Communal Harmony or Ethnic Cleansing of Bangladeshi Hindus after 1971 – a white paper written by Tapash Dey.
What is common after the Bangladesh Independence declaration on 26th March, 1971; demolition of Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1992; Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP) coming to power through a member of parliament election in 2001, International Crimes Tribunal Bangladesh sentencing war criminal Delawar Hossain Sayedee to death by hanging [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] in 2013; someone placing a Quran at the entrance during the biggest festivals for Hindus, Durga Puja, in Bangladesh in 2021 [8][9] and student protesters toppling Sheikh Hasina government in 2024?
Hindus were attacked all over Bangladesh after all those seemingly disconnected events and even if vigilante justice applies, they were not responsible for causing any of these events.
Let’s look at each major episodes and some causes-
Bangladesh’s war of independence-
During Bangladesh war of independence from 26th March 1971 to 16th December 1971, Pakistan army targeted Hindus as a religious group, Awami League supporters and students. During the war, 10 million became refugees from East Pakistan to India, 70% of them were Hindus. From 1961 census, East Pakistan Hindu population was 9.3 million. Pakistan Army Chief Yahya Khan calculated, if the Hindus were targeted[10], they would either be killed or would flee to India and Bengali nationalism would be weakened[11][12]. War is always bloody-an estimated 3 million people were killed, and 200,000 women were raped during the war.
Many of the massacres by Pakistani army right after 26th March was codenamed “Operation Searchlight”. Noted Hindu massacres to highlight anti-Hindu genocidal motivation of Pakistani army. But among all the massacres under Operation Searchlight, most were against Hindus [13].
Shakhari Bazar massacre
It is in old Dhaka. All Hindus here are on traditional profession of making bangles from conch shell. Pakistani army attacked on the afternoon of 26th March. 50 Hindus were killed. 31 were killed in the residence of Chandan Sur alone. He was one of the established and influential Hindu in the area. Before the 1970 election, Khwaja Khairuddin of the Dhaka Nawab family unsuccessfully tried to coerce Sur on his side. Khairuddin was contesting against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman-Mujib won. Khwaja Khairuddin led the Pakistani army to the residence of Chandan Sur. In 1972, a memorial was erected on the eastern end of the Shankharibazar Road in memory of the victims of the massacre. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman promised the family of the victims a compensation sums of 2,000 Taka, however the victim’s family members haven’t received any compensation till date. In 1997, on the occasion silver jubilee of Liberation of Bangladesh, the Shankharibazar published a souvenir where the names of the massacre victims were published.
Chuknagar massacre
It is a small town at Dumuria of Khulna adjacent to Indian border. After Pakistani military launched a operation searchlight, many Bengali Hindus started fleeing from Khulna and Bagerhat. They crossed Bhadra river and arrived at Chuknagar to cross the Indian border using Satkhira road. On 20th May, around 10, equipped with semi-automatic rifles and light machine guns came on around 3 trucks. They stopped at a place called Jhautala (then known as Pathkhola). There is a memorial there. Around 10000-12000 were killed.
Ramna massacre
The village around the Ramna Kali temple was an ancient Hindu settlement at the center of the Dhaka Racecourse. It was inhabited by around 250 Hindu men, women, and children. Even in the deadliest of Hindu-Muslim riots in Dhaka, the village has remained unaffected. Around 250 people were killed in 1971.
Chart 1: 1971 Operation Searchlight-number of Hindus killed in different places
So, a Hindu genocide was planned and executed by Pakistani Government and Army in 1971. Bangladesh is born for establishing the ideals of secularism to correct the wrongs of Pakistan (born in the name of having a separate country for Muslims)-correct?
Let’s see how it progressed.
1972: Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad(Puja celebration committee) was born
A new country, Bangladesh, was born in 1971 to achieve and uphold lofty goal of secularism-Hindus returned from many refugee camps in India to their demolished homes and temples Bangladesh. With the only hope that in a new country there will be no religious persecution and they will rebuild their lives-how realistic was it? That year, on the biggest annual religious festival, Durga Puja, the Pratima was demolished everywhere in Bangladesh. To react against such attacks as a community, an organization, Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad was born. Information on other attacks were difficult to find from 1972 to 1989-archived printed newspapers are only likely source-I am certain though there were thousands of attacks.
1990: Babri mosque demolition false alarm-Ershad’s survival politics in play?
Daily newspaper Inqilab published top story “Babri mosque destroyed.” Muslim mobs attacked Dhakeshwari temple, few hundred Hindu homes and businesses in Dhaka. In Chittagong, Muslim mobs set few hundred Hindu homes to fire. There were violences reported in Jessore, Narail, Gaibandha, Mymensingh, Sunamganj and Sylhet. Altogether, 2400 Hindu temples were destroyed[14]. When will these people be tried?
1992: Reaction to actual Babri mosque demolition in Bangladesh
Dhakeshwari temple and Bholanath Giri ashram was attacked, Hindu owned jewelry shops were looted and Hindu houses in Rayerbazar were set on fire. A cricket match in Dhaka stadium was abandoned where India was playing against Bangladesh when thousands Muslim mob attacked. Muslims attacked and burnt 14 Hindu temples in Cox’s Bazar and 5 temples in Chittagong city. Hindu homes, businesses, and temples in Fatikchari and Mireswarai villages in Chittagong division were destroyed. 10 were killed[15]. Can someone answer-how Hindus in Bangladesh are responsible for Babri demolition in India? The perpetrators who attacked Hindus-when will they ever be tried?
2001 Election-Hindus relived 1971 genocide
Hindus could determine the election results in 40 out of 300 seats. Interim government ran the election, various actions of the Chief Advisor and Chief Election Commissioner didn’t earn the trust for a free, fair, and safe election and political cadres got the cues. They were terrorized a month prior[16], so that most don’t come to vote. Terrorizing was successful, million Hindus were not able to vote, BNP and Jamat won; but what came for the next 4 years-Hindus had to relive the genocide of 1971! 18000 Hindu women were raped in the few years after[17], Hindus in Khulna division was mostly targeted. 2000 attacks were reported in Bhola district alone[18]. Human brain works through pattern recognition[19], in thousands news reports victims said it was 1971 for them-yet again[20]. I don’t want to elaborate-extremely painful to go through.
2013 attacks on Hindus-who was Delawar Hossain Sayedee?
Delawar Hossain Sayedee,or, Deilla Razakar, as he was commonly known, formed peace committee and Razakar bahini with students of different madrasas and workers of the party Jamat-E-Islami [7]. He also committed the following crimes against Hindus-killed, looted, raped, forcefully converted to Islam, committed arson[21]. For those crimes in 1971, he was sentenced to death penalty by International Crimes Tribunal Bangladesh on 28th February 2013
What were the chances that as soon as death penalty was announced for his Hindu genocide in 1971; his supporters, as protests(!), would do most of those same crimes in 2013? [1][2][3][4][5][6]
Timeline:
Attack started on 28th February when the verdict came out. Continued till 22nd June.
Fig 1: Bangladesh districts in maroon affected by 2013 anti-Hindu violence by supporters(Jamat E Islami and Islami Chatra Shibir) after Sayedee was sentenced to death penalty for Hindu genocide in 1971.[22]
Chart 2: Bangladesh districts in maroon affected by 2013 anti-Hindu violence after Sayedee was sentenced to death penalty for Hindu genocide in 1971.[22][23]
2021-Manufactured violence from perceived hurt of Islamic religious sentiment-Quran placing at the entrance of Hindu temple during Durga Puja
A Quran was placed on the thigh of Hanuman statue at the entrance of a Durga Puja celebration location. Someone saw it, came to live on Facebook to let his followers know that Hindus were purposefully placing Quran on Hanuman to insult and hurt the Muslim religious sentiments. Muslim mob was greatly agitated by spread of this information and started attacking Hindu places of celebration during Durga Puja and the temples and so on in all over the country. The person who was directly involved in placing the Quran was found out later, he was allegedly being mentally unstable and was in jail for few months for placing the Quran and by insulting the religious sentiment by doing so. The real brain behind this was alleged to be the local Member of Parliament. More of his many similar illegal Hindu land grabbing activities and scheme came out later [24]
Figure 2: Clockwise from left: offense(!), one of the many attacks, protesting Muslims whose religious sentiment is hurt(!).
Duration of attacks 13th to 21st October 2021. Summary of attacks [25]-
8 killed-3 Hindus and 5 Muslims. Muslims mob, when they were inciting violence, were killed from police firing.
150 were injured.
80 temples were demolished, 200 Puja mandaps were destroyed.
Attacks spread over 11 out of 64 districts in Bangladesh. 4000 were charged and 400 were detained by police.
2024 Attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh-another genocide in the works?
Bangladesh had a regime change on 5th August 2024. Within hours Hindus were attacked all over Bangladesh[26]. Now, what is the connection between Awami League’s regime and attacks against Hindus? Chief advisor (current Bangladesh head of the state) thinks Hindus support Awami League, so, they were attacked[27]. Meaning Hindus were not attacked because of their religious identities. Loot, destruction, arson of homes, temples, businesses; forced resignation from jobs, rape, killings, trying to be refugee to India[21][28]. Bangladeshi electronic media and TV doesn’t report these attacks, newspapers severely under report, international media barely reports [29][30][31]. Police don’t come, don’t register the crimes against Hindus. Courts take forever to have a verdict if any at all[32]. Adverse role of media, police, court, and head of the state in the last 77 years made it a slow genocide[33]. Despite our many attempts of reaching out, UN and POTUS didn’t condemn these attacks for many months, they only congratulate the new interim government. These encourages the perpetrators. All Hindus in Bangladesh are in constant fear.
Figure 3: Bangladesh divisions in blue affected by 2024 attacks against Hindus by Islamists (Numbers represent attacks against Hindu homes and businesses which were looted, destroyed, and burned)[34][35]
Chart 3: Partial list of attacks against Hindus by Islamists (attacks other than in figure above) [34][100][101][102][103]
How many Hindus are attacked each year?
Since, there is no hate crime statistics act, government doesn’t track these. Hindu rights organizations, Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities(HRCBM), Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council(BHBCUC), Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote(BJHM), and Bangladesh Minority Watch(BMW) were diligently doing it for many years through their volunteers.
It can be said that on an average there were few thousand attacks against Hindus each year since 1971.
2023 July to 2024 June
There were 1045 attacks against minorities during this period[36].
45 were killed and 36 were threatened to be killed, 479 were attacked,
25 cases of rape/gang rape,
102 homes and business were attacked, demolished, looted and arson, 45 homes and lands were captured,
11 were threatened and forced to leave country,
15 incidents of captured property dedicated to a deity and church, 7 incidents of cremation ground capture, 14 incidents of temple attack, loot, destruction, arson, 40 cases of murti demolition,
12 cases of abduction and forced conversion and 8 false cases of insulting/hurting Islamic religious sentiments.
2022-a better than average year for Hindus in Bangladesh
In 2022, 154 were killed, 39 women were raped, 127 were kidnapped, 319 homes and temples were looted, 891 homes were attacked, 519 places were put on fire, 173 businesses were attacked. 9,000 acres (14 square miles) of land was forcibly taken. 15000 families were threatened to live the country, 200000 families are living in fear. If we assume 5 members in a family, 200000 families are 7.6% of the Hindu population in Bangladesh. Threat to lives 849, attempt to murder 424, injured 360, arson 519, demolish business 173. Families evicted from home 572, forcible occupation of home 57, business 50 and temple land 51, attempt to evict 3694, threat to evict 35818. Forced to leave country 445 families, threat to leave the country 15115 families. Murti (idol) demolition 481. Forced conversion 152. Hurt religious feelings and cases for that 127. Arrest, dismissal from jobs, fines through false cases 791. Report concludes-compared to previous years, because government was sincere about the safety and security of Hindus, the attacks were less.
Killings 154+
Rape 62+
Kidnapping 127+
Home and temple loot 319+
Attacks to home 891+
Arson 519+
Attacks/demolition of business 173+
Injured 360+
Forcible occupation and eviction from home, temple, and business 572+57+50+51+
Murti(deity) demolition 481+
Forced conversion 152+
Hurt religious feelings and cases for that 127+
Arrest, dismissal from jobs and fines through false cases 791+
4886 attacks in total [37][38]
What happened in another year, say 2017?
107 were killed,
25 were raped,
782 were forced to leave the country,
235 temples and statues were vandalized. 6474 attacks in total[39].
In yet another year of 2016,
There were 11,335 attacks[39]. Breakdown of the attacks are not available.
And 2014[40]
Demolition/desecration/arson/loot
Homes 761
Business 193
Temples 274
Let us take another year of 2009
This is not a comprehensive list [41].
Murder 5
Rape 5
Kidnapping 10
Demolition/desecration/arson/loot/land grab of business, home, temple 25
Burning livestock 1
Injury 14
Forced conversion 4
Robbery 1
Vested property act
This is the main instrument of cleansing and genocide by the state against Hindus in East Pakistan and Bangladesh. First the state of Pakistan attacked Hindus in East Pakistan to such extent that millions became refugee to India. This caused war like situation between India and Pakistan. Then in the background of India Pakistan war of 1965 Pakistan passed this Vested Property Act.
The act says anyone taking refuge in the enemy country India, property of them and their relatives in East Pakistan will be considered Vested Property and government will take the property. This also enabled private Muslim citizens to illegally, through corrupt officials in government land offices, declare Hindu owned properties as Vested Property, and through various means after that take the property.
The act ran from 1965 in East Pakistan, through 1971 when Bangladesh became independent, to 2011. 6% of the Bangladesh area (3360 square miles), mostly agricultural land owned by Hindus, affecting 50% of Hindu population, were taken away by this act. [42]
The act is repealed in 2011 with the intent to return properties to Hindus (who maintained a continuous citizenship of East Pakistan and Bangladesh all these years) by government (under Ka tafshil) and by private Muslim citizens (under Kha tafshil). Recorded property after the survey under repeal act turned out to be half of what was found in the above research [43]. With Ka and Kha tafshil added together, according to survey of repeal act, total vested property turned out to be 962,612 acres. Kha tafshil was under Muslim private control and was eventually taken away from the domain of repeal act in the subsequent revision[44]; it can be easily understood, who the government wants to please. So, the total area to be returned to Hindus under Ka tafshil turned out to be 220,191 acres, of which 12,116 acres was returned to lawful Hindu owner and their heirs[45]. Also 2 problems arose-
Who to return these properties to? Most became refugees to India because state took away everything from them.
And property return was supposed to be from the tribunal through district commissioner to the plaintiff and surprisingly, a provision made in the rule making that court was supposed to contact land minister before returning the property. Conclusion-even after the repeal act, (12,116/220191=)1.3% properties were returned to the original lawful Hindu owner and their heirs after 59 years! Government legal remedy only provided justice to handful, half century later, whereas, that ethnic cleansing tool served its purpose by affecting 50% Hindus. Many Awami League members of parliament and ministers were involved in grabbing Hindu properties-vested and dedicated to a deity-Haji Selim[46], Mohiuddin Chowdhury through Chittagong City Corporation[47], vested property captured for Awami League party office in Rajshahi[48]. To have the 12,116 acres returned, after the repeal act passed, legitimate Hindu owners had to spend $284 million in bribes[49]! As if the amount is not large enough, the researcher thinks actual cost in dollar amount is close to $3 billion!
What is Digital security act?
Here is the official version[50]. Act applies for social media posts against religious values and sentiments, spread disinformation and insult a person, country, cyber terrorism, etc. The act disproportionately used as Islamic blasphemy law against Hindus. One needs to be 18 to vote in Bangladesh, but there is no provision for applicability or reduced sentence for underage minors in the act. Islamic preachers are all over online in demeaning Hindu religious icons, beliefs and thousands become ecstatic by listening/seeing those hateful content, but they are not booked under the act. Hindus, who are active online, and protest attacks against themselves are targeted and booked in this act.
Take the case of Rasaraj Das-he is a fisherman[51]. Someone named Jahangir Alam printed a picture insulting Islam, made copies, distributed among people. He also mentioned that the picture came from Rasaraj’s Facebook post. Rasaraj was beaten by public, handed over to police and jailed. As a side show, 15 temples and 100 Hindu homes were attacked, looted, burnt, and demolished. 5 years passed and after digital forensic investigation the picture was not found in Rasaraj’s phone, Facebook, and memory card. He was still the main accused in the investigation report!
More here on modus operandi of using this act against Hindus[52] and Hridoy Mondol booked for teaching that science is about experimentation [53].
Jhumon Das was booked twice-first time[54], immediately after the offence, for speaking against an Islamic hate-monger preacher[55], who was later booked in treason case also, in Facebook. For Jhumon’s crime(!), the preacher’s supporters vandalized and looted 90 Hindu homes-these supporters were only booked few years later! He was booked 2nd time on a Facebook post also, he spoke about fairness and reciprocity from law enforcement, only shows that state will not allow any loud and proud Hindu voice to survive[56].
Property dedicated to a deity (Debottar)
Once Hindu spiritual ceremony of infusing life to deity (Prana-Pratishtha) is done, deity owns the property (land, temple, jewelry, etc.) for eternity[57]. This is a fundamental spiritual concept in Hinduism which is also legally accepted in Roman and English law. A caretaker (sebayet) takes care of this Debottar property. Naturally, Debottar properties can’t be sold, gifted, mortgaged, leased or by any other means handed over. Total Debottar property which is illegally under possession and taken away is in hundred thousand acres and more than 80% Debottar property is already gone. This started with leasing Debottar land on a yearly basis, false property document was created next with the help of employees in land office, sold and resold thereafter[58].
Here are examples of some notable properties gone-
National Dhakeshwari Temples’ 8.75 of 12.5 acres gone. Important pilgrimage site Langalband’s 45 out of 47 acres gone. Government health department occupies 18.69 acres of Kalimata deity, Shiv temple is demolished to build meeting room of district jail, District Commissioner occupies 1.32 acres of Jagannath deity, Brahmo Samaj temple had to give way for Girls school and freedom fighter memorial, Law college stands on family Shiv temple, Community training center was built over 17.25 acre of family Durga temple-all in Faridpur. 500 years old Jagannath temple possesses only 15 acres, out of its 300 acres in Comilla. Still, despite available roads and alternatives, Comilla City Corporation is trying to grab land from temple to make roads[59].
Here is a snapshot of more properties gone-cremation grounds in Satkhira, Ukhia, Thakurgaon and Netrokona[60], signboard says TB treatment center, inside, though, it is a storage on a Bholanandagiri temple property in Tikatuli, Dhaka[61], 500-year-old temple demolished, and land captured in Srimangal by BNP party members[62], temple land sold as plots in Sylhet[63], 14 acre land was captured by Awami League MP in Chapainawabganj[64], temple land in Madaripur-Hindus seek help from Awami League MP Shahjahan-was he involved?[65]. Chandranath Mandir pilgrimage site in Chittagong is also being forcibly captured[66].
Figure 4: Chandranath Mandir pilgrimage site in Sitakunda, Chittagong.
Hindus are considered vote bank for Awami League. Let’s see how Awami League government approached in solving this long-standing property issue. Instead of identifying and giving away property to the lawful owner, government came up with a Debottar property management act in 2013 to manage the property themselves, which the Hindu rights group protested against[67]
Tarapur tea estate, a 423-acre Debottar property in Sylhet, needs a special mention. In 1971, Pakistan army committed genocide here-43 were killed. The caretaker’s young son was the only male survivor. Industrialist(!) Ragib Ali forged letter from land ministry and captured this property in 1990 where he builds Medical College, sold plots to people and so on. Land ministry started investigation in 1999. Bangladesh Supreme Court finally had a verdict in favor of this Debottar property in 2016[68][69][70].
Heads of state denying attacks against Hindus and outright hostile against us and Jumma people
Attacks against Hindus started in great vigor from 5th August 2024. The Chief advisor of Bangladesh interim government, Muhammad Yunus, stated that those attacks were politically motivated, meaning, Hindus were attacked because of their political identity, not religious identity. Because of the sad state of journalism and agenda-driven media narratives, even established international media didn’t challenge him. After 4 months of lying, Indian foreign secretary came to visit Bangladesh and a day after the visit, spokesperson of the chief advisor said that 70 arrested in connection of 88 cases filed for attacks against Hindus[71][77].
Sadly, this is not new. Sheikh Hasina used to tell Hindu rights leader in meetings that they have one foot in India and another foot in Bangladesh, essentially questioning their patriotism. Irony of the fate is she had to flee Bangladesh in a popular uprising and now, both her feet are in India[372]. Majority of Hindus unconditionally voted them for 53 years; Awami League had religious hate crime prevention law in their election manifesto multiple times, yet they never fulfilled it. Their shoddy enemy property repeal act and desire to introduce management act to control property dedicated to deity were discussed in those appropriate sections.
Muhammad Yunus copied Khaleda Zia, who denied the genocidal attacks against Hindus immediately after post 2001 election[73] and many years later[74].
Hussain Mohammad Ershad was known for making Islam the state religion. He also planned, so it could help him survive politically and divert attention, and Hindus were attacked in 1989 and 1990 in the background of Babri mosque demolition in India[75].
With a new country born in 1971, Sheikh Mujib could have repealed enemy property act easily, but decided to continue it and allow this genocidal act to continue make Hindus suffer. In his discussion with Chakma leader, Manabendra Narayan Larma, he expressed “No, we are all Bengalis, forget your ethnic identity, be Bengalis” and threatened to flood Chittagong Hill Tracts with Bengali Muslims.
Ziaur Rahman, who came to power after Mujib, entered “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim” to the preamble of constitution, replaced secularism with “absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah” and flooded Chittagong Hill Tracts with Bengali Muslims[76] and started ethnocide there. In 1941, there were 98.5% were ethnic Jumma people, today it is 51% Jumma people and 49% Bengali Muslim settlers.
Impunity-courts and police not giving justice at all
There were 20000 attacks against Hindus since 2001, it is reported in 2014 that none of those brought to justice in the last 13 years[78]. As mentioned before, Tarapur tea estate verdict took 35 years, vested property repeal act could only return 1.3% from government control to original lawful Hindu owners in the last 10 years and they had to spend $3 billion as bribe. 11 Hindu family members were burnt to death in their home, surviving one didn’t get justice in 19 years[79]! To reach a semi-satisfactory verdict, widely reported Purnima Rani Shil gang-rape case took 10 years[80]. Because of this culture of impunity, the same perpetrators who didn’t get punished for their 1971 genocides, committed the same atrocities in 1992, continued till 2001 and new generations inspired(!) to commit the same genocidal attacks against Hindus in 2013, 2021 and 2024[81][82].
Figure 5: Bimal Shil looking at the pictures of his family members who were burnt to death[79]
Role of Bangladesh Army-Jagannath Hall, 1996 and Hazari Lane, 2024
Jagannath Hall is the dorm for Hindu and the other minority students in the top university of Bangladesh, Dhaka University. Pakistan army attacked it in 1971 and caused mass killings. It is fair for a Hindu student to think that they would not be treated unfairly for being Hindu. But is it? Between 1975 and 1996, there were 50 attacks by police and army to Jagannath Hall. On 31st January 1996, 700 police and BDR forces attacked students, 300 injured, 100 arrested. Police didn’t find any weapons in the dorm; all the students eventually were bailed[83][84].
Figure 6: Counterclockwise from top-BDR forces breaking open Jagannath Hall dorm room door, attacking, and arresting students.
Hindus were targeted in Hazari Lane on 5th November 2024-again by police and army in the overall backdrop of peaceful Hindu resistance for their rights in Bangladesh. There were details on the chronology of events. There were attacks on the police and army earlier in the day. But army attacked Hindus indiscriminately, went to Hindu households without journalists and broke CCTV cameras[85][105].
Did Bangladesh army declare war against peaceful Hindus? Why?
Figure 7: Police and army attacking Hindus in Hazari Lane
Figure 8: Police and army breaking CCTV camera in Hindu homes in Hazari Lane
Durga Puja-yearly fake, putrid show of ‘communal harmony’, ritual of icon demolition and celebration with police and army presence
Durga Puja is the biggest annual spiritual observance and celebration of Bengali Hindus. There is not a single year since 1972, when Durga icon is not demolished by Muslim fanatics. The committees, with Hindu members in it, oversee the puja in big cities like Dhaka, Chittagong, etc. These committees are more on the side of government, who desperately wants to make a fake show of communal harmony. Prime minister, other ministers, member of parliaments, will inaugurate the puja and primarily politicize it. The religious affairs advisor in 2024 said there will be water divers, helicopters to ensure security[386], he also said Islamic school students will ensure security[87]-Hindus rejected the proposal outright. Feeling unsafe about survival, regular Hindus didn’t have a desire to celebrate, they were coerced from top level of government through these committees to celebrate. Army chief states that police, and army are ready so Hindus can celebrate[88]. Faraway from the government scripted ‘communal harmony’ show in Dhaka, Hindu leaders in Dakop, Khulna received threatening anonymous letters that they must pay 500000 Bangladeshi Taka to celebrate[89]. 23 years ago, on the background of Hindu cleansing Hindu leaders in Chittagong decided not to celebrate; they were being forced to celebrate[90].
Makes one think, doesn’t the government need to find the source of such hatred and confirm if it is theological? And if so, can they have a deradicalization program? What is the point of forcing 8% of the population celebrate a thousand-year-old spiritual festival, under heavy army presence, so that a young radical Muslim can’t demolish an icon, and if caught, he will be scot-free? Can Hindus live with Muslims peacefully?
Chinmoy Krishna Das and 8-point demands
He became the face of peaceful resistance of oppressed Bangladeshi Hindus. Hindus came up with 8-point demands from the government, which they think, if fulfilled earnestly, will ensure their survival with dignity in Bangladesh. Chinmoy was able to harness peoples’ energy as demonstrated in two big public meetings in Chittagong and Rangpur, around 300000 Hindus joined those meetings. Bangladesh never saw such beautiful display of peaceful assembly for legitimate rights. Government, jealous and afraid, came up with false and frivolous sedition case, and put him behind the bar. There was a bail application for Chinmoy and government framed all the Hindu lawyers in Chittagong bar in false cases, so, Chinmoy went without representation and didn’t receive bail[91]
Below are 8-point demands[104]-
- To guarantee justice for the persecution of minorities, especially, the Sanatani Hindus a “Neutral Investigation Commission” must be formed, followed by the establishment and effective functioning of a “Fact-track Trial Tribunal” to provide swift and appropriate punishment to the perpetrators, along with adequate compensation and rehabilitation for the victims.
- Enact a “Minority Protection Act” immediately.
- Form a “Ministry of Minority Affairs”.
- Upgrade the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust to a “Hindu Foundation”. Similarly, upgrade the Buddhist and Christian Religious Welfare Trusts to Foundations.
- Enact a “Law for the Recovery and Preservation of Endowed Property” and properly implement the “Vested Property Return Act”.
- Build a “Place of Worship” for minority students at all Public/Private Universities, University Colleges, and every Higher Education institution, and allocate prayer rooms in every hostel.
- Modernize the “Sanskrit and Pali Education Board”.
- Declare a 5-day public holiday the Sharadiya Durga Puja festival. Necessary leave must be provided for the major religious festivals of each minority community.
Figure 9: Chinmoy Krishna Das, who had been leading rallies demanding security for Hindus in Bangladesh, was arrested from Dhaka airport on November 25 while travelling to Chittagong[91]
[91] https://indianexpress.com/article/world/bangladesh-hindu-monk-chinmoy-krishna-das-lawyer-death-threats-9728185/
Hindu population didn’t grow in 81 years!
Everything we discussed above, where do all these show up? Let’s look at the graph below, Hindu population is represented with red bars at the bottom. Muslim population increased in East Pakistan and in India by 3 to 4 times during that time, West Bengal Muslim and Hindu population increased by 3 to 4 times, world population increased by 3 to 4 times. Pakistan and Bangladesh government always maintained that nobody left the country due to religious persecution. It is different today, but our grandparents used to have many kids, where are they? A detailed article guesses the missing Hindu population in Bangladesh as 7.5 million[92]. When they speak truth, Bangladeshi Hindus like Priya Saha were always plotting against the country. She told President Trump in 2019 that 37 million Hindus were missing from Bangladesh[94][95]. Hindu refugees and their children since 1947, if one adds up, the total comes close to that. The whole Bangladesh became wild with her statement-there were multiple attempts to file sedition charges and other cases against her. But can United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) answer-why the Hindu population doesn’t grow in Bangladesh?
Chart 4: Hindu population in East Bengal, East Pakistan, and Bangladesh [93]
How United Nations (UN) looks at it?
UN has convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide[96]. Article II of the convention says-
In the present convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group, as such
- Killing members of the group;
- Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
- Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
- Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
- Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group
Although less common, genocide takes place during peaceful situation also. It is on a competent court to determine it, and once determined, UN will implement mechanisms to stop and prevent it[97].
Sadly, while UN is yet to find the time and desire, we easily see that number 2 and 3 applies to us. While repealing the act, government decided to keep vested property that is under control of private Muslim citizen outside of the scope of repeal-they didn’t want to make those Muslims angry, who at a minimum, forged property ownership documents, illegally occupied the Hindu properties and made them destitute and refugees. In the 10 years since it is implemented, government was able to release only 5% of the land under its own control, after legitimate Hindu owners had to spend $3 billion in bribes. Vested property act effects more than 50% of the Hindus in Bangladesh.
Property dedicated to a deity similarly brings physical destruction of the Hindus. A conservative estimate will conclude 75% of Hindus are adversely affected by vested property and property dedicated to a deity. Add to that how heads of state treat us; how police and courts never give justice; how army treats us as dispensable; how every heads of the state treated us as enemy for the last 53 years; how government jails a popular Hindu monk, who fights for Hindu rights, on fake sedition charges just to stop their 8 -point demand movement; how major political parties works in sync to make us extinct; how radical Muslims raises slogan in the street “ekta ekta Hindu dhor, dhoira dhoira jobai kor”(translation-catch them one by one and slaughter the Hindus) and goes without punishment; our fate of complete destruction is sealed.
How will it be solved for Hindus in Bangladesh?
From the events and causes, we are beyond cleaning our old wound and merrily go about our lives by simply solving our problems through political discussions between Hindu rights group and Bangladesh government. Muslims will have their way of getting rid of all of us and converting some along the way, by simply attacking us consistently; while their friends in government, police, court, media, and international community will be busy keeping quiet or denying it and still few others will keep wiping the crime scenes, when others are not looking. Without sincere, persistent, appropriate external pressure, that is the most likely outcome.
A sincere effort is needed where UN and India join as 3rd party to this discussion between Hindu rights group and Bangladesh government and stay engaged and monitor the situation on the ground for few years. Implementation of 8-point demands and additional demands, if needed, can be fulfilled through this effort so Hindus can survive, thrive, and live with dignity in their motherland. If this doesn’t work out, then it can be escalated, as needed.
India passes next version of the bill CAA2019[106], a bill that will allow Bangladeshi Hindus to come to India as refugees in the future and settle in India.
Autonomous areas for Hindus inside Bangladesh, population exchange based on religious identities all are valid solutions[107].
India can decide how to recuperate from Bangladesh the land and other immovable properties of Hindus who decides to become refugee in India.
We suffered enough; I pray future holds better for us.
About the Author:
Tapash Dey, I was born and raised in a Hindu family in Chittagong, Bangladesh. Studied Engineering in India and USA. Member of Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities. Live in the USA with family and work as an engineer for many years.
References:
[1] https://online.thedailystar.net/news/rajganj-hindus-living-in-fear
[2] https://online.thedailystar.net/news/shops-of-hindus-set-on-fire-theft-at-temple
[3] https://online.thedailystar.net/news/arrest-banshkhali-perpetrators-in-7-days-hc
[4] https://online.thedailystar.net/news/hindu-familys-house-burned-down-in-arson-attack
[5] https://online.thedailystar.net/news/safety-is-all-they-want
[6] https://online.thedailystar.net/news/continued-attack-on-minorities
[7]page 40,41 http://www.ict-bd.org/ict1/ICT1%20Judgment/sayeedi_full_verdict.pdf
[8] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-58999047
[9] https://hinduexistence.org/2021/10/22/like-dog-squads-we-must-have-jihad-squads-everywhere/
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_Bangladesh
[11] https://india-seminar.com/2022/749/749-SANJIB%20BARUAH.htm
[12] https://online.thedailystar.net/news/understanding-genocide
[13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_Bangladesh
[14] 1990 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence – Wikipedia
[15] 1992 Bangladesh violence – Wikipedia
[17] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Bangladesh_post-election_violence#cite_note-10
[19] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03116-8
[20]শ্বেতপত্র-বাংলাদেশে সংখ্যালঘু নির্যাতনের ১৫০০দিন-১মখণ্ড(প্রথম পর্ব)-শাহরিয়ার কবিরhttps://archive.org/details/minority-persecution-Bangladesh-1500-days-1st-part/page/n3/mode/2up page 3
[21]page 86 http://www.ict-bd.org/ict1/ICT1%20Judgment/sayeedi_full_verdict.pdf
[22] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Bangladesh_anti-Hindu_violence
[23] https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/%E0%A7%A7%E0%A7%AB%E0%A7%A6%E0%A7%A6-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%98%E0%A6%B0,-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A7%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%89%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4
[24] বাবা-মেয়ে’র রাজত্বের ১৬ বছর : কৌশলে ভূমি দখল করতেন এমপি বাহার
[25] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Bangladesh_anti-Hindu_violence
[26] Minorities’ houses, worship places attacked at various places (prothomalo.com)
[29] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2n8pzk7gzo
[30] https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-false-claims-fuel-ethnic-tensions-in-bangladesh/a-69870923
[33] https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/hindus-in-bangladesh-decrease-by-75-million-over-50-years
[35] ২ হাজার ১০টি সাম্প্রদায়িক সহিংসতায় নিহত ৯: বাংলাদেশ হিন্দু বৌদ্ধ খ্রিস্টান ঐক্য পরিষদ | প্রথম আলো (prothomalo.com)
[101]Ground report from HRCBM volunteers
[102] https://x.com/bdwatch2024/status/1833130336424956104
[36] https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/ptlmd0pe8g
[37] https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/capital/2pceohrcsx
[38]এক বছরে সংখ্যালঘু সম্প্রদায়ের ১৫৪ জনকে হত্যা, ৩৯ জন ধর্ষণের শিকার: হিন্দু মহাজোট | প্রথম আলো
[41] A Quiet Case of Ethnic Cleansing: The Murder of Bangladesh’s Hindus, Appendix I
[42] https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-66667, Professor’s Barkat’s study summary
[48] https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/1jxc4lef6p
[50] https://www.cirt.gov.bd/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Digital-Security-Act-2020.pdf
[51] তবু অভিযোগপত্রে প্রধান আসামি রসরাজ | প্রথম আলো
[55] https://www.somoynews.tv/pages/details/153225
[56] অবশেষে ইসলাম ধর্ম অবমাননার অভিযোগে ডিজিটাল নিরাপত্তা আইনে গ্রেফতার ঝুমন দাশ
[57] https://openthemagazine.com/cover-stories/the-eternity-of-the-deity/
[59] Facebook
[60] শ্মশানও কি বাদ যাবে না? | প্রথম আলো
[61] চিকিৎসালয় দখল করে গুদাম | প্রথম আলো
[62] ভেঙে ফেলা হয়েছে পুরোনো মন্দির | প্রথম আলো
[63] সিলেটে দুপক্ষের পাল্টাপাল্টি কর্মসূচি, ২৫ ধারা জারি | প্রথম আলো
[64] আওয়ামী লীগের সংসদ সদস্যের বিরুদ্ধে দেবোত্তর সম্পত্তি দখলের অভিযোগ | প্রথম আলো
[66] https://www.janomot.com/news/56872
[67] দেবোত্তর সম্পত্তি আইন বাতিলের দাবিতে অবরোধ | প্রথম আলো
[68] চা-বাগান দখলের মামলায় ছেলেসহ রাগীব আলী কারাগারে | প্রথম আলো
[69] সিলেটের তারাপুর চা-বাগানে গণহত্যার স্বীকৃতি দাবি | প্রথম আলো
[70] ৭১৫টি স্থাপনা সেবায়েতকে বুঝিয়ে দিল প্রশাসন | প্রথম আলো
[72] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clywww69p2vo
[73] শ্বেতপত্র-বাংলাদেশে সংখ্যালঘু নির্যাতনের ১৫০০ দিন – ১ম খণ্ড (প্রথম পর্ব) – শাহরিয়ার কবির, page 103 https://archive.org/details/minority-persecution-Bangladesh-1500-days-1st-part/page/n3/mode/2up page 3
[74] Bangladesh ‘persecution’ panel reports on 2001 violence – BBC News
[75] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hussain_Muhammad_Ershad
[76] CHT History & Struggle – Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti
[77] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Bangladesh_anti-Hindu_violence
[79] https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/uycalz09ub
[78] https://www.bd-pratidin.com/printnews/37182
[81]শ্বেতপত্র-বাংলাদেশে সংখ্যালঘু নির্যাতনের ১৫০০দিন-১মখণ্ড(প্রথম পর্ব)-শাহরিয়ার কবির, page 76 https://archive.org/details/minority-persecution-Bangladesh-1500-days-1st-part/page/n3/mode/2up page 3
[82]শ্বেতপত্র-বাংলাদেশে সংখ্যালঘু নির্যাতনের ১৫০০দিন-১মখণ্ড(প্রথম পর্ব)-শাহরিয়ার কবির, page 42 https://archive.org/details/minority-persecution-Bangladesh-1500-days-1st-part/page/n3/mode/2up page 3
[83] শ্বেতপত্র-বাংলাদেশে সংখ্যালঘু নির্যাতনের ১৫০০দিন-১মখণ্ড(প্রথম পর্ব)-শাহরিয়ার কবির, page 13 https://archive.org/details/minority-persecution-Bangladesh-1500-days-1st-part/page/n3/mode/2up page 3
[85] Hazari Lane violence – Wikipedia
[86] https://www.dhakatimes24.com/2024/09/10/365604
[87] https://www.rtvonline.com/bangladesh/290726
[88] https://bangla.bdnews24.com/bangladesh/0cb8b3f5d8f1
[89] https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/bnxf4vdfb3
[90] শ্বেতপত্র-বাংলাদেশে সংখ্যালঘু নির্যাতনের ১৫০০দিন-১মখণ্ড(প্রথম পর্ব)-শাহরিয়ার কবির, page 116 https://archive.org/details/minority-persecution-Bangladesh-1500-days-1st-part/page/n3/mode/2up page 3
[92] Hindus in Bangladesh decrease by 7.5 million over 50 years
[93] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_Bangladesh
[95] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3fpmFJTMes&t=871s
[97] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qokcCs2MAQE&t=134s
[105] https://www.youtube.com/shorts/bWKRvFa36FM