New Delhi: A mob Wednesday targeted homes and businesses belonging to Hindus in the Dowarabazar area of Sunamganj in Bangladesh’s Sylhet in what appears to be an incident triggered by an allegedly offensive Facebook post.
The attacks, which took place between evening and midnight, led to significant property damage and prompted a swift response from security forces, including the Bangladesh Army, Business Standard reported.
The unrest reportedly began when a group organised a procession to protest a social media post, allegedly offensive to Muslims, made by a Hindu youth. During the procession, attackers vandalised and looted dozens of homes and shops, including several gold stores. The mob also ransacked the Loknath Temple, causing extensive damage, estimated at around 2 million Bangladeshi Taka (about Rs 14,18,929).
The report added that at least 30 houses were vandalised and more than 100 shops in the local market were attacked. The residence and family temple of Gaur Das, a leader of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, were also targeted.
The police, meanwhile, detained the youth who is said to have posted the controversial content.
Bangladeshi writer and journalist Ahmede Hussain told ThePrint, “People of every faith and creed have the right to live peacefully side by side in this country and to prosper together. This is another regretful but, hopefully, an isolated incident that must not be allowed to repeat itself across the country.”
“We must not forget that a society is measured by the way it treats its weak and vulnerable,” he added.
He said, “It is heartening to see that law enforcement agencies are addressing the issue with the seriousness it deserves. The government must swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice.”
“It must take a firm stand against the miscreants, and it is crucial for the Yunus administration to urgently bring together faith leaders from all communities and call for strengthening social cohesion.”
Also Read: Sheikh Hasina calls Muhammad Yunus ‘mastermind’ behind mass killings in Bangladesh
Rising tensions amid attacks
Since the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government was overthrown in August, a series of attacks on temples and a crackdown on the Hindu community have unfolded over the past three months. The situation appeared to have escalated following the 25 November arrest of Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Das was charged with sedition after he led protests in Chittagong advocating for minority rights. At the protests, a saffron flag—a symbol associated with Hinduism—was allegedly raised above the Bangladesh national flag. His arrest sparked clashes, resulting in the death of a Muslim lawyer.
The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is under increasing pressure to address attacks on religious minorities, particularly Hindus, who make up less than 10 percent of the population.
Last week, India urged the Bangladesh government to take stronger action to protect its minority populations after media reports said religious leaders were being arrested and targeted. The UK government has also expressed concern with lawmakers calling for stronger measures to protect religious minorities in Bangladesh.
However, the interim Bangladesh government has dismissed these concerns. Its spokesperson, Shafiqul Alam, said in an interview on 3 December that minorities are protected.
“Hindus are well protected here. They are more protected than they were during Sheikh Hasina’s regime,” he said.
Alam also alleged in the interview with India Today that a misinformation campaign, originating from India, was inflating the narrative of minority persecution in Bangladesh.
Bangladeshi human rights activist Sarwar Tusher disagreed with the government’s stance but said he hopes for a better law-and-order situation soon.
“I disagree with the notion that there is communal tension in Bangladesh. Since Sheikh Hasina’s government politicised the police, they played a role in the July massacre. While some incidents are isolated, the government appears sincere in addressing them,” he said.
“Bangladesh is undergoing a political shift toward democracy, but the government must take stricter action to ensure the security of all citizens.”
The Dhaka-based activist told ThePrint, “I view the recent events as a breakdown of law and order, not communal tension—this is propaganda from the Awami League. Despite the killing of a lawyer in Chittagong, the Muslim community did not target Hindus; rather, there are reports of Hindus being supported.”
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
Also Read: Bangladesh journalists decry ‘unprecedented’ restrictions after govt revokes press accreditations
Yunus was a wolf in sheep’s clothing all along. He has now been exposed. He is just another Islamist.