In what is a deeply troubling development there have been several incidents of temple vandalism in Bangladesh recently. There have been alarming reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. Following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there has been a significant increase in attacks on Hindu homes, businesses, and temples. One notable incident involved the theft of a crown from the Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple in Satkhira, which was gifted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This theft has raised serious concerns and prompted calls for a thorough investigation. Additionally, there have been reports of attacks on Hindu temples and homes following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported that numerous temples were vandalised, and many Hindu homes and businesses were targeted.



There has been a concerning rise in Islamist extremism in Bangladesh, which has led to increased violence against minorities, particularly the Hindus. The political vacuum following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has allowed Islamist parties to gain ground.



The situation in Bangladesh has been dire for the Hindu community. There have been numerous reports of violence and killings by radical mobs. For instance, during the recent Durga Puja celebrations, there were back-to-back attacks on Hindu communities, including attacks on puja mandaps. Miscreants attacked an idol immersion procession in Old Dhaka, injuring three people. Additionally, there have been reports of bomb attacks on puja mandaps and other violent acts targeting the Hindu community. Radical Islamic groups in Bangladesh have issued threats to the minority Hindu community, urging them not to openly celebrate Durga Puja and opposing nationwide holidays for the festival.



These incidents have raised serious concerns about the safety and security of minorities in the country. This situation calls for urgent action to protect the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. It's a deeply troubling issue that highlights the need for stronger measures to ensure the safety and rights of all communities. Radical Islamist groups have been marching on the streets protesting against Hindu public celebrations and opposing nationwide holidays for the Hindu festival. A 16-point demand has been issued calling for various restrictions on the freedom of religions and beliefs of Hindus. The demands of the radical groups include - No road closures for Hindu worship, No idol immersion in water, No government funds for Hindu festivals. This anti-Hindu sentiment, coupled with ongoing vandalism of temples, has heightened the community's insecurity, with government assurances proving weak. Despite centuries of cultural celebration, Hindus are being pressured to halt their traditions.



Members of the Hindu minority claim that the Bangladeshi government has failed to take action against these radical groups, which have intensified their attacks since the fall of the previous Sheikh Hasina-led administration. The interim government of Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, has dismissed India's concerns about the attacks on Hindus as "uncalled for" and "baseless". Yunus has described the issue as exaggerated and primarily political rather than communal. And yet so troubling and widespread have been the attacks on Hindu temples during the Durga Puja that Yunus had to visit the Dhakeshwari temple following vandalism during celebrations, to keep up appearances that the interim government is taking note.



Recent threats against Hindus in Bangladesh have escalated dramatically, with radical groups warning them to leave within seven days or face violence. Incidents include open molestation of Hindu women, vandalism of homes and places of worship, and the burning of the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, along with its 21,000 books. The government, led by the Muhammad Yunus, has downplayed these atrocities and released radicalised terrorists from jail. There are alarming reports of kidnappings and forced resignations of Hindu officials. Calls are growing for India's intervention, including suggestions for the balkanization of Bangladesh or the establishment of an autonomous Hindu region. Hindu persecution in Bangladesh is not new. Each political change brings a turmoil of persecution to the Hindu community. But today in Yunus’s Bangladesh, secularism appears to have become a constitutional mandate only, and persecution has become the new reality. What is deplorable is that no international body or government are addressing this human rights travesty effectively.