Growing safety concerns for minorities ahead of upcoming national elections
Tragedy struck Bhandarpur village on Tuesday when 25-year-old Mithun Sarkar lost his life while desperately trying to escape a pursuing mob. Chased over allegations of theft, Mithun jumped into a canal to save himself but unfortunately did not survive. Local police eventually recovered his body, marking yet another grim chapter in the ongoing saga of Bangladesh minority violence.
This incident is not an isolated case. It occurs against a backdrop of increasing volatility as the neighboring country prepares for its first parliamentary elections since the 2024 uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina’s long-standing government. The political vacuum and social unrest following her ouster in August have significantly impacted the security of the Hindu population, which accounts for roughly 7.95% of the country (about 13.13 million people).
Reports indicate a sharp spike in targeted attacks following the death of radical leader Osman Hadi in early December. In just the past few days, the violence has turned lethal for several individuals. On Monday, a Hindu businessman and acting newspaper editor was shot dead in Jessore. Simultaneously, a 40-year-old Hindu shopkeeper was fatally attacked with a sharp weapon in Narsingdi city.
The brutality has been consistent throughout the winter. On January 3, a man named Khokon Chandra Das was set on fire and killed in Shariatpur. These events follow a blood-stained December, where victims like Amrit Mondal and Dipu Chandra Das were lynched by mobs. In the case of Dipu Chandra Das, who was killed over blasphemy allegations, authorities have arrested 12 suspects, though the sense of insecurity remains high.
As the election cycle approaches, the pattern of Bangladesh minority violence continues to raise international concern. The transition from the Hasina era to the current interim landscape has left many vulnerable communities caught in the crossfire of political and communal friction.
Image Source: NYT
