Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and President of the Bangladesh Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, criticized the interim government in Bangladesh led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus for permitting extremist groups to operate without consequences. Hasina expressed concern over the surge in violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, attributing it to the government’s failure to protect all citizens equally. She emphasized that Bangladesh, founded as a secular republic, is witnessing a rise in violence against peaceful minority groups due to state failure and political appeasement of fundamentalist forces.
The escalating violence against minorities in Bangladesh was highlighted by the recent death of a Hindu man who jumped into a canal to escape a mob accusing him of robbery. This incident marked the seventh in 19 days and the third within a week, underscoring a troubling trend of violence targeting Hindu communities across the country. The situation worsened with two Hindu men being killed in separate incidents within 24 hours, with one victim fatally attacked in Narsingdi district and the other shot dead in public in Jashore district.
The series of violent incidents against Hindus continued with more casualties, including a man who died after being attacked by a mob in Shariatpur district and another who was lynched in Mymensingh district. These incidents have drawn international attention, with human rights organizations condemning the Yunus-led interim government for failing to protect minorities. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council documented over 2,400 incidents of violence against minorities and the desecration of more than 150 temples during a specific period, reflecting a concerning trend of intolerance and brutality.
