media, in which the crowd is beating Deepu and the body is being burnt.

According to Dhaka Tribune and Daily Star,

• Mymensingh Additional Superintendent of Police Abdullah Al Mamun said, ‘The allegations of blasphemy are just lip service. We have not found any truth yet.
• Bhaluka Model Police Station officer Mohammad Zahidul Islam said no evidence of religious insult was found. The investigation focuses on the internal dispute of the factory.
• RAB company commander MD Shamsuzzaman said, ‘Nobody present at the spot heard Deepu saying anything against religion. No post was found on Facebook or online. The incident started at 4 pm, when the floor in-charge forced Dipu to resign and handed him over to the angry mob.
• Local ward member Tofajzel Hussain said, ‘This seems to have happened not out of religious anger but due to planning. There was a conspiracy to expel Deepu from the factory.

12 people were arrested in this case

According to Dhaka Tribune, those arrested include factory floor manager Alamgir Hossain, quality in-charge Miraj Hossain Akon and workers Ashikur Rahman, Qayyum, Limon Sarkar, Tariq Hossain, Manic Mia, Irshad Ali, Nizamuddin, Ajmal Hasan Sagir, Shahid Mian and Nazmul. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests may be made.

Dipu’s life could have been saved if information had been received in time.

Police say that the factory management did not inform the police on time, due to which Deepu’s life could have been saved. Factory workers say that they had called the police, but due to the crowd and traffic jam, the police arrived late. This incident happened at a time when major demonstrations were going on in Bangladesh after the death of student leader Sharif Usman Hadi. Hadi’s death had increased unrest in the country.

India expressed deep concern over this terrible murder

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, ‘We are closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh. Have expressed concern over attacks on minorities and have demanded punishment of the culprits.

The interim government of Bangladesh has also strongly condemned the murder. The government said, ‘There is no place for such violence in the new Bangladesh. The culprits will not be spared. A promise has been made to punish the culprits once the investigation is completed.