Minorities in Bangladesh continue to face escalating persecution and violence, as state silence fuels a deepening human rights crisis.
The demolition of the Babri Masjid in India shook the entire world. We, as Muslims, still grieve over that event. But in Bangladesh, temples are destroyed almost every month—don’t Hindus feel sorrow too? Is your pain the only real one, and theirs fake?
Is this what defines the identity of Bengali Muslims?
“You’ll garland someone else’s father with shoes, but become a revolutionary if your own father is insulted.”
So many temples have been destroyed in Bangladesh, so many attacks carried out against Hindus, that it has now been normalized. Let’s not forget—Hinduism is the original religion of this land. The roots of Bengal lie in Hindu culture. Forcibly uprooting those roots will not go unpunished. Nature has a way of taking revenge.
Religious violence is the lowest form of human behavior. When you attack another religion, you only diminish your own.
Before offering your justification for the demolition of the Khilkhet temple, ask yourself: did you accept the justification behind the Babri Masjid demolition? Hindus in this country live in constant fear—one wrong word, one small misstep, and danger follows. These days, Hindus don’t even need to do anything wrong to be beaten. Just call someone maloun (a slur) and start hitting them—soon, others will join in with unified zeal. When it comes to land disputes or family feuds, Muslims in Bangladesh are divided. But when it comes to Hindu (minorities) persecution, everyone suddenly becomes united. You’d almost admire their solidarity, if it weren’t so horrifying.
Whenever Hindu persecution is brought up, people immediately scramble to prove it false—why?
Some argue that Hindus have better access to jobs and privileges. Even if we assume that’s true, isn’t it fair? Think of it on a smaller scale—if your cousin is an orphan, shouldn’t he be given more support just to survive?
Indigenous communities like the Chakma, Marma, and other ethnic minorities must be given additional opportunities. You may not know the extent of their struggle. Remember how Hindu students were bullied in school—mocked as “Kowta Nomos” or ” Aakada”? Shouldn’t those scars be acknowledged?
Despite official claims of “privilege,” Hindus and ethnic minorities do not enjoy more benefits. They face more harassment and more hurdles.
From childhood, they are forced to fight for survival. So if they’re qualifying for jobs today, it’s through merit and persistence—not privilege. But even in workplaces and neighborhoods, they are not safe.
Recently, attacks on Hindus have intensified. Anyone can now say, “They hurt our religion,” and that’s enough. Killing/attack a Hindu seems easier than catching a small fish. Where does this religious anarchy end?
On June 22, in Lalmonirhat, two Hindu men—Paresh Chandra Shil (69) and his son Bishnu Chandra Shil (35)—were arrested for allegedly “insulting Islam.” That too, based on mere verbal claims. They weren’t just arrested—they were publicly beaten. The state’s response was disturbingly biased.
On June 26, a temple in Khilkhet was bulldozed during a railway “eviction drive.” Devastatingly, the deities were crushed under bulldozers. No negotiations, no prior warning. Just destruction.
Had it been a mosque instead of a temple, there would have been nationwide riots. But in today’s Bangladesh, Hindus have no power, no protection, and no platform.
“June 22- June 26” These are just dates. Persecution of minorities continues year-round. The state’s “religious sensitivity” only applies to the majority. That imbalance creates the perfect breeding ground for mob violence.
In past temple attacks, even with CCTV evidence, the culprits were dismissed as “mentally unstable.” Now, the state itself is doing the attacking. Whom do you complain to then?
In Islamic sermons and gatherings, loudspeakers are used to openly slander non-Muslims—calling them dogs, declaring idols must be smashed. The state supports this through silence. Writers and bloggers who protest these injustices are harassed, sued, even jailed. Speaking for minorities brings accusations of “communal incitement.”
While the rest of the world reaches Mars and develops artificial hearts, we’re still stuck dealing with temple destruction and minority persecution. It’s a surreal tragedy. This is the world in which our next generation is being raised—learning not tolerance, but how to wield a sword, how to “earn heaven” by killing minorities like Hindus or Jews in the name of religion.
Author: Liakat Hossain Limon (Limon Fakir)
Blogger and Activist
Date: June 29, 2025
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[The opinions published in MinorityWatch belong solely to the author]
