UN Report Debunks Claims of Exaggerated Propaganda, Details Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh

A UN report released on February 12 has contradicted claims by Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor to Bangladesh’s interim government, who had previously dismissed reports of violence against the Hindu community as "exaggerated propaganda." The report, which was based on fact-finding missions conducted at the invitation of Yunus' interim government, reveals widespread violent attacks on Hindu minorities and other vulnerable groups in Bangladesh, including arson, property destruction, and assaults on religious places.

Violent Mob Attacks on Hindus, Ahmadiyya Muslims, and Indigenous Communities

The violence began in August 2024 following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, when violent protests forced her to flee Bangladesh. Hindus, who comprise about 8% of the nation’s 170 million people, became a primary target of these mobs. The UN Human Rights Office report highlights how these attacks were not only directed at Hindus but also Ahmadiyya Muslims and indigenous groups in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. According to the report, the attacks were characterized by burning of homes and attacks on places of worship.

During the aftermath of Hasina’s departure, over 2,000 instances of violence against Hindus were recorded, including 23 deaths and 152 attacks on temples, as reported by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. The attacks occurred in rural areas and other regions like Sylhet, Khulna, and Rangpur.

Political and Communal Motivations Behind the Attacks

The report indicates that these attacks were driven by a combination of religious and ethnic discrimination, revenge against Awami League supporters, and local communal disputes. The involvement of groups like Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in retaliatory violence was also noted.

The findings starkly contrast Yunus' dismissal of the violence, with the UN report revealing that the Yunus-led interim government failed to adequately protect minority communities, contributing to the systemic impunity of the attackers.

As the situation remains tense, international observers continue to call for stronger protection measures for religious minorities in Bangladesh.