2024 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence

Following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina on 5 August 2024, attacks began on some of the homes, businesses, and places of worship of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. According to analysts, most of these attacks were not communal but a mix of political retributions or general criminal offences amid a law and order crisis in the country.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported that from 4 August to 20 August, a total of 2,010 incidents (including 69 temples) of attacks on minorities took place across the country within this 16-day period. Among the incidents, homes of 157 families were attacked, looted, vandalised and set on fire while some of their businesses were also attacked, looted and vandalised. 5 Hindus were killed in these attacks, of which at least 2 were confirmed as Awami League members. According to a UN Human Rights Office report, these abuses also affected Ahmadiyya Muslims, Hindus, and indigenous people from the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Meanwhile, Indian media as well as India-based social media accounts began to disseminate disinformation and propaganda on the attacks; BBC Verify both confirmed some attacks hurt minorities and found that many online claims about the violence were unverified, exaggerated, or misleadingly framed. Fact checkers highlighted the situation's complexity and the difficulties in accurately assessing causes of violence.
In July 2024, the quota reform movement morphed into a fierce anti-government mass uprising, known as the Student–People's uprising, ultimately removed the Awami League government from state power with the resignation of Sheikh Hasina who was accused of fostering authoritarianism, corruption and democratic backsliding. Various violence took place against the Hindu minority of Bangladesh after the political unrest. Various people from the Hindu background were affected by the mob violence.
Following Hasina's departure, a series of communal attacks were reported, particularly targeting Hindus in Bangladesh. These incidents included alleged attacks on temples, houses, and shops belonging to minority communities, as well as reports of looting and murder across several districts in the country.
According to the Investigation conducted by Prothom Alo correspondents across 64 districts and 67 upazilas between 5–20 August 2024, 1,068 attacks on the minority community occurred in 49 districts. The majority of the attacks occurred in the southwestern division of Khulna, where at least 295 homes and businesses belonging to minority communities were destroyed. In addition, 219 structures were damaged in Rangpur, 183 in Mymensingh, 155 in Rajshahi, 79 in Dhaka, 68 in Barishal, 45 in Chattogram, and 25 in Sylhet. The extent of the damage varied, with some areas experiencing severe destruction, while others sustained less significant harm. Two members of the Hindu community were killed in the violence, and a total of 912 attacks were documented. Of these, in at least 506 cases, the victims were affiliated with Awami League. Correspondents from Prothom Alo personally observed 546 damaged houses and businesses, accounting for 51 percent of the total damaged structures.
Minority groups in Bangladesh reported 2,010 incidents of communal violence across the country between 4–20 August 2024. 1,705 families were directly affected in the violence. Among them, 157 families had their homes and businesses were attacked, looted, vandalized, and set on fire. Lands of some of the families were forcibly occupied. 9 people died in the violence. An investigation published on 30 October by Netra News found that none of the murders bore clear signs of religious or communal motives. Instead, a mix of political retribution, mob violence, and criminal homicides was behind the incidents involving the seven deaths. Additionally, some cases, the Unity Council's assertions were undercut by the very news reports they cited and by their own grassroots officials.
According to sources from the police headquarters, following the fall of the Awami League government, between 5 August and 9 August, there have been 47 incidents surrounding puja mandaps (pandals), including the vandalism of 30 idols and temples, 4 thefts or robberies, 3 arson attacks, and 10 other incidents. According to Bangladesh police, 35 untoward incidents related to Durga Puja in Bangladesh since October 1. And 17 persons have been arrested and about a dozen cases registered.
Samakal analyzed 296 incidents of communal violence against Hindu communities and found 135 to be true.
At a press conference organized by the Bangladesh Chhatra Oikya Parishad, an organization representing the minority community, it was stated that 49 teachers from the minority community have been forced to resign between 5 August and 31 August.
An OHCHR report described the violence against Hindus to be motivated by "religious & ethnic discrimination, revenge against Awami League supporters, local communal disputes over land & interpersonal issues."
In October 2024, despite heavy security & deployment of armed personnel, scattered incidents of idol desecration & violent intimidation of Hindus occurred in various parts of the country during Durga Puja festivities in an attempt to jeopardize the observance of the most important Hindu festival in the country. The golden crown donated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the shrine of Jessoreshwari during his state visit in 2021 was reported to have been stolen by unidentified miscreants.
After the visit of India's foreign secretary on 9 December 2024, the interim Bangladeshi government stated that it had arrested 77 people in connection to 88 cases registered for violence against Hindus. Indian Minister of External Affairs (MoS), Kirti Vardhan Singh stated in the Lok Sabha that between 26 November 2024 & 25 January 2025, 76 incidents of anti-Hindu violence have taken place. Since Hasina's resignation, 23 Hindus were killed & 152 Hindu temples had been desecrated.
The highest number of attacks occurred in the Khulna Division, with 74 homes and businesses destroyed in the Khulna district between 5–20 August, followed by Jashore, Satkhira, and Magura. On the night of 5 August, an attack was launched on Bejpara, a neighborhood in Jashore town where at least 200 Hindu families reside. According to local residents, around 9:15 PM, a group of 20 to 25 individuals armed with cleavers and sticks attacked the area, damaging and looting houses.
On 6 August, a retired schoolteacher, Mrinal Kanti Chatterjee, was killed in Bagerhat Sadar Upazila. The slain teacher's daughter, Priyonthi Chatterjee, stated that Muslims attacked their house, killed her father, and struck her mother on the head. Priyonthi Chatterjee further said that her parents called the police and army but none of them answered the calls. In Jashore, 50 Hindu houses were attacked, torched, looted, and robbed at various locations.
In Meherpur, nine Hindu houses were attacked, including one belonging to an Awami League leader. Several thousand people vandalized at least 25 shops and looted goods in Narkelbaria Bazar of Bagharpara Upazila. Twenty to twenty-five Hindu houses were vandalized and looted in five villages of Dhalgram Union Parishad in Bagharpara Upazila in four times.
Minority-owned homes and businesses in Koyra Upazila of Khulna District were looted.
On 14 August, a Hindu businessman's house in Khulna was looted and set on fire.
On 21 September, multiple temples in Dacope Upazila of Khulna have repeatedly received anonymous letters via mail addressed to the temple's Puja celebration committees. The letters state, "To celebrate Durga Puja, each temple must pay a donation of five lakh taka." Along with this, the letters issue a chilling threat: anyone who informs the authorities or the press will be killed. The committee has decided to cancel the Durga Puja. The content of the letters sent to the three temples is almost identical.
The second largest number of attacks occurred in Rangpur Division. The minority communities in the districts within this division were particularly targeted.
On 5 August, in Lalmonirhat, fires were set to the homes of Puja Udjapan Parishad member Pradip Chandra Roy, four families in Kaliganj Upazila, and twelve Hindu houses in Hatibandha Upazila, along with looting. On the same day, several Hindu homes in Panchagarh were attacked and vandalized. Ten houses in Dinajpur were also vandalized, and a temple in Railbazarhat was attacked. In Lakshmipur, a group of 200–300 people set fire to a two-story Hindu house.
In Phulbari, Kurigram, a 16-years-old schoolgirl from the was abducted. Locals report that at the beginning of September, a letter was posted on a tree in the Hindu neighborhood, stating, "This house's girl will be taken away and converted to Islam." Later, on September 4, Ranjit Chandra Sen filed a general diary in the Phulbari Police Station. Locals also report that on Wednesday, around 5 p.m., while she was returning home from a coaching center, Alinur Rahman and his accomplices abducted her.
On October 1, idols were vandalized by a hindu in Kotwali, Sundarganj. The police arrested a person named Bhavesh Chandra Das in connection with the vandalism in Sundarganj Thana. According to the local police, On the basis of secret information, the SI and his force of the police station conducted a raid and arrested Bhavesh Chandra with 250 grams of ganja from his house in Kalidanga Dashpara of Tarapur Union. He is the son of Khitish Chandra Das of that village.
It was alleged that on 22 November, a chartered bus, enroute from Rajarhat in Kurigram District to a rally in Rangpur organized by the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Jote to raise the demands of the Hindu community, was attacked in Kaunia. Thirty people were injured.
Attacks against homes, business and places of worship occurred in Netrakona and Mymensingh districts, with fewer incidents being reported in Sherpur and Jamalpur. While multiple Hindu owned shops were looted and vandalized in Netrakona town.
Avirup Sarkar is a Bangladeshi Hindu. His cousin lives in Netrokona, almost 100 people entered their house armed with sticks, vandalized her home. They took all the cash and jewellery. While retreating with the spoils, the mob shouted, "You people are descendants of the Awami League! Because of you this country is in a bad shape. You should leave the country."
On 6 August, BNP leader (Jubo Dol) Kabirul Islam took control of five business establishments owned by Hindus in Dobaura. One of the victims, Atul Sarkar, stated that they had been running their businesses since 1997. After the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August, their business establishments were seized on 6 August.
On the midnight of 12 August, a fire was set at the house of Dipak Kumar Saha in Netrakona Sadar Upazila, burning nine cows, six goats, and irrigation equipment to ashes. Dipak Kumar Saha claims that the fire caused a loss of at least 1.6 million BDT.
Mobs in Hatiya Upazila of Noakhali district attacked three houses and four businesses belonging to Hindus.
In Chandpur District, the homes of school principals Ratan Kumar Mazumder in Chandpur town and Haripad Das in Faridganj Upazila were attacked.
On September 21, idols were vandalized at a Durga Puja Mandap in Ramganj, Lakshmipur. The president of the Bangladesh Youth Unity Council, Shimul Saha, said, "In Ramganj, children were incited and used to carry out the attack and vandalism of idols."
Additionally, there were reports of attacks on Hindu homes in a village near Chattogram, according to witnesses and the relatives of those affected.
In the Comilla district, the Durga idol was damaged and the donation box at the temple was looted.
On October 10, Muslim extremists set fire to a Hindu house near Aziz Fazilpur Tulatuli.
On 1 November, Sanatan Jagaran Manch proclaimed a protest rally against attacks on Hindus, vandalism and arson of temples, and looting of property in Chattogram. The police barred the Hindus from joining the rally. Liakat Ali Khan, Deputy Commissioner, Chattogram Metropolitan Police (South), said, "As per administrative orders, we hindered them from holding the rally.". On 31 August, a sedition case was filed at Kotwali Police Station against 19 persons, including Sanatan Jagaran Manch spokesperson Chinmoy Krishna Das.
A group of 100-150 people, led by BNP leader Azizul Haque, attacked a Hindu household in Dhamrai Upazila. Two private cars were vandalized along with furniture from the house and the temple.
Two Hindu-owned shops were looted in Sadarpur Upazila.
In Shariatpur, miscreants destroyed the Dhakua Manasa Bari temple and attempted to attack Hindu homes, but the assault was thwarted by the arrival of the Army.
On 30 August, in Kaliakair Upazila of Gazipur, there was an attempt to seize a nearly 50-year-old temple and Hindu land. BNP leader Lebu Mia, accompanied by 50-60 hired thugs, attacked and vandalized the 'Radhagobind Loknath Natmandir'. When the Hindu community attempted to resist, they were also assaulted, resulting in 10-12 injuries. Additionally, there was an attack on a house within the temple complex. Regarding this incident, Kaliakair Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Kawsar Ahmed stated that the army and police were promptly notified of the attack on the temple.
On the night of 11 October, an object resembling a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the Durga Puja pandal in Dhaka's Tantibazar. People chased the perpetrators, who injured four by stabbing in an effort to escape.
On 14 October, During the visarjan (immersion) of the Hindu idols, some extremists started throwing bricks at the Hindus from the roof of a building in old Dhaka. When some Hindus tried to go up to the building to stop them from throwing the bricks, the police prevented the Hindus from going up. In this incident, two Hindus were injured.
On 17 November, accusing a Hindu youth of having a romantic relationship with a Muslim teenage girl in Karimganj, he was severely beaten in the presence of the army. When taken to 'PAH Medical College Hospital,' the on-duty doctor declared him dead.
On 7 December, the Shri Shri Mahabhagya Lakshmi Narayan Temple in the Turag area was set on fire by pouring petrol or octane. The fire burned the idols inside the temple and goods worth approximately 1 lakh taka.
The residence of Kalapara mayor Bipul Chandra was attacked around 5:00 pm. In Gournadi Upazila of Barisal District, miscreants looted a Hindu-owned clothing store and assaulted a Hindu school teacher in her home. Additionally, arsonists attempted to set fire to the home of a prominent Hindu businessman in Barisal city, but the attempt was thwarted by local residents.
On 8 August, an attack and looting took place at the house of Abhilash Talukda in Patuakhali Sadar Upazila. Abhilash's father-in-law, Lakshman Debnath, said that Around 8:30 PM, someone knocked on the door. When his daughter Mukta opened the door asking, "Who is it?", a group of 10 to 12 men armed with machetes, cleavers, and sticks forcibly entered and locked the door behind them. Mukta ran to another room and informed her relatives over the phone. Lakshman Debnath reported that the attackers ransacked the wardrobe and looted one tola of gold jewelry belonging to his daughter, along with 30,000 taka in cash. They also threatened them and demanded more money. That same night, Abhilash transferred another 50,000 taka through bKash from his relatives, after which the assailants left.
In Madhukhali Upazila of Faridpur District, miscreants targeted several homes and businesses, damaged a Kali temple, and assaulted a Hindu homeopathy doctor.
On 21 October, a group of people attempted to seize the land of 21 Hindu families in Patuakhali town. When members of the Hindu families began constructing houses on the land in Kalikapur, valued at approximately 6 crore taka, a group claiming to be BNP workers obstructed them. The victims reported that they were threatened with murder, injury, and expulsion from the country.
A Hindu family in Kalapara Upazila of Patuakhali was threatened with eviction from the country after confiscating their land. One member of the family, Khokon Mondal, said, "In Nilganj Mouza, we have 3 acres and 71 decimals of land inherited by two brothers. Forcibly taking away 120 decimals from that land, Kalapara Upazila BNP Secretary Hafizur Rahman Chunnu is threatening to evict us from the country."
On 4 August, the house of Suranjit Sarkar, the General Secretary of the Puja Celebration Committee of Mohanpur Upazila in Rajshahi, was vandalized, looted, and set on fire. He wrote in a Facebook post that he has sought shelter in Kolkata of India with wife and children. Other family members reported that 650,000 taka and 10 tolas of gold jewelry were looted from their house. When Montu Chandra Sarkar tried to obstruct them, he was assailed and rendered unconscious. Later at night, the attackers stole three cows. The residence of a Hindu shopkeeper was also attacked.
On 5 and 6 August, incidents of vandalism, arson, and looting took place in at least 24 homes and businesses of the minority community in various areas of Naogaon town and district. Among the victims, 10 people are involved in Awami League politics, while 14 incidents occurred involving individuals who are not affiliated with Awami League politics.
On 5 August, in the Vidyadharpur village of Mohanpur upazila, 25 houses and the central temple of Mohanpur upazila were attacked. Members of the Hindu community reported that the attackers broke everything during their procession. Since the incidence, the residents of Vidyadharpur say they have been living in fear.
A Hindu woman was forcibly raped in Singra, Natore.
In Natore district, miscreants vandalized and looted six houses as well as the Jotdaiboki Shib and Kali Temple, which belong to the Hindu community. The attackers struck Ronendranath with a sharp weapon, leaving him severely injured and bleeding. Naresh Chandra said that the miscreants looted more than a hundred thousand taka, four tolas of gold jewelry, a laptop, a mobile phone, and bags of rice from his house. Dipendranath Saha informed the Lalpur police station about the incident, an officer told him that he could not send the police, as he mentioned to Prothom Alo.
On 5 August, an attack occurred in Pyarpur village, Mohanpur Upazila, within the district.
On 24 August, three temples in Bagha, Rajshahi, were attacked. Items and idols in the temples located in Pakuria Palpara, Ghoshpara of Pakuria Union, and Kaligram of Bagha Municipality were vandalized. During the vandalism, a madrasa student named Bappi Hossain was caught red-handed.
On 5 October, idols at the Durga Mandir in Jayanagar, Bottola Haat, within the Chapainawabganj municipal area, were vandalized.
In Sujanagar, Pabna, idols were desecrated at two of the 51 temples where Durga Puja celebrations were planned in the upazila. On the night of 28 September, four idols were damaged at the Rishipara Barowari Puja Mandap in Sujanagar Municipality. On the following Tuesday night, five idols were vandalized at the Manikdi Palpara Barowari Puja Mandap.
On 8 November, at 10 PM, a group of people armed with local weapons attacked the Charjot Protap Durga Mata Thakurani temple in Shibtala Karmakarpara area of Chapainawabganj town.
On the night of 1 September, a community temple in Vayadanga Bazaar, Ranisimul Union, Sreebardi Upazila, Sherpur District, was vandalized, with idols being damaged. Although petrol was sprayed after the vandalism, the intervention of police and army personnel prevented the fire from being ignited.
Gobinda Pramanik, former president of the Bangladesh National Hindu Grand Alliance, criticized the Indian media, suggesting that they inaccurately portrayed the situation. Pramanik, who was expelled from the organization, become the president of the same organization again after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government. Later on 7 August, the general secretary of the same organisation, Dr. Mrityunjoy Kumar Roy, stated that Pramanik's statement to the media was false and "extremely insulting and shameful" for the Hindu community of the country and urged him to publicly apologize.
BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy also refuted claims made by Indian media that his party is anti-Hindu, asserting that the BNP has been inclusive of all communities in Bangladesh and has consistently supported all religious groups.
Numerous India-based social media accounts circulated several misleading videos and images about attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus, which were subsequently debunked by several fact-checking organizations. A false report also claimed that the house of Bangladeshi cricketer Liton Das had been set on fire, which was later debunked. Das himself refuted the claim in a Facebook post.
Quoting LoP West Bengal Legislative Assembly & BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, several Indian media channels claimed that more than 10 million Bangladeshi Hindus are heading towards India to seek refuge, adding that Bangladesh is becoming an "Islamic State". In an interview given to Al Jazeera, Bangladeshi political analyst Zahed Ur Rahman stated that that Indian media viewed the situation in Bangladesh through "their Islamophobic eye", despite the view in Bangladesh that it was a popular movement.
BBC News, Deutsche Welle, France 24 and some fact-checking websites highlighted several rumors circulated on X and other social media platforms.
The looting and fear of looting of Hindu houses has caused Hindus to attempt to flee. On 7 August, around 700-800 Hindus in Thakurgaon district attempted to leave Bangladesh for India but returned home after promises of safety from Bangladeshi authorities. On 8 August, 300 Hindus congregated at a border post across from West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district before dispersing. On 10 August, another 500-600 Hindus gathered at the border in Hatibandha Upazila of Lalmonirhat district attempting to flee into India but were stopped by India's Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). An Awami League leader was said by locals to have spread rumors, urging local Hindus to gather at the border with India and engage with Indian leaders who were expected to arrive there. Several thousand Hindus assembled at the border before they were dispersed by the BGB and local police.
Starting on 9 August Hindu organisations-led protests across Bangladesh against the violence. Large protests took place in Shahbag in Dhaka for two consecutive days. On 10 August a large rally took place in Chittagong to call for an end to the violence. On 11 August further protests were reported from Tangail, Jamalpur, Moulvibazar, and Bogra. The demonstrators demanded action against the attackers of Hindu temples and properties as well as a 10% for minority communities in seats of the Jatiya Sangsad, formating of foundations for minority religions, return of property seized under the Vested Property Act and a five-day holiday for Durga Puja.
There were also some instances reported of students and members of the Muslim community, including BNP activists and madrasa students standing guard at temples and churches. The coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement distanced themselves from the attacks and pleaded with the people not to carry out such attacks. On 13 August, Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, visited the Dhakeshwari Temple to reassure Hindus that they are equal citizens in Bangladesh. Yunus said that attacks on minority Hindus were "exaggerated", and also claimed that the attacks on minorities were more political than communal.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami condemned the attack against Hindus, saying there is nothing called majority or minority and that every citizen has equal rights.
On 4 September, mass protest for safety of Hindus held in Shaheed minar, Dhaka.
On 25 October, the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagaran Manch, an organization of the Hindu community, held a mass rally at Laldighi Maidan in Chattogram city with an eight-point demand. With slogans like "Āmār māṭi āmār mā, ē dēś chēṛē kōthāō jābô nā (My land, my mother, I will not leave this country)," Hindu men and women joined the rally in groups and processions. The main speaker, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, further stated,
On 1 November, when the Sanatan Jagaran Manch announced a protest rally in Chattogram, police prevented Hindus from joining the gathering. The Deputy Commissioner (South) of the city police, Liakat Ali Khan, stated that, in line with administrative directives, they were barred from holding the rally today. On 31 August, a sedition case was filed at Kotwali Police Station against 19 people, including the spokesperson of Sanatan Jagaran Manch, Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Recalling the events of 25 October, Gauranga Das Brahmachari, a key organizer of the Sanatan Jagaran Manch, said,
On 11 August, in Birmingham, expatriates from Bangladesh's minority communities held a protest rally in front of the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh, protesting against "attacks on temples and churches" and the "persecution" of minorities in Bangladesh.
In front of the Houses of Parliament and the BBC's headquarters, expatriates held placards and banners with writings such as "Protect Hindus," "Hindu Lives Matter," and "Justice for Hindus" while chanting slogans. Expatriate Ajit K. Saha alleged, "The BBC has published biased news on the recent incidents in Bangladesh. They have never highlighted the incidents of oppression against Hindus." Protesters submitted a letter of protest to the BBC newsroom, drawing attention to the lack of coverage on the recent suffering of Hindus in Bangladesh.
On 10 August, expatriate Bangladeshis held a rally in downtown Toronto. Foreigners also participated alongside Bangladeshis. Canadian Member of Parliament Kevin Vuong, representative of the World Hindu Council Abhishek Choubey, and former president of the Canadian Hindu Chamber of Commerce Naresh Chawda attended the rally to show solidarity. Many also called for using "Canada's influence" to support international measures for the protection of Hindus in Bangladesh. They suggested that "a process could be implemented to grant express visas to Bangladeshi Hindus seeking asylum in Canada."
On Sunday morning, more than 300 Indian Americans and Bangladeshi-origin Hindus gathered at Sugar Land City Hall in Houston. They called on the Biden administration to take immediate action to prevent atrocities and ensure the protection of minority communities in Bangladesh. Dipti Mahajan, co-coordinator of the organization HinduPACT, stated in her speech that "10 million Hindus are sitting on a ticking time bomb of genocide." From Michigan to Houston and from California to Washington, D.C., Indian and Bangladeshi Americans gathered with placards like "Protect Hindu Rights," "Religion is not a crime," "Live and Let Live," etc., in solidarity with their "Hindu brothers and sisters."
Condemning the barbaric violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, former US President Donald Trump wrote,
In a letter sent to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Baroness Sandip Verma of Leicester, a member of the House of Lords, wrote:
In a statement Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said On The Situation In Bangladesh:
Vivek Ramaswamy said in an X (formerly Twitter) post:
Pawan Kalyan's Appeal To UN To Protect Minorities In Bangladesh. He said:
British MP Bob Blackman, while addressing the Parliament, mentioned the incidents of arson attacks on the homes and temples of Hindus, stating: