In a chilling series of attacks that unfolded on 29 November, Hindu temples across Bangladesh have come under brutal assault by radical Islamist groups, further intensifying the ongoing persecution of the Hindu minority in the country. The latest spate of violence follows a destabilizing coup against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, a development that has left the Hindu community increasingly vulnerable to radical forces and state-sponsored violence.
The attacks, which have become a daily horror for Hindus in Bangladesh, were marked by assaults on several revered Hindu religious sites, including the Shanteshri Matri Temple in Chittagong’s Pathorghata, the Jagatbandhu Ashram Temple in Pathorghata, and two Iskcon Temples in Habiganj and Kishoreganj. The Bhairav Iskcon Temple in Kishoreganj and the Iskcon Temple in Habiganj were also targeted in coordinated raids, with radicals damaging sacred idols, setting fire to temple property, and terrorizing the local Hindu community.
The attacks are a part of disturbing pattern of escalating violence against Hindus since the political upheaval began. Radical Islamists have seized upon the power vacuum created by the coup to ramp up their attacks on religious minorities, particularly Hindus.
In addition to the destruction of religious property, reports indicate a chilling rise in the abduction of Hindu girls and women. These women are often forcibly converted to Islam and married off to extremists. In several regions across Bangladesh, Hindu homes and businesses have been burned down, their owners either fleeing or facing brutal reprisals for attempting to protect their livelihoods.
The arrests of prominent Hindu figures such as Adinath Brahmachari and Raghunath Brahmachari have further intensified the climate of fear. These respected community leaders, known for their commitment to preserving Hindu traditions, have been detained by authorities under questionable circumstances, heightening concerns about the growing marginalization of Hindus in the country.
The assault on Hindu temples and the systematic abduction and conversion of Hindu women are a testament to the increasing radicalization of parts of Bangladesh’s political and religious landscape. These incidents also reflect the broader context of the Pak-backed Islamization agenda that has been steadily taking root across the region.