Recent violent attacks on her family in the aftermath of premier Sheikh Hasina’s removal from power have left young Bangladeshi professional Tanushree Shaha deeply concerned. She fears that her fellow Hindus may be subjected to further reprisals.
These fears are being exacerbated by the spread of false rumors of additional deadly attacks, circulating online and amplified by the media in neighboring Hindu-majority India.
Hindus, the largest minority faith in predominantly Muslim Bangladesh, have traditionally been a strong support base for Hasina’s party, the Awami League.
Following Hasina’s sudden resignation and departure from the country, multiple Hindu families became targets of violence by their neighbors.
“A group of people vandalized my uncle’s shop,” said Shaha, who manages a handicrafts business in the capital city of Dhaka. The mob stole money from his cash register and emptied the shelves of his grocery store in Mymensingh, further north in the city.
They also physically assaulted him and demanded more money to prevent future attacks.
Shaha was among over 1,000 Hindus at a rally near Dhaka University, where student protests that led to Hasina’s ouster initially began. The gathering aimed to urge the new interim government, led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, to safeguard members of their faith from harm.
Shaha noted that the animosity towards Hindus goes beyond the recent political turmoil in the country.
“Whenever there is a change in government or a crisis, we are targeted by opportunists,” she explained.
– ‘Women were abused’ –
Hindus make up about eight percent of Bangladesh’s population of 170 million, a significant decline from historical figures due to past conflicts and migrations.
Over the past week, religious rights groups have reported over 200 incidents of attacks on minority communities, including Christians and Buddhists. These incidents involved vandalism of homes, shops, and places of worship, as well as instances of women being abused.
Following Hasina’s resignation, hundreds of Hindus sought refuge at the Indian border, seeking to cross over.
– ‘Don’t differentiate by religion’ –
Most of these attacks occurred in the chaotic aftermath of Hasina’s departure, when the police force, previously criticized for its response to anti-Hasina demonstrators, went on strike.
Citizens and student protesters have stepped in to fill the law-and-order vacuum, organizing neighborhood watch groups and guarding temples to prevent theft.
Student protest leaders engaged with the Hindu community to address their concerns and relay them to Yunus’s administration, which has emphasized the need to build a united Bangladesh without religious discrimination.
– ‘Aren’t we citizens?’ –
False reports of widespread attacks on Hindus, particularly originating from social media users in India, have inflamed existing anxieties within the community.
While some Indian media outlets have amplified these claims, experts indicate that the reality on the ground does not align with the exaggerated narratives.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding the cause of violence against Hindus, the community continues to experience fear and anger in the aftermath of political changes in the country.
“After the authoritarian regime’s fall, we were meant to celebrate,” said student Moumita Adhikari at a Hindu protest near Dhaka University. “So why are we protesting here? Aren’t we citizens of this country?”
