Latest news with #BangladeshHinduBuddhistChristianUnityCouncil
Indian Express
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
One year after Sheikh Hasina's exit, where is Bangladesh today?
On August 5, 2024, when the longest-serving prime minister of Bangladesh had to be airlifted from Dhaka to Hindon Air Force Station near Delhi, many of the student protesters who roared in celebration were looking forward, arguably, to a better future, a more democratic order. Yet, one year after Sheikh Hasina's uninterrupted 15-year rule was brought to an end during what is now known as the July Revolution, Bangladesh finds itself gripped by a politics far removed from the aspirations that fuelled her ouster. Despite the promises of Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the Interim Government, the past year has witnessed a surge in religious extremism and a breakdown of the rule of law. While Awami League leaders have been jailed en masse, hundreds of individuals accused or convicted in militancy-related cases have been released, and many others have escaped from jail. The ancestral home of Bangladesh's founding president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, along with other symbols of the old regime, was reduced to ashes. Bangladesh's pluralistic culture, too, has looked besieged. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, the country's largest minority rights group, has repeatedly flagged violence against minorities on the watch of the Yunus government. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, in its latest report, noted that 'systematic pressure on religious minorities continued to generally worsen.' In May, thousands of Hefazat-e-Islam supporters rallied in Dhaka to protest proposed recommendations aimed at ensuring equal rights for Muslim women. Government figures show that violent crime has increased. On top of this is an unstable economy, weighed down by slowing growth and mounting public debt. There is no denying that the Hasina regime was flawed, characterised, especially towards its end, by its disregard for democratic values. But the rise of extremist forces under Yunus's watch strains the secular fabric of the Mujibist order. Only a free and fair election can show the way forward in Bangladesh. Yunus has announced that the election could be held in April 2026, and in his Tuesday afternoon speech, unveiled the July Declaration which affirms a commitment to 'rule of law, human rights, and moral values'. It is hoped that a newly elected government will embody these principles and fulfil the aspirations of the Bangladeshi people. Delhi, for its part, must keep communication channels with Dhaka open, engage all political actors, and work to insulate bilateral ties from the ebb and flow of domestic politics.
Times of Oman
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Bangladesh minority group condemns communal violence in northern Gangacora
Dhaka: A delegation led by the Acting General Secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, Manindra Kumar Nath, visited Hindupara, which has been hit by communal violence, in Aldadpur village, Betgari Union, Gangachara, Rangpur, on July 29, the group said in a statement on Wednesday. The delegation included central organising secretary Gopal Barman, general secretaries of the organisation's Rangpur district and metropolitan committees Swapan Kumar Roy and Alok Kumar Nath, central presidents of the Youth and Students' Unity Council Shimul Saha and Sajeeb Sarkar, Santu Saha, among others, it added. "Hindupara, which has been hit by communal violence, is a predominantly Hindu area. According to the voter list, more than 2,700 (two thousand seven hundred) Hindus live in this area", the statement said. "This village is inhabited by low-income people, and there are hardly any Muslims in the village. Some are sugarcane farmers, some are fishermen, and some are engaged in barbering", the statement added. Further, the statement highlighted the July 26 "alleged post about religious insults was spread on Facebook by Ranjan Roy, a student of Rangpur ITC Polytechnic Private Institute, the 17-year-old son of Sujan Roy of Hindupara." "When rumours started circulating locally about the matter, he took his son to the local police station that same afternoon and handed him over to the authorities", the statement added. Explaining the incident in details, the statement noted that, "after handing over the son to the police, at around 8 pm, a group of 6-700 extremists crossed the local Bullai river from the border area of Nilphamari district, about 2/3 miles away from Hindupara, and from other nearby villages, shouting various religiously provocative slogans entered Hindupara and looted and vandalized 4 houses, including Ranjan Roy's house." "The next day, on Sunday, July 27, 2025, at around 3:30 PM, a group of approximately 3,000 armed miscreants from the same area attacked the Hindupara again, shouting communally inciting slogans, just like the previous night", the statement added." They attacked and vandalised the homes of 18 other families in the neighbourhood, looted their belongings, including domesticated cattle and goats, and destroyed their sugarcane crops", the statement said. "After visiting the scene, the leaders met with District Police Superintendent Mohammad Abu Saim at his office and demanded that all the criminals involved in the incident be arrested and given exemplary punishment", the statement said. "At the same time, they strongly demanded that the safety of the local people be ensured and compensation for the victims be provided", the statement said.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bangladesh witnessed 2,442 communal violence incidents in 330 days: Minority body
Representative image DHAKA: Bangladesh witnessed 2,442 incidents of communal violence over a span of 330 days from August 4 last year, when political unrest peaked, leading to the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina 's Awami League government, a minority advocacy group in the country said on Thursday. "Most of these violent incidents happened between August 4 and August 20 last year," the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said in a statement released at a press conference at the National Press Club here. The minority communities faced 2,442 incidents of communal violence over a span of 330 days from August 4, 2024, it said. The nature of violence ranged from murders and sexual assaults, including gang rapes, to attacks on places of worship, seizing homes and businesses, arrests on charges of alleged defamation of religion, and forced removals of minorities from organisations, the statement said. Victims included men, women, and adolescents belonging to minority groups. The perpetrators have largely evaded justice, with the interim government "refusing to acknowledge" the incidents and "dismissing them as politically motivated," the statement said. A senior Council leader, Narmal Rosario, said the ongoing reform initiatives by the interim government have repeatedly excluded minority communities, "which is the most frustrating factor for us". "We want to walk together with all," he emphasised. Another leader, Nimchandra Bhoumik, said, "The division (within the society) was not a pleasant matter for anyone." "The government, in fact, ignores the incidents of repression of minorities. We demand proper justice," acting general secretary of the council, Manindra Kumar Nath, said. As per the 2022 census, Hindus are the largest minority community in Bangladesh at 7.95% of the total population, followed by Buddhists (0.61%), Christians (0.30%), and others (0.12%).
India Today
11-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Bangladesh saw nearly 2,500 communal attacks in 330 days, minorities demand justice
Bangladesh witnessed 2,442 incidents of communal violence over a span of 330 days from August 4 last year, when political unrest peaked, leading to the ouster of prime minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government, a minority advocacy group in the country said on Thursday."Most of these violent incidents happened between August 4 and August 20 last year," the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said in a statement released at a press conference at the National Press Club minority communities faced 2,442 incidents of communal violence over a span of 330 days from August 4, 2024, it said. The nature of violence ranged from murders and sexual assaults, including gang rapes, to attacks on places of worship, seizing homes and businesses, arrests on charges of alleged defamation of religion, and forced removals of minorities from organisations, the statement included men, women, and adolescents belonging to minority perpetrators have largely evaded justice, with the interim government "refusing to acknowledge" the incidents and "dismissing them as politically motivated," the statement said.A senior Council leader, Narmal Rosario, said the ongoing reform initiatives by the interim government have repeatedly excluded minority communities, "which is the most frustrating factor for us'.'We want to walk together with all,' he leader, Nimchandra Bhoumik, said, "The division (within the society) was not a pleasant matter for anyone.''The government, in fact, ignores the incidents of repression of minorities. We demand proper justice,' acting general secretary of the council, Manindra Kumar Nath, per the 2022 census, Hindus are the largest minority community in Bangladesh at 7.95% of the total population, followed by Buddhists (0.61%), Christians (0.30%), and others (0.12%).- Ends IN THIS STORY#Bangladesh
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Minorities under fire in Bangladesh: 2,442 hate crimes; ‘perpetrators enjoy impunity'
Rights groups in Bangladesh have accused the interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, of ignoring a disturbing surge in violence against religious minorities and shielding perpetrators from justice. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said on Thursday that it had recorded 2,442 incidents of communal violence between August 2024 and June 2025—many of them involving killings, sexual assaults, arson, and the destruction of places of worship and property. The group alleges that these attacks intensified following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year and have continued under the current administration. 'The accused are enjoying impunity,' said Monindra Kumar Nath, the council's acting general secretary, adding that the authorities have repeatedly dismissed their concerns as fabricated or politically motivated, despite compelling evidence. Yunus' office has acknowledged only 88 cases of violence and claims 70 people have been arrested. Council leaders say religious minorities, who make up around 10% of Bangladesh's population of 170 million, have been systematically excluded from national reform processes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Audiologists Furious About New $99 Device That Makes Hearing Crystal Clear Again risinghealthtrends Learn More Undo 'No representative from minority groups has been included in any commission meant to ensure equality,' Nath said. Others pointed to a long history of marginalisation since the country's independence in 1971. 'We hoped for better under a Nobel Peace Prize winner, but we have only seen continued neglect,' said Kajal Debnath, a council member. On May 22, following a murder unrelated to the minority community, attackers targeted the homes of 20 minority families, looting, burning property, and allegedly assaulting women. Despite a police case being filed, no arrests have been made in the five weeks since, according to the council. Many victims have fled or gone into hiding, and vital documents such as house deeds and ID cards were destroyed. India has taken note of the situation. The ministry of external affairs reportedly told a parliamentary panel that the Yunus government is downplaying the scale of violence, which it blames on political motives rather than communal targeting. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri warned that extremist groups are filling the power vacuum left by Hasina's exit, leading to increased religious radicalisation. The Indian government has called for action against those responsible for anti-minority violence and for Bangladesh to uphold its commitments to religious freedom.
