• Source:JND

The Bangladesh interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has for the first time issued a statement regarding the recent killing of a Hindu citizen, describing the incident as “criminal in nature” rather than communal. The announcement comes days after India urged Dhaka on January 9 to address attacks on minorities “swiftly and firmly,” cautioning against attributing the incidents to extraneous causes.

Citing a yearlong review of police records, the Yunus administration reported a total of 645 incidents involving minority communities from January to December 2025. Of these, 71 were classified as having communal elements, including 38 cases of temple vandalism, eight of arson, one murder, one theft, and 23 other incidents such as threats to idols, provocative social media posts, and damage to worship pavilions. Police registered cases and made arrests in 50 of the communal incidents, while preventive or investigative measures were taken in 21 others.

Incidents Classified As Non-Communal Crimes

The remaining 574 incidents were described as non-communal crimes, linked to neighbourhood disputes, land conflicts, theft, prior personal enmity, rape, and unnatural deaths. Police registered 390 cases, filed 154 reports of unnatural deaths, and made 498 arrests. The government emphasised that while all crimes are serious, the majority involving minority victims stemmed from broader criminal or social factors, not religious hostility.

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Criticism From Human Rights Groups 

Human rights groups, local media, and foreign governments, including India, have criticised the report for appearing disconnected from realities on the ground. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) noted a rise in communal violence ahead of general elections scheduled for February 12, citing 51 incidents in December 2025 alone. The Council warned that violence is increasingly targeting minority voters to influence electoral outcomes.

The interim government reiterated its constitutional and moral obligation to ensure safety and justice for all citizens, regardless of religion, and pledged continued action to uphold law and order. Indian External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the incidents as a “disturbing pattern of recurring attacks on minorities” and called on Bangladesh to act decisively.

According to the 2022 census, Hindus number approximately 13.13 million (7.95%), while Buddhists, Christians, and other religious groups collectively account for roughly 1.73 million of the population.

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