10:22 pm - February 18, 2026
Hindus in Bangladesh are facing mounting fear and insecurity as violence against the minority community surges ahead of national elections scheduled for February 12. The brutal killing of a 27-year-old Hindu garment worker in December has become a flashpoint, highlighting what human rights groups describe as a disturbing pattern of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh fueled by rising religious polarization and the reemergence of Islamist political forces.
Dipu Chandra Das was killed in December after Muslim colleagues accused him of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad, according to reports. A violent mob attacked him at his workplace, and his body was beaten, hung from a tree, and set on fire. The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus ordered an investigation, and police said approximately a dozen people were arrested in connection with the killing.
Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh Escalates
Human rights leaders say Das’ death was not an isolated incident but part of a broader surge in violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council documented more than 2,000 incidents of communal violence since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a mass uprising in August 2024. The organization recorded at least 61 killings, 28 instances of violence against women including rape, and 95 attacks on places of worship involving vandalism, looting, and arson.
Ranjan Karmaker, a Dhaka-based Hindu rights activist, told reporters that no one in the Hindu community feels safe anymore. “Everyone is terrified,” he said. Meanwhile, the unity council has accused the Yunus-led administration of routinely dismissing or downplaying reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
However, when contacted by The Associated Press, an official from Yunus’ press team declined to comment. The administration has consistently denied claims that it has failed to ensure adequate protection for minority communities and insisted that most incidents are not driven by religious hostility.
Political Context and Islamist Resurgence
Hindus comprise roughly 8 percent of Bangladesh’s population of 170 million, while Muslims make up 91 percent. The minority community has long been perceived as aligned with Hasina’s Awami League party, which is now barred from contesting elections while Hasina lives in exile in India. This perception has heightened their vulnerability as Bangladesh moves toward the February vote.
Additionally, the surge in attacks on Hindus has unfolded alongside the reemergence of Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, and its student wing. After years of bans, arrests, and crackdowns under Hasina’s government, the party sees the upcoming election as an opportunity to reclaim political influence. Jamaat-e-Islami anchors a broader Islamist alliance of 11 parties, including the student-led National Citizen Party, whose leaders played a central role in the 2024 uprising.
As concerns grow over what its return could mean for religious minorities, Jamaat-e-Islamist has moved to recast its public image. The party has organized public rallies featuring Hindu participants and nominated a Hindu community leader as one of its candidates, even though it advocates for Shariah, or Islamic law.
Political analyst Altaf Parvez described such moves as largely symbolic. He said a systematic pattern of attacks was taking place in rural areas to inject more fear among minorities before the vote, which could impact participation of minority voters in the election.
Diplomatic Tensions With India
Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh have also inflamed tensions with neighboring India, prompting protests by Hindu nationalist groups and criticism from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. India’s Foreign Ministry recently accused Bangladesh of downplaying a disturbing pattern of recurring attacks on Hindus. Bangladesh, in turn, described India’s criticism as systematic attempts to stoke anti-Bangladesh sentiments.
The dispute has spilled into diplomacy and sporting events. Both sides have suspended some visa services and accused each other of failing to protect diplomatic missions. Protests in India led cricket officials to bar a Bangladeshi player from the Indian Premier League tournament, followed by Bangladesh’s boycott of this month’s World Cup in India.
Sreeradha Datta, a Bangladesh expert at India’s Jindal School of International Affairs, said that India’s concerns were legitimate. She described Hindus in Bangladesh as a very vulnerable group that cannot defend themselves, and said the Yunus administration was deliberately looking the other way.
For those caught in the violence, the losses have been deeply personal. Das’ father said that when people told him they saw images of his son’s killing on their phones, his chest felt like it was going to burst. Das’ mother, Shefali Rani Das, demanded justice for the killing, saying her son was beaten, hung from a tree, and burned.
As Bangladesh approaches the February 12 election, the extent to which authorities will address concerns about minority safety and hold perpetrators accountable remains uncertain. The outcome of ongoing investigations and the government’s response to international pressure may determine whether conditions improve for the Hindu community after the vote.
