Rape, killings, and mob lynchings: Hindus in Bangladesh are more afraid

Following an increase in violence against its Hindu minority, Bangladesh is coming under increased scrutiny. As the nation gets closer to a crucial election, this has raised serious concerns about political stability, safety, and accountability. At least six Hindu males have been slain in the last eighteen days. Rape, arson, and mob violence have also been reported. These attacks have alarmed neighboring India and Nepal as well as the minority community.

The most recent shock occurred on January 5, when two Hindu males were killed in separate events within hours of each other. Rana Pratap Bairagi, an acting newspaper editor and factory owner in Jessore, was shot many times in the head and had his throat cut. The perpetrators left the scene, according to police, and their motivation is yet unknown.Sarat Mani Chakraborty, a 40-year-old grocery store owner in Narsingdi, was attacked with sharp objects while working there a few hours later. His wife and 12-year-old son were left behind when he passed away en route to the hospital.

A few days prior, a 40-year-old Hindu widow was allegedly gang-raped in Jhenaidah, a case that stunned the country. Her case claims that the perpetrators severed her hair, bound her to a tree, recorded the abuse, and then posted the footage online, exacerbating her anguish and provoking public indignation.But this month was not the start of the violence.

A mob in Mymensingh lynched Dipu ChandA few days later, on his way home, Khokon Chandra Das, a minor trader, was viciously attacked, hacked, doused with gasoline, and set on fire. Later, he passed away from serious burns. Another Hindu man, Amrit Mondal, was killed by a mob in Rajbari, while a coworker in Mymensingh shot and killed garment manufacturing worker Bajendra Biswas.

As Bangladesh gets ready for its first national election since Sheikh Hasina’s removal in 2024, there has been an increase in violence. While authorities deny any communal pattern, rights organizations and outsiders caution that extremist elements seem more confident under Muhammad Yunus’ interim administration.

Das, a manufacturing worker, on December 18 after he was falsely accused of blasphemy at work. Later, his body was burned and abandoned near the roadway, stopping traffic. While protests have broken out in Nepal, indicating growing regional disquiet, India has formally expressed worries about the safety of minorities. believe is growing among Hindu families in Bangladesh, many of whom believe that justice will continue to elude them. The nation’s main concern as the February elections get near is whether the violence will be contained or if Bangladesh is about to enter a more hazardous chapter for its minorities.