Over 98% of Attacks Politically Motivated, Says Police Investigation
Minority Watch
The interim government of Bangladesh has acknowledged widespread violence targeting the Hindu minority following the departure of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government.
However, citing findings from police investigations, the government clarified that most of these incidents were politically motivated rather than communal in nature.
“These attacks have deepened societal divisions and undermined trust in Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, whose government has failed to take adequate action,” said Manindra Kumar Nath, acting general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC).
Nath noted that the severity of the violence has spurred large-scale protests among minority communities.
The Findings by Police
“Police confirmed the authenticity of 1,254 out of 1,415 reported incidents,” said a press release issued by the Chief Advisor’s press wing on Saturday (January 11, 2025).
“Among the verified cases, 1,234 (98.4%) attacks were politically motivated, while 20 (1.59%) had communal motivations.”
“The investigation also determined that 161 allegations were unfounded,” deputy press secretary to the Chief Advisor, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, adding, “at least 354 incidents are still pending investigation.”
BHBCUC, the common platform of different minority communities, reported 2,010 incidents of violence including attacks, vandalism, nine murders, four rapes, and 69 assaults on places of worship in 16 days from August 4 to August 20 of 2024.
Police said that 1,769 of these incidents involved attacks and vandalism.
Notably, August 5 alone accounted for 1,452 incidents, representing 82.8% of the total complaints. This day saw a significant deterioration in law and order nationwide, following the fall of the Awami League government.
From August 5 to January 8, 2025, police reported receiving 134 additional complaints, registering 53 cases and 53 general diaries (GDs), and arresting 63 offenders.
But Manindra Nath told Minority Watch that his organization compiled 189 additional communal attacks reported in newspapers between August 21 and December 29, 2024.
Government Response and Actions
The Chief Advisor’s office, citing the police report, stated that affected areas, institutions, and individuals were contacted to verify 1,415 complaints. Victims were encouraged to file complaints, and security measures were implemented. The government emphasized a “zero-tolerance” policy toward communal violence, recording 62 cases and 951 general diaries (GDs) from 1,769 complaints, with 35 arrests made so far.
The press statement outlined ongoing efforts to protect minority communities, including creating a WhatsApp group for complaints, coordinating with community leaders, and responding promptly via the national emergency helpline (999). The victims will also be compensated.
Call for Greater Action
BHBCUC leader Manindra Kumar Nath expressed gratitude for the investigations but criticized the limited arrests. “Despite the scale of violence, only 63 criminals have been arrested,” he remarked.
Nath reflected on the anti-discrimination movement that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, noting that minorities, including Hindus, had hoped to see an end to discrimination. “But now, we witness heightened discrimination. Hindus are being targeted and systematically removed from government jobs on communal lines,” he told Minority Watch.
“Dr. Yunus declared the violence politically motivated rather than communal in nature beforehand.. Hindu youths sacrificed their lives in the anti-discrimination movement, paving the way for Dr. Yunus’s rise to power. Instead of stereotyping Hindus as Awami League supporters, he could have sought to earn their trust.”
The Chief Advisor’s Office, however, reiterated its commitment to protecting human rights for all citizens, regardless of religion, caste, ethnicity, or gender. It pledged to hold perpetrators accountable and restore public trust in governance.
