Survival is at stake as Hindus take to the streets in a bold protest against brutality

Tens of Thousands Rally in Bangladesh, Demanding Protection for Hindu Minorities Amid Rising Tensions

Chattogram, Bangladesh – Tens of thousands of minority Hindus in Bangladesh gathered on Friday to call on the interim government to shield them from a recent surge in attacks and harassment and to drop sedition charges against Hindu community leaders. Approximately 30,000 Hindus gathered at a major intersection in Chattogram, chanting for their rights as police and military personnel guarded the protest area. Similar rallies were reported in cities nationwide.

Hindu organizations report a marked rise in violence against minority communities since early August, when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s secular government was overthrown in a student-led uprising, and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of an interim administration. Since Hasina’s departure, minority communities allege that hardline Islamist groups have gained influence, intensifying violence against religious minorities. Hindu leaders claim over 2,000 incidents of violence against their community, although Yunus has countered that these figures may be exaggerated.

With Hindus comprising roughly 8% of Bangladesh’s 170 million citizens, and Muslims 91%, international concern over the state of minority rights in Bangladesh has been rising. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed worry over the unfolding situation, while U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump has condemned the reported violence, calling it “barbaric.”

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, a key minority group, reports more than 2,000 attacks since August 4. In a recent social media post, Trump said, “I strongly condemn the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos.” Meanwhile, the Biden administration stated it is closely monitoring Bangladesh’s human rights situation under the interim leadership.

Hindu activists have been staging protests in Dhaka and across the country since August, presenting an eight-point list of demands. These include legal protections for minorities, establishment of a minority ministry, a tribunal to address minority oppression, and a five-day holiday for Durga Puja, a major Hindu festival.

The protest in Chattogram followed the filing of sedition charges against 19 Hindu leaders on Wednesday. The charges were connected to an October 25 rally in which some attendees reportedly raised a saffron flag over the Bangladeshi flag, an act interpreted as disrespectful to the national flag. Police have arrested two leaders, sparking anger and further mobilizing the Hindu community, which now demands the charges be dropped within 72 hours. Another large Hindu rally is scheduled for Saturday in Dhaka.

Separately, supporters of the ousted Awami League and its allied Jatiya Party say they, too, have faced increased targeting since Hasina’s ouster. On Thursday, a Jatiya Party office in Dhaka was reportedly vandalized and set on fire. In response, Jatiya Party Chairman G.M. Quader vowed to continue peaceful rallies despite the risks, with a planned rally in Dhaka on Saturday to protest the rising cost of essential goods and perceived unjust charges against party leaders.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police announced Friday evening that rallies near Jatiya headquarters would be prohibited. The ban follows criticism from a student group, which opposed the police’s initial permit for the rally and threatened to disrupt it. Jatiya Party leaders have not yet confirmed if they will proceed with their planned demonstration or relocate it to comply with the restrictions.