Jump to content

Persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh

Add links
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

According to the United States group called the Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), Hindus in Bangladesh are among the people who suffer harm. In 2017, there were hundreds of cases of "killings, attempts to kill, death threats, attacks, rapes, kidnappings, and attacks on homes, shops, and temples" against people from smaller religious groups.[1] A law called the 'Vested Property Act,' which was earlier called the 'Enemy Property Act,' allowed others to take away up to 40% of Hindu-owned land. Hindu temples have also been damaged and broken in Bangladesh.[2]

Many Hindu refugees from Bangladesh have said they were hurt and scared.[3][4][5] A human rights group in the United States, called Refugees International, said that religious minorities, especially Hindus, still face unfair treatment in Bangladesh.[6]

A millitant group called Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has openly asked for making the country like the Taliban.[7] In 2005, when this group was part of the government, a writer named Hiranmay Karlekar said it would be hard to stop this idea, but he believed most people in the country would fight strongly against it.[8]

A writer from Bangladesh, Taslima Nasrin, wrote a book called Lajja in 1993 about attacks on Hindus and dislike for non-religious ideas in Bangladesh after a mosque in India called Babri Masjid was torn down. The book was banned in Bangladesh but made the world more aware of the problems Hindus face there.

In October 2006, USCIRF wrote a report called "Policy Focus on Bangladesh," saying that violence from religious extremists had been rising since the last election. Hindus were especially in danger from violence linked to religion, politics, or crime. Some people attacked Hindus to make them leave so their land could be taken. The report also said Hindus were seen as being loyal to both Bangladesh and India, which made them targets of the Islamic fundamentalists from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.[9] On 2 November 2006, USCIRF told Bangladesh to protect religious minorities and asked the U.S. government to help before the next election in January 2007.[2]

On 6 February 2010, Islamic extremists destroyed a temple in Sonargaon, Narayanganj district, and five people were badly hurt.[10] Temples were also attacked and destroyed in 2011.[11]

On 28 February 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal gave Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, the Vice President of Jamaat-e-Islami, a death sentence for crimes he did during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. After this, Jamaat-e-Islami and its student group, Islami Chhatra Shibir, attacked Hindus in many parts of the country. They stole from Hindu people, burned their houses, and damaged and set fire to their temples.[12] The government blamed Jamaat-e-Islami for these attacks, but the Jamaat leaders said they were not involved. Hindu leaders protested and asked for justice. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh told the police to start an investigation into the attacks. The US Ambassador to Bangladesh said he was worried about Jamaat’s attacks on Hindus.[13][14] The violence included stealing from Hindu people and shops, burning their homes, hurting women, and destroying temples.[15] Community leaders said over 50 temples and 1,500 houses in 20 districts were destroyed.[16]

A report in 2017 said at least 107 Hindus were killed that year, 31 went missing, and 782 were forced to leave the country or told to leave. Also, 23 Hindus were forced to change their religion. At least 25 Hindu women and children were raped, and 235 temples and statues were broken. The total number of harmful acts against Hindus in 2017 was 6,474.[17] During the 2019 Bangladesh elections, eight Hindu houses were burned in Thakurgaon alone.[18]

In April 2019, idols of the Hindu goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati were broken by unknown people at a new temple in Kazipara, Brahmanbaria.[19] In the same month, statues of Hindu gods in two temples being built in Madaripur Sadar were also damaged.[20]

In October 2021, many Hindu temples, including an ISKCON center, and houses of Hindus in Bangladesh were attacked and burned by a Muslim crowd of more than 10,000 people. This happened in at least 10 of the 64 districts after someone said a Quran was placed on Hanuman’s lap during a Durga Puja festival.[21] In Haziganj Upazila, at least 4 people died and 24 were hurt when police fired on a group trying to attack a temple. Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, leader of a Hindu group, said 17 temples were attacked, and over 100 people were injured. Shibu Prasad Roy, part of the festival's organizing team, said, "At first, 15 to 20 young people attacked our temple in Cumilla, then hundreds joined." Reports say false news spread on social media helped cause more attacks on Hindus.[22][23] In 2016, a fake Facebook post accusing a Hindu of insulting Islam led to hundreds of Hindu homes being burned. In Cox’s Bazar, rumors that a Buddhist insulted the Quran caused a mob to destroy Buddhist temples. A report said Jamaat-e-Islami was involved in these attacks.[24][25][26]

Members of the then ruling Awami League and its student group, Chhatra League, have also been linked to attacks on Hindus.[27][28] Officials often find them planning these attacks for political gain.[29]

In 2024, up to December 8, 2,200 cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities were reported in Bangladesh, according to Indian Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh.[30][31]

Since 1951, the Hindu population in Bangladesh has dropped by 15.1% over 71 years, while the Muslim population grew by the same 15.1%. Hindus made up 22% of the population in 1951[32] but only 13.5% in 1974 and 6.9% in 2022, a total drop of more than two-thirds. Hindus and other groups have faced regular attacks, including during the Bangladesh genocide, the Liberation War, and many massacres.[33][34][35][36] In these, rape has been used as a weapon.[37][38] Groups responsible for violence against Hindus include the Pakistani Military,[35] Al Badr,[39][40] Al Sham,[41] Razakars,[42] the Muslim League,[43] Jamaat-e-Islami,[43] and Urdu-speaking Biharis.[43]

References

[change | change source]

Citations

[change | change source]
  1. ↑ "BANGLADESH 2018 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT" (PDF). US department of State. 2018. pp. 11–12. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE" (PDF). U.S. Government. 17 May 2004. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  3. ↑ Mujtaba, Syed Ali (2005). Soundings on South Asia. Slough, Berkshire: New Dawn Press. p. 200. ISBN 978-1-932705-40-9.
  4. ↑ Das Gupta, Jyoti Bhusan; Chattopadhyaya, D. P., eds. (2007). Science, technology, imperialism and war. History of science, philosophy and culture in Indian civilization / general ed.: D. P. Chattopadhyaya Vol. 15, Science, technology and philosophy (CONSSAVY). New Delhi: Pearson Longman. p. 733. ISBN 978-81-317-0851-4.
  5. ↑ "With current rate of migration, no Hindus will be left in Bangladesh after 30 years: Expert". The Indian Express. 2016-11-22. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  6. ↑ "Discrimination against Bangladeshi Hindus: Report". www.rediff.com. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  7. ↑ "The 'Talibanization' of Bangladesh". 2007-01-02. Archived from the original on 2 January 2007. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  8. ↑ Karlekar, Hiranmay (2005). Bangladesh: the next Afghanistan?. New Delhi ; Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications. pp. 269, 278–279. ISBN 978-0-7619-3401-1. OCLC 61731375.
  9. ↑ "Bangladesh slammed for persecution of Hindus". www.rediff.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  10. ↑ "Hindu temple attacked, idols destroyed in B'desh: Official". The Times of India. 2010-02-06. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2024-12-31. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  11. ↑ "Fresh atrocities on Hindu families in Bangladesh :: Weekly Blitz". 2013-01-27. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  12. ↑ "A sin for 'em to live here?". The Daily Star. 2013-03-03. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  13. ↑ "US worried at violence". The Daily Star. 2013-03-12. Archived from the original on 2016-06-01. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  14. ↑ "Violence". Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  15. ↑ "Amnesty International | Bangladesh: Wave of violent attacks against Hindu minority". 2013-03-09. Archived from the original on 9 March 2013. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  16. ↑ "Bangladesh minorities 'terrorised' after mob violence". BBC News. 2013-03-08. Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  17. ↑ "BJHM: 107 Hindus killed, 31 forcibly disappeared in 2017". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  18. ↑ SNS (2018-12-28). "Hindu houses under 'arson' attack ahead of Bangladesh elections - The Statesman". The Statesman. Archived from the original on 2019-04-20. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  19. ↑ "Hindu idols vandalized in Brahmanbaria". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  20. ↑ "Hindu idols desecrated in Madaripur". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  21. ↑ "Two Hindu men killed, temples vandalised in Bangladesh violence". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  22. ↑ Hasnat, Saif; Mashal, Mujib (2021-10-15). "Bangladesh Strengthens Security as Violence Targets Hindu Festival". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  23. ↑ Chaudhury, Dipanjan Roy (2021-10-14). "Pakistan-backed Jamaat behind attacks on Durga Puja pandals in Bangladesh: Sources". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  24. ↑ PTI (2021-10-14). "Goons attack Hindu temples in Bangladesh during Durga Puja, 4 killed; paramilitary force called in". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 2024-08-02. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  25. ↑ "ISKCON temple vandalised, devotees 'violently attacked' by mob in Bangladesh's Noakhali". India Today. 2021-10-15. Archived from the original on 2024-12-08. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  26. ↑ Nag, Jayatri (2021-10-14). "Suvendu Adhikari writes to PM, expresses concern about idol vandalism in Bangladesh". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  27. ↑ "Arrests in Bangladesh for attacks on Hindus – DW – 11/06/2016". dw.com. Archived from the original on 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  28. ↑ "Facebook post, announcements on loudspeaker: Duo admits to inciting violence against Hindus in Bangladesh". India Today. 2021-10-25. Archived from the original on 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  29. ↑ "Political provocation behind arson attacks on Cumilla Hindus: police". New Age. 2025-01-05. Archived from the original on 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  30. ↑ "2,200 in Bangladesh, 112 in Pakistan: Government on violence cases against Hindus in neighbouring countries". The Times of India. 2024-12-20. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  31. ↑ "2,200 cases of violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, says Govt". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  32. ↑ "Files: Bangladesh- Population census 1991: Religious Composition 1901-1991". 2016-08-18. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  33. ↑ "Forkan Razakar's verdict any day". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  34. ↑ Macdermot, Niall (1973-01-01). "Crimes against Humanity in Bangladesh". The International Lawyer. 7 (2): 476. Archived from the original on 2024-03-18. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Bangladesh war: The article that changed history". BBC News. 2011-12-15. Archived from the original on 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  36. ↑ "Twentieth Century Atlas - Death Tolls". necrometrics.com. Archived from the original on 2011-03-05. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  37. ↑ Sharlach, Lisa (2000-03-01). "Rape as Genocide: Bangladesh, the Former Yugoslavia, and Rwanda". Taylor and Francis. 22: 92–93. doi:10.1080/713687893. ISSN 0739-3148. Archived from the original on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  38. ↑ Totten, Samuel, ed. (2017). Plight and fate of women during and following genocide. London New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. p. 225. ISBN 978-1-4128-4759-9.
  39. ↑ "Al-Badr - Banglapedia". en.banglapedia.org. Archived from the original on 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  40. ↑ Sisson, Richard; Rose, Leo E. (1990). War and secession: Pakistan, India, and the creation of Bangladesh. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 165. ISBN 978-0-520-07665-5.
  41. ↑ "Pakistan's first two militant Islamist groups, Al-Badar and Al-Shams – by Nadeem F. Paracha". 2015-12-27. Archived from the original on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  42. ↑ Karlekar, Hiranmay (2005). Bangladesh, the next Afghanistan? (1. publ ed.). New Delhi: Sage Publications. ISBN 978-0-7619-3401-1.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 Kann, Peter R. (27 July 1971). "East Pakistan Is Seen Gaining Independence, But It Will Take Years". The Wall Street Journal.
Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Persecution_of_Hindus_in_Bangladesh&oldid=10036780"