Following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina's government, reports of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh have emerged. Violence has engulfed most districts, with people being attacked, and property looted or set ablaze. At the time of Bangladesh's independence, Hindus made up 22 percent of the population; this has dwindled to around 8 percent. It's not just Hindus—other minority groups face similar circumstances.
What is the Population Distribution?
According to the Bangladesh census, there are 150 million Muslims, around 13.1 million Hindus, and 1 million Buddhists. Additionally, there are roughly 500,000 Christians and 200,000 people of other faiths, including a few Sikhs, Jews, and atheists.
Right to Convert
Bangladesh is one of the few Muslim-majority countries that allows religious conversion, even allowing Muslims to adopt other faiths as per Article 41 of the Constitution. Nevertheless, this freedom has largely remained on paper, with most conversions occurring from non-Muslim to Muslim.
The Harvard International Review indicates that the Hindu population in Eastern Bengal was 30 percent before independence, which fell to 22 percent after becoming part of Pakistan and further declined during the formation of Bangladesh. Hindus suffered due to both Pakistani and Bangladeshi religious extremists, resulting in mass killings and forced conversions.
Source: aajtak
Rapid Decline in Hindu Population
Within three years of Bangladesh's formation, the population dropped to around 13.5 percent. According to the Hindu American Foundation, between 1964 and 2013, about 11.3 million Hindus fled Bangladesh to India and other countries. Additionally, about 225,000 Hindus leave the country annually.
While much focus is on Hindus, other minority communities also reside in Bangladesh. Are they faring better in terms of safety?
State of the Second-largest Minority
Buddhists form the third-largest minority community in Bangladesh. It's believed that during Buddha’s time, many Hindus in Eastern Bengal's Chittagong converted to Buddhism. Over 65 percent of them still reside around Chittagong and Dhaka. Notable Buddhist groups include the Rakhines, Chakmas, and Baruas, while 35 percent are Bengali Buddhists.
Source: aajtak
Instances of Violence Against Buddhists
- In 1962, while still part of Pakistan, the Rajshahi massacre saw the killing of 3,000 non-Muslims, including Hindus and Buddhists.
- In September 2012, attacks in Cox's Bazar led to the burning of 22 Buddhist temples.
- The March 1980 Kaukhali massacre saw over 300 Chakma and Marma Buddhists killed.
- In May 1984, nearly 400 lives were lost in the Barkal massacre.
Christianity Faces Threats Too
Christians make up about 0.3 percent of the population. The Portuguese introduced Christianity in 1510, and it spread further during the Bangladesh Liberation War as many Hindus and Muslims adopted it for support. However, they also couldn’t escape violence. According to Persecution websites that track global religious discrimination and violence against Christians, Bangladesh experiences significant Christian discrimination.
- In June 2001, a bomb attack on a Catholic church killed eight people.
- In July 2016, Islamic extremists murdered 20 Christians.
- In April 2023, eight tribal Christians were killed in Chittagong, and churches continually face attacks and looting.
Source: aajtak
Why Are Attacks on Hindus More Talked About?
All minorities face violence, but attacks on Hindus seem more prevalent. The primary reason is that they form the largest minority group. Recently, Hindu organizations claimed 205 attacks since the fall of the Hasina government. Given their larger population, extremists often target them first.
Another reason is the growing extremism in Bangladesh. The country, originally separated from Pakistan on a linguistic basis, soon saw demands for an Islamic state, with the Hindu population being a significant obstacle. During the liberation war, both Pakistan and Bangladeshi radicals attacked Hindus. There are ongoing calls to boycott Indian products as Hindu-majority India is seen as an enemy.
Hindu Lands Were Often Seized
Discrimination wasn’t limited to religious site destruction or violence; it took various forms. For years, the Vested Property Act, also known as the Enemy Property Act, allowed the Bangladeshi government to seize the properties of Hindus who fled or were forced out. Millions of acres of land were taken. Although the law was recently amended, not all seized properties have been returned despite promises.
