Press Conference
on
Addressing Communal Violence and Discrimination
Date: January 30, 2025
Time: 11:00 AM
Venue: Abdus Salam Hall, National Press Club, Dhaka
⇒Click here to read the original statement of HBCUC in Bangla
Dear Journalist Friends,
On behalf of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a human rights organization against religious discrimination, we extend our heartfelt greetings and salutations to you all. We express our gratitude for your kind presence at today’s press conference.
Through this press conference, with your cooperation, we present several key issues in a written statement, seeking the attention and proactive engagement of the nation, all political parties, civil society leaders, and the government.
The issues being presented today are as follows:
- Ongoing communal violence,
- Discriminatory behavior by state institutions,
- Constitutional reform initiatives by the interim government,
- Representation and participation of religious and ethnic minorities in state institutions,
- Filing of false and harassing cases against religious and ethnic minority leaders,
- Special state initiatives for Dalits and marginalized communities, and
- Implementation of an eight-point demand for minorities.
Ongoing communal violence
Dear Journalist Brothers and Sisters,
Following the political shift on August 5, 2024, brought about by the anti-discrimination student and mass movement, religious minority communities across the country have faced widespread violence. In response, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council held a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Thursday, September 19, 2024. During this event, we presented a detailed report and a list of 2,010 incidents of communal violence that occurred nationwide between August 4 and August 20, 2024. With your cooperation, this was shared to inform the nation, political parties, civil society leaders, and the government.
At the press conference, we strongly demanded an immediate end to communal violence, the swift arrest of those responsible, and exemplary punishment through legal proceedings.
Regrettably, we have observed that the government initially dismissed these incidents, opting instead to discredit our report by labeling it as false, exaggerated, and fabricated. However, thanks to your unwavering support, national and international media outlets published reports confirming the incidents we documented. Additionally, domestic and international human rights organizations, the United Nations Human Rights body, and representatives from parliaments and governments worldwide raised concerns about the communal attacks.
As a result, on December 10, 2024, during a press briefing, Bangladesh’s interim government officially admitted that several communal attacks had taken place and stated that measures were being taken to address them. So far, 70 individuals have been arrested in connection with 88 cases.
Later, on January 11, 2025, the Chief Advisor’s Press Wing, citing police investigations, informed the media that out of the 2,010 incidents reported by the Unity Council, 1,769 cases of attacks and vandalism had occurred. Among these, 1,415 have been investigated, while inquiries into the remaining 354 are ongoing. Based on these investigations, 62 cases have been filed, 951 general diaries recorded, and 35 perpetrators arrested.
The Press Wing further stated that, according to police findings, of the 1,769 incidents, 1,234 were politically motivated, while 20 were communal in nature.
Regardless of how the ongoing violence is interpreted, the Unity Council firmly believes that since August 4, religious and ethnic minority communities have been systematically targeted. Their homes, places of worship, and businesses have suffered attacks, vandalism, looting, arson, sexual violence, murder, and forced extortion. Both men and women, including adolescents, have been victims of these crimes. Such communal violence against minorities is not only a criminal offense but also a crime against humanity—and it continues to this day.
An analysis of the ongoing communal violence, based on reports published in various newspapers after August 20, 2024, reveals that between August 21, 2024, and December 31, 2024, a total of 174 communal attacks took place across different regions of the country, particularly in rural areas. In some cases, multiple families were affected by a single incident.
Serial No. | Type of Communal Violence | Number of Incidents |
1. | Murder- | 23 |
2. | Torture/rape/gang rape of women- | 9 |
3. | Attacks, vandalism, looting and arson of places of worship-
|
64 |
4. | Arrests and torture on charges of alleged blasphemy- | 15 |
5. | Attacks, vandalism, looting and arson of houses and businesses- | 38 |
6. | Forcible occupation of houses, land and businesses- | 25 |
Total-
|
174
|
In the ongoing communal violence, both men and women, as well as adolescents and young girls, have been subjected to both physical and psychological torture. Across the country, all minority communities in Bangladesh are living in a state of trauma due to these incidents.
The government’s denial of communal violence by attributing it to political motives, coupled with its failure to arrest and prosecute the actual perpetrators, has led to impunity for communal miscreants. As a result, the entire minority population faces growing threats.
We believe the information presented above reflects only a partial picture of the broader events. The data shared at the September 19, 2024 press conference was gathered through the Unity Council’s regional branch organizations across the country. However, this time, it was not possible to collect similar information. Local leaders, due to the ongoing threats, attacks, and false legal cases against them, were unable to gather data from the ground.
We would also like to highlight that violence against ethnic minority indigenous communities is on the rise. On January 15, during a peaceful protest demanding the protection of indigenous communities’ existence and identity, as well as opposing the removal of paintings or graffiti related to the July Uprising featuring the word “indigenous” from grades 9 and 10 textbooks, an identified group launched an armed attack on them. Many indigenous students, both boys and girls, as well as men and women, were seriously injured. Several of them are still receiving treatment in various hospitals.
Sadly, many of the actual perpetrators involved in this attack have yet to be arrested or brought to justice. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has already expressed strong outrage and condemnation against all forms of this communal and inhuman violence. We are once again urgently demanding that the government take immediate and effective action to stop all violence against indigenous communities.
It is time to end the politics and culture of impunity and ensure justice for minorities who have been victims of decades of communal violence.
Discriminatory Behavior of State Institutions
Dear Journalists,
We are observing that the interim government has started various forms of discriminatory behavior against minorities, using key state institutions. This is unexpected and undesirable, especially from a government that was established through an anti-discrimination student and public movement.
This discriminatory behavior initially began with the forced resignation of minority teachers in educational institutions under the guise of mob justice. Many of these teachers, who were victims of this action, have still not been able to return to their beloved educational institutions. As a result, many are now being forced to live inhumane lives, along with their families.
At today’s press conference, we would like to highlight that, since October 21, 2024, 804 Sub-Inspectors appointed to the 40th Cadet Sub-Inspector (SI) position have been dismissed in four phases based on false allegations of misconduct during their training at the Sarada Police Academy.
Out of the 804 trainees, 175 were from religious minority communities, which accounts for 21.77% of the total. Of the 321 trainees dismissed, 103 were from minority communities. This represents 32.09% of those dismissed and 12.81% of the total trainees. In other words, the percentage of minority trainees has dropped from 21.77% (175-103 = 72 recruits) to 8.96%.
Among the 55 female officers, 33 were dismissed, and of these, 16 were from minority communities, which makes up 48.48% of the total dismissed female officers. It has been reported that those who were dismissed were not given the opportunity to defend themselves according to proper procedure. We believe that this process is completely contrary to Bangladesh’s laws and regulations and is a clear violation of human rights.
We also observed that, on December 15, 2024, during the training of the Assistant Superintendents of Police in the 40th BCS police cadre, 25 out of 66 trainees were issued show-cause notices for unknown reasons. Later, 21 were removed, of which 9 were from minority communities.
On October 15, 2024, a list of 2064 candidates who passed the 43rd BCS examination was published. Subsequently, the Public Service Commission declared 2163 candidates as successful, but 267 (227 deemed temporarily unfit and 40 absent from health exams) were removed. On December 30, 2024, 1896 were declared fit. This means that 227 candidates were excluded under the pretext of intelligence department verification. Of these, 82 were from religious minority communities, making up 36.12% of the total exclusions.
Among the 26 candidates removed from the Assistant Commissioner (Administration) position, 14 were from minority communities, which accounts for 53.84% of the total exclusions. Out of the 3 removed from the position of Assistant Secretary (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), all 3 were from minority communities, representing 100%. Similarly, among the 7 removed from the Assistant Commissioner (Tax) position, 5 were from minority communities, a 71.42% exclusion rate.
The only eligible candidate for the Assistant Commissioner (Customs and Excise) position was also excluded. Additionally, two candidates from minority communities who were mentioned in the October 15 circular for the position of Assistant Food Controller were omitted in the December 30 circular. Similarly, all 5 excluded candidates for the position of Lecturer (Social Science) and 6 out of 8 excluded candidates for Lecturer (English) were from minority communities. A disturbing trend of discriminatory behavior has been observed across various positions.
The current interim government, after assuming office, has appointed 23 judges to the High Court. Of these, only 1 is from a minority community. According to available information, out of 228 individuals appointed from the position of Attorney General to Assistant Attorney General in the higher courts, only 1 Deputy Attorney General and 1 Assistant Attorney General are from the minority community. There is no representation of minority communities in the Public Service Commission.
In today’s press conference, we strongly condemn the discriminatory practices of the state in various institutions and demand that the government immediately cease such discrimination. We believe that this treatment of the minority community is part of a deeper conspiracy aimed at systematically dispossessing minorities from all state institutions. The core slogan of the anti-discrimination student movement was ‘No quota, only merit’. In this case, we believe that the government has prioritized the quota system as a tool of discrimination over valuing merit.
Initiatives by the Interim Government for Constitutional Reform
Dear Journalist Brothers and Sisters,
The Interim Government of Bangladesh has constituted a committee, led by Professor Dr. Ali Riaz, to reform the constitution that was established through the Liberation War. The committee has already submitted a draft proposal to the Honorable Chief Adviser. According to the media, the proposal includes a recommendation to alter the fundamental principles of the state, notably suggesting the removal of ‘secularism.’ It is important to note that there was no representation from minority communities in this reform committee, nor was there any consultation with the institutional leaders of the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian, or indigenous communities as stakeholders in the process.
Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians fought together for the independence won through the Liberation War, sacrificing the blood of 3 million martyrs and the honor of 2 million mothers and sisters, with the shared goal of establishing a secular, non-discriminatory, democratic, and justice-based state and society. In 1972, the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was adopted based on four core principles. The attempt by the Constitutional Reform Committee to remove ‘secularism’ and other foundational principles, and to alter the term ‘People’s Republic,’ is completely unacceptable.
The removal of ‘secularism’ would represent an attack on religious freedom, denying the discrimination faced by religious and ethnic minorities in our state and society. It would also amount to endorsing communalism and the political exploitation of religion. Such an action would absolve the state of its duty to protect the religious freedom of all its citizens, regardless of their faith.
We are presenting our proposals for constitutional reform through today’s press conference:
- Rule of Law and Equality for All Citizens: The proposal in the current constitution aims to uphold the rule of law, fundamental human rights, and political, economic, and social equality, freedom, and justice for all citizens, regardless of race, religion, or caste.
The current provision states: “Pledging that the high ideals of nationalism, socialism, democracy and secularism, which inspired our heroic people to dedicate themselves to, and our brave martyrs to sacrifice their lives in, the national liberation struggle, shall be the fundamental principles of the Constitution.”
We express our strong support for retaining this provision in its entirety.
- State Religion: Article 2(A) declares “The state religion of the Republic is Islam, but the State shall ensure equal status and equal right in the practice of the Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and other religions.”
However, this provision contradicts the core principle of the constitution, which aims to ensure rule of law, fundamental human rights, and political, economic, and social equality for all citizens. It has divided the united nation of Bangladesh along religious lines, reducing religious and ethnic minorities to second-class citizens.
We propose the complete abolition of Article 2(A) and submit this proposal to the people of the country.
- Secularism and Religious Freedom: Article 12 of the constitution outlines: “The principle of secularism shall be realised by the elimination of –
(a) communalism in all its forms ;
(b) the granting by the State of political status in favour of any religion ;
(c) the abuse of religion for political purposes ;
(d) any discrimination against, or persecution of, persons practicing a particular religion.”
We strongly support the full retention of the secularism and religious freedom principles outlined in Article 12. A secular state ensures the inclusion of all citizens, regardless of race, religion, or caste, which remains one of the core principles of our constitution.
Article 28 of the Constitution, which addresses ‘Discrimination on grounds of religion, etc.’ states:
(1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
(2) Women shall have equal rights with men in all spheres of the State and of public life.
(3) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth be subjected to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to access to any place of public entertainment or resort, or admission to any educational institution.
(4) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making special provision in favour of women or children or for the advancement of any backward section of citizens.
We strongly support the retention of Article 28, which addresses ‘discrimination on the grounds of religion, etc.’ and, In order to eliminate existing discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities, we are presenting the following proposals to the government and the people of the country through you:
- The enactment of a Minority Protection Law,
- The establishment of a National Minority Commission, and
- The formation of a Ministry of Minority Affairs.
These proposals are crucial to eliminate the ongoing discrimination faced by religious and ethnic minorities in society and to ensure that all citizens are equal under the law and entitled to equal protection.
- Due to continuous persecution, oppression, and discrimination over the past seven decades, the religious minority community has transitioned from being an ‘advancing group’ to a ‘backward group.’ Therefore, we are raising the proposal to reserve 60 parliamentary seats for minorities through direct elections, in order to constitutionally ensure proper representation of religious and ethnic minorities in the Bangladesh National Parliament. This proposal is submitted for the kind consideration of the government, political parties, and civil society.
Representation of Religious and Ethnic Minorities in State Institutions
Dear Journalist Friends,
As you are aware, significant disparities exist in the representation of citizens across various state institutions in Bangladesh, irrespective of their race, religion, or caste (including institutions such as the Bangladesh National Parliament, the National Election Commission, the National Human Rights Commission, the Public Service Commission, the National Information Commission, and others). This imbalance poses a substantial barrier to the creation of a non-discriminatory and secular Bangladesh. We strongly urge the government to address this issue without delay. We propose that at least 20% of the representation in the committees of these institutions be reserved for religious and ethnic minorities.
False Harassment Cases Filed Against Religious and Ethnic Minority Leaders
Dear Journalist Friends,
Since the fall of the Awami League government, men and women from religious and ethnic minority communities, including youth and children, have been peacefully protesting across the country against the ongoing communal violence that began on August 9, 2024. In some cases, these protests have evolved into acts of resistance against the violence. However, we have noticed that a certain segment of society has been systematically filing false harassment cases against these minorities. In many instances, these fabricated cases have been taken up by the authorities, leading to the arrest of several leaders, who are now being detained in various prisons. Among them is Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagran Jote, who has been imprisoned for an extended period. Many others have gone into hiding.
We also observe a persistent effort to silence religious and ethnic minorities by labeling them as “associates of tyranny” and filing false cases to imprison and harass them. Meanwhile, those involved in communal violence and conspiracies continue to move freely within society without facing consequences. Furthermore, those who wish to provide legal support to these minority leaders are being actively obstructed by certain organized groups. In some cases, these individuals have even faced physical assault. We believe that the right of religious and ethnic minorities to receive legal aid—both as human beings and citizens—is now under serious threat.
Our Appeal to the Interim Government
We call on the Interim Government to immediately withdraw all false and harassment-based cases filed against religious and ethnic minority leaders across the country, including Advocate Rana Dasgupta, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council. We also demand the immediate release of all leaders currently imprisoned, including Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari. We assert with conviction that the religious and ethnic minority communities in Bangladesh have always stood for peace, opposed discrimination, and contributed to the creation of a democratic Bangladesh, and they continue to do so today.
Special Initiatives by the State for Dalits and Marginalized Communities
The Constitutional Reform Commission, along with 11 other reform commissions, has been established. However, we regret to note that no separate commission has been formed specifically for Dalit and marginalized communities, such as the indigenous tribes of the plains and hills, tea workers, Harijans, Rishis, and Rajbanshi communities. We strongly believe that special initiatives from the state and government are essential to address the existing discrimination faced by these communities, and this must be constitutionally and legally ensured.
Implementation of the 8-Point Demands
To safeguard the rights and existence of religious minorities, the government must take immediate and appropriate action to implement the following 8-point demands. We trust that the Reform Commission and the government will play an active role in advancing the necessary steps to implement these demands in the areas of state reform.
- Enact a Minority Protection Act;
- Establish a National Minority Commission and a Ministry for Minorities;
- Remove bureaucratic obstacles hindering the effective implementation of the Vested Property Return Act, and ensure the immediate return of land ownership and possession to the victims based on tribunal verdicts;
- Due to the ongoing persecution, oppression, and discrimination over the past seven decades, the religious minority community has transitioned from a ‘progressive community to a marginalized community.’ In light of Article 28(4) of the current Constitution, we propose reserving 60 parliamentary seats for minorities through direct voting in order to constitutionally ensure proper representation of religious and ethnic minority communities in the National Parliament of Bangladesh;
- Enact a law for the protection of ancestral property;
- Enact a law to eliminate discrimination;
- Ensure the full implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Agreement, and effectively enforce the Three Hill District Councils Act and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council Act;
- To promote religious observance within minority communities, in addition to existing public holidays, the government should declare 3 days of public holidays for the Hindu community during Durga Puja (from Ashtami to Dashami), 1 day for the Buddhist community on Prabarana Purnima, and 1 day for the Christian community on Easter Sunday.
Dear Journalist Friends,
Through this written statement, we have sought to highlight the current dire situation faced by the people of the minority communities and their aspirations to the citizens of the country, political leaders, civil society, and the current government through your esteemed platforms. We trust that the interim government will take the necessary and effective steps in this regard.
We call on the leaders of all political parties to take concrete actions, including shaping public opinion, to eliminate the existing discrimination against religious and ethnic minorities and to ensure their inclusion in their political agendas, with the goal of creating a non-discriminatory, secular, democratic, and humane Bangladesh.
In conclusion, we want to emphasize that the religious and ethnic minorities are now united—against communal violence, for the protection of rights and dignity, and for the preservation of their existence.
Dear Journalist Brothers and Sisters,
You have generously given your time to hear our statements. We hope that you will continue to support our cause by featuring our message in your respective media outlets and by contributing to the advancement of the ongoing human rights movement against discrimination faced by religious and ethnic minorities.
We wish you good health and long life.
With heartfelt gratitude,
(Dr. Nim Chandra Bhowmik)
(Ushatan Talukdar)
(Nirmal Rosario)
Three Presidents
(Manindra Kumar Nath)
Acting General Secretary
and
Joint Coordinator
Religious-Ethnic Minority Unity Front