Hindus in Bangladesh are one of the most persecuted communities in the world. Muslims of Bangladesh often rebuke Hindus as Malaun. The word Malaun is derived from the Arabic “ملعون”, meaning ‘accursed’ or ‘deprived of God’s Mercy’, and in modern times, it is used as an ethnic slur by the Muslims in Bengal for Hindus. Political leaders from religious parties frequently abuse the Hindus as Malaun during the election rallies (Source: Wikipedia).
However, since January 2018, we have been tracking the various cases of Hindu human rights violations in Bangladesh –
- Plight of Hindus in Bangladesh: 55 Reported Hate Crimes in Jan-Feb ’18
- Persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh: Over 50 Reported Hate Crimes in Mar-Apr ’18
- Plight of Hindus in Bangladesh : Over 20 Hate Crimes Reported in May’18
- Plight of Hindus in Bangladesh – Report of Human Rights Violations in June’18
- Plight of Hindus in Bangladesh – Report of Human Rights Violations in July’18
- Plight of Hindus in Bangladesh – Report of Human Rights Violations in August’18
- Plight of Hindus in Bangladesh – Report of Human Rights Violations in September’18
We have followed different media reports to collate these crimes. Here is the report on human rights violations against Hindus of Bangladesh reported in the month of October’18:
1. 3 murtis of goddess Durga were vandalized in Tangail district of central Bangladesh, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, New Age has reported on 1st October, 2018.
2. A Hindu comfit trader Sitanath Mandal was beaten by local Union Council chairman (Panchayat chief) Rabiul Islam Kabir Sikder in Jhalakathi District of south-western Bangladesh, Dhaka-based online Bengali news-portal, eibela.com has reported on 1st October, 2018.
3. Murtis of Hindu deities in 2 temples were vandalized just after a night of another same incident at the same area in Manikganj District of central Bangladesh, Bengali-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Dainik Ittefaq has reported on 2nd October, 2018.
4. Police rescued dead body of missing rickshaw-van puller, Hindu man Dulal Chandra Pramanik in Natore District of northern Bangladesh, popular bilingual online newspaper of Bangladesh, Bangla Tribune has reported in its Bengali website on 2nd October, 2018.
5. Protesters brought out a broom procession to protest anti-Hindu public speech by current governing party of Bangladesh, Awami League’s local sub-district unit president Jaglul Haldar alias Bhutu in Tongibari sub-district under Munshiganj District of central Bangladesh, Bengali-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Alokito Bangladesh has reported on 3rd October, 2018.
6. Muslim man named Nazmul Islam from Kushtia District of of western Bangladesh has been sent to jail on charge of sending nude photos of his 2nd wife to her relatives. Nazmul’s 2nd wife, belonging to Hindu community, was converted to Islam before the marriage. Around six months after the marriage, she came to know that Nazmul was a married man and father of two children. Then she declined to continue their conjugal life, but Nazmul kept forcing her to continue, even physically tortured her, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, The Daily Star has reported on 3rd October, 2018.
7. Fear is prevailing among the locals, especially religious minority Hindu community, after the brutal murder of Hindu Union Council chairman (Panchayat chief) in Barishal District of south-central Bangladesh, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, The Daily Star has reported on 3rd October, 2018.
8. Murti of Hindu deity was vandalized in Nilphamari District of northern Bangladesh, popular bilingual online news-portal of Bangladesh, bdnews24.com has reported in its Bengali website on 4th October, 2018.
9. Muslim land grabber’s eyes are on last Hindu family’s land in the area at Patuakhali district of south-central Bangladesh. Two other Hindu families were ousted from the area five years back, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, The Daily Star has reported on 4th October, 2018.
10. Murtis of Hindu gods and goddesses including Durga and Ganesh were vandalized in Khulna district of south-western Bangladesh, English-language national daily tabloid newspaper of Bangladesh, Dhaka Tribune has reported on 7th October, 2018.
11. Hindu temple was ransacked by Union Council chairman (Panchayat chief) Advocate Shahidul Islam with his 44-50 men in Pirojpur district of south-western Bangladesh, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, The Daily Star has reported on 8th October, 2018.
12. 7 Murtis of Hindu deities at two adjoining temples in Gazipur District of central Bangladesh were found vandalized, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, The Daily Star has reported on 9th October, 2018.
13. 70-year-old Hindu woman Abala Rani Das was beaten to death in Barishal (formerly Barisal) District of south-central Bangladesh. The victim’s Muslim neighbors Rojina and Helena locked into an argument with her over a trivia, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Daily Sun has reported on 9th October, 2018.
14. A women’s organization in Bangladesh demanded Judicial investigation in case of demolition of Hindu deity’s Murti, popular online bilingual news-portal jagonews24.com has reported in it’s Bengali website on 10th October, 2018.
15. Hindu leader Sujon Paul & another Hindu youth Bappi Saha were attacked by local youth wing leaders of Bangladesh’s current governing party Awami League, Sadiqur Rahman & Azad with their cohort in Barguna District of southern Bangladesh, Bengali-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Kaler Kantho has reported on 10th October, 2018.
16. Hindu youth Biswajit Dhar Bishu was hacked to death in Chattogram (formerly Chittagong) city of southeastern Bangladesh, Bengali-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Pratidin has reported on 12th October, 2018.
17. Hindu Mohajot (grand alliance) activists warned from a human chain in Dhaka “If Hindu deity’s idol vandals, attackers & looters against Hindu community are not arrested, Hindus will avoid vote in forthcoming general election of Bangladesh (to be held possibly on December 30, 2018). They also mentioned a shocking incident that in Chandpur District of south-eastern Bangladesh, isolated head of a cow found hanging to a yard of Hindu home to grab land, popular online bilingual news-portal jagonews24.com has reported in it’s Bengali website on 12th October, 2018.
18. Liver cirrhosis sufferer Hindu cobbler Hiralal Rabidas has been evicted from his shop on footpath by businessman Mozammel Haque, former Union Council member (Panchayat member) Fazlul Haque & their associates in Gazipur District of central Bangladesh. Shop on footpath was only income source of poor Hiralal Rabidas family, Dhaka-based online Bengali news-portal, eibela.com has reported on 13th October, 2018.
19. Stone statue of lord Shiva has been stolen from a Hindu temple in Naogaon District of northern Bangladesh, popular bilingual online newspaper of Bangladesh, Bangla Tribune has reported in its Bengali website on 13th October, 2018.
20. Hindu leaders of Bangladesh expressed their concerns regarding security in a press conference prior to Durga Puja held at Dhakeshwari National Temple premises, popular bilingual online news-portal of Bangladesh bdnews24.com has reported in its Bengali website on 13th October, 2018.
21. Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) arrested local sub-district unit organizing Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League (current governing party of Bangladesh), Abdul Arif Ranga with a 28-kg stone Murti of Hindu god Ganesha in Naogaon District of northern Bangladesh. The idol worth around Taka (currency of Bangladesh) 28 lakhs, news agency United News of Bangladesh (UNB) has reported on 14th October, 2018.
22. Bangladesh Puja Udjapan (observance) Parishad (council) said “Puja pandals, idols were vandalized in 11 areas of Bangladesh” including Sherpur in Bogura (formerly Bogra), Sherpur Kotwali, Sathkhira Kotwali, Lakhai in Habiganj, Ulipur in Kurigram, Naria in Shariatpur, Chehel Gazi in Dinajpur & Saddapuskarani in Rangpur, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Daily Sun has reported on 14th October, 2018.
23. Crude bomb was exploded near Hindu temple in Satkhira District of south-western Bangladesh, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Daily Sun has reported on 14th October, 2018.
24. Murtis of Hindu deity were vandalised in Jashore (formerly Jessore) District of south-western Bangladesh. 2 Muslim men Shahin Molla & Mosharraf Hossain have been arrested in this connection, Bengali-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Pratidin has reported on 16th October, 2018.
25. Murtis of Hindu goddess Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and gods Ganesh, Kartik were vandalised in Rajbari District of central Bangladesh amid Durga Puja ritual, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, The Daily Star has reported on 16th October, 2018.
26. Puja pandal was attacked & vandalized during Durga puja celebration by volunteer wing of Bangladesh Awami League’s (current governing party of Bangladesh) local unit joint convener Faizul Haque Samir with Roman, Dilu Miah & more 12-13 hooligans in Sylhet District of north-east Bangladesh, Bengali-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Dainik Jugantor has reported on 19th October, 2018.
27. Murti of Hindu deity found vandalized in Netrokona District of northern Bangladesh. Police have arrested Shoaib & his mother in law Parvina Khatun in this connection, popular bilingual online newspaper of Bangladesh, Bangla Tribune has reported in its Bengali website on 20th October, 2018.
28. A Hindu family is living in fear and uncertainty after being repeatedly attacked by influential locals in Ashulia on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. With the traumatized family at breaking point and the local police seemingly unwilling to intervene, they are now thinking of leaving the country, English-language national daily tabloid newspaper of Bangladesh, Dhaka Tribune has reported on 20th October, 2018.
29. At least 10 people were injured when a group attacked a Hindu community with lethal weapons and vandalized houses in Savar municipal area, non-metropolitan area of Dhaka District in central Bangladesh. Attackers also vandalized a Hindu temple, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, The Daily Observer has reported on 20th October, 2018.
30. Muslim land grabber Abdullah Al Mamun slaughtered cow in Hindu man Biplob Kumar Guha’s paternal land after grabbing it in Mymensingh city of central Bangladesh. Land grabber Abdullah Al Mamun grabbed land defying high court’s prohibitory order, online bilingual news-portal of Bangladesh, bangladeshpress.com.bd has reported in it’s Bengali website on 21st October, 2018.
31. Puja pandal’s furnitures were vandalized by Najmul Islam Jony, Md Ariful Islam Ayan with 25-30 unidentified people in Manikganj District of central Bangladesh on the day of Bijoya Dashomi (Vijayadashami), English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, The Daily Star has reported on 21st October, 2018.
32. Land including Hindu cremation ground belonging to Hindus & Santals has been grabbed in Bagmara sub-district under Rajshahi District of mid-western Bangladesh by parliament member Engineer Enamul Haque, parliament member Kazi Abdul Wadud Dara, Municipal Mayor Robiul Islam Robi, Organising Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League (current governing party of Bangladesh) Rajshahi district unit, Ahsanul Haque Masud. Land grabbers are impeding land owners to cremate their kin at Hindu cremation ground in the land. Land grabbers are also threatening land owners to evict to Bharat, popular online bilingual news-portal jagonews24.com has reported in it’s Bengali website on 23rd October, 2018.
33. Police recovered the body of a Hindu youth named Subhash Kumar Sadhukha from Kotwali area under Chuadanga District of western Bangladesh, Bengali-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Kaler Kantho has reported in it’s English website on 25th October, 2018.
34. Ethnic and religious minority communities of Bangladesh have urged political parties not to nominate those candidates for the upcoming parliamentary election, who have past record of committing oppression against them, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, The Daily Star has reported on 25th October, 2018.
35. Hindu woman Lakshmi Rani & man Sanjib Bapari were injured by Muslim land grabbers Hemayet & his younger son in Patuakhali District of south-central Bangladesh as victims protested their ancestral land from being grabbed by grabbers Hemayet & co. Bengali-language daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Dainik Janata has reported on 26th October, 2018.
36. 7-year-old 2 second grader girls were sexually abused by 57- year-old grocery shopkeeper Muslim man Nurunnabi Mia in Gaibandha District of northern Bangladesh, Bengali-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Kaler Kantho has reported on 26th October, 2018. Satellite TV channel of Bangladesh, Banglavision has confirmed on their website that the 2 victims were Hindu kids.
37. On 26th October, 2018 popular online bilingual news-portal jagonews24.com published a report in it’s Bengali website with the headline which can be roughly translated as “Torture is not prosecuted, minorities are victims of harassment.”
38. 5 Hindu people were injured by Muslim land grabbers Moktar Ali Howlader & his son Zakir Hossain, Alamgir Hossain, Kabir Hawlader, Mohsin Howlader with more 9-10 men in Barishal (formerly Barisal) District in south-central Bangladesh, Dhaka-based online Bengali news-portal, eibela.com has reported on 28th October, 2018.
39. Hindu homes & temple were attacked, 12 Hindu men & women were injured, cash money, gold ornaments & goods were looted in Cox’s Bazar District of southern Bangladesh. The attack was allegedly carried out by One of the two largest political party of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) local cadre Shahidul Islam, Bengali-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Amader Shomoy has reported on 28th October, 2018.
40. On 28th October, 2018 Bharatiya news media company Zee Media Corporation Limited’s Bengali concern, Zee 24 Ghanta published a photo feature on it’s website in Bengali-language on plight of Hindus in Bangladesh with the heading which can be roughly translated as “In the last 10 years, oppression on Hindu community in Bangladesh has overtaken the medieval age (of barbarity)”.
41. 2 Murtis of Hindu deity were vandalized in Gazipur District of central Bangladesh, Bengali-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Kaler Kantho has reported on 29th October, 2018.
42. Hindu youth Dhananjay Roy was attacked by Muslim attackers named Mahabul, Asaduzzaman, Sahabul Islam & Oli Mahmud in Nilphamari District of northern Bangladesh, Dhaka-based online Bengali news-portal, eibela.com has reported on 30th October, 2018.
43. Security for religious minorities of Bangladesh has been demanded to Bangladesh Election Commission, Bengali-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, Kaler Kantho has reported on 30th October, 2018.
44. Hindu woman was persecuted, 4 Hindu families have been missing in Satkhira District of south-western Bangladesh, Dhaka-based online Bengali news-portal, eibela.com has reported on 30th October, 2018.
45. 3 houses and a temple of a Hindu family were vandalized by someone called Majibar Rahman & his cohort in Faridpur District of south-central Bangladesh, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, The Daily Star has reported on 30th October, 2018.
46. Hindu housewife Jharna Rani Das was killed by her neighbors Monoara Begum & Uzzal Islam in Tangail District of central Bangladesh, English-language national daily newspaper of Bangladesh, The Daily Star has reported on 30th October, 2018.
We will continue tracking the sorry condition of #HinduHumanRights in Bangladesh.
(Featured Image Source)
Did you find this article useful? We’re a non-profit. Make a donation and help pay for our journalism.
