Why are minorities feared with the change of power in the politics of Bangladesh.

Sangram Datta: With the change of power in the politics of Bangladesh, the issue of security of minorities, especially Hindus, becomes very sensitive.

No government in past 53 years since independence prosecuted the atrocities conducted against the country's Hindu community, establishing a culture of impunity for such crimes which in turn emboldened the perpetrators over the years.

Whenever anything happens, the minorities always become the target of repression.

 It's found in the politics of the last four decades, after the Awami League was defeated in the elections or after being ousted from power, allegations of torture against Hindus came to the fore.

On 29 October 1990, during the regime of General Ershad, the newspaper 'Dainik Inkilab' published a report entitled "Babri Masjid has been demolished".  After that, the houses, shops and temples of the minorities were attacked in different parts of the country following that rumors.

Political observers and leaders of various Hindu organizations say a large-scale attack on Hindus in Bangladesh took place in 1992, during the demolition of the Babri mosque in India.

 At that time, the BNP government was in power under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia.  Then large-scale attacks on Hindus took place after Awami League was defeated in the 2001 elections.

Soon after BNP won the election, Hindus were attacked in several districts of the country.  However, the caretaker government led by Justice Latifur Rahman was in power at that time.

From the day the election results were announced to the BNP coming to power, there were attacks on Hindus at various places.  Besides, several incidents happened even after BNP assumed power.

Behind these allegations were raised against many people involved in BNP politics.

The latest allegations of attacks on Hindus came after Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5.

How many attacks occurred?

Jatiya Hindu Mahazot, an organization of Hindus, claimed through a statistic that after the fall of Sheikh Hasina, there were 278 attacks in 48 districts.

On the other hand, another organization called Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad claims that at least 205 incidents of minority torture have occurred in 52 districts.

An organization called 'Minority Rights Movement' has demanded the formation of a 'Minority Commission' to investigate the attacks on houses and places of worship of the Hindu community in different parts of the country.

However, it was not possible to verify the truth of the claims made by these organizations. However, how many of these cases were attacked due to religious identity, and how many attacks were carried out on people close to the government as part of anger, it was not possible to verify impartially.

Why the fear of Hindus?

Although there is a debate about the number of attacks that took place after Sheikh Hasina's fall and escape, the atmosphere of fear and terror that Hindus are living in can be seen in various places.

Rana Dasgupta feels that a culture of impunity has been created in Bangladesh for attacks on Hindus. Those involved in these attacks have never been prosecuted in the past.  As a result it cannot be stopped.

 "They are the ones who pounce on Hindus who do not believe in religious coexistence."  He said this trend has been going on since the Pakistan era.

India, Hindu and Awami League – these three things are thought in one line.  Rana Das Gupta does not deny this fact.

 Mr. Gupta admits that for the last 15 years, the Awami League has tried to eliminate the 'discrimination of the past' in the recruitment and promotion of government jobs.

The proportion of minorities in Bangladesh is eight percent of the total population.  But he mentioned that the appointment and promotion were not done in that proportion.

 "When the minorities were seen, they started shouting again that the minorities are eating everything."

 He said, Hindus can never take a stand for religious nationalism.

 Mushtaq Khan, a professor at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London told the BBC Bangla that the Awami League and India benefited the most politically from attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

 “Many people of Awami League were attacked  and Hindus have good representation in Awami League.  "

 But Rana Das Gupta, leader of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Parishad, refused to accept these words.  He said that the attacks on Hindus this time have a communal dimension.

 He said, there is no opportunity to give political dimension to the matter.

 “Absolute lies. House of Filmmaker Hrithik Ghatak has been demolished. Was He a leader of Awami League?  Then why was his house demolished?”  Rana Das Gupta raised the question.

Land is a big matter:

Two non-governmental research organizations in Bangladesh said in a report that 70 percent of the violence against religious minorities in the country is land related.  And this violence manifests itself through the destruction of minority property or religious places of worship.

 Bangladesh Peace Observatory (BPO) of Center for Alternatives (CA) has provided these data in June by analyzing various types of violence against minorities from 2013 to 2022.

 Most of the violence against minorities have been against Hindus. Many common Hindus also think so.

Rajiv Kar, a resident of Comilla, told BBC Bangla, "As there are attacks for political reasons, there is also a target for taking over the property of Hindus. But the facts do not appear to be judged.

After the BNP-Jamaat alliance came to power in the general elections in 2001, a judicial inquiry commission was formed to investigate the allegations of attacks, killings, rapes and looting and anti-humanity activities against the leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliates and the people of the minority communities.

The chairman of the inquiry commission was

Md.  Sahabuddin, who is currently the President of the country.

Although the Sahabuddin Commission received 25 thousand complaints, they scrutinized and accepted 5 thousand complaints.  But the Hindu leaders say that they have not been tried.

Political calculations

There is a political calculation on minority persecution.  Before and after almost every election, minorities are victimized.  And the two major political parties make statements blaming each other.  But practically no one stands up for the oppressed and protests.  Everyone tries to take benefits.  

From 2012 to 2021 during the regimes of Awami League led Sheikh Hasina government,

The homes and temples of minorities were attacked, vandalized and looted in different parts of the country raising religious defamation remuors 

in the  social media specially Facebook.

But no punitive action was taken against the criminal gangs.

There are two largest organizations of Hindus namely Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad and Bangladesh Hindu Mahajut, But in reality, none of them stands for those who are oppressed in villages and towns of the country.