Amid brutal murders of Hindus in Bangladesh, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government has issued a statement saying majority of such incidents in 2025 were “criminal in nature” and not driven by communal motives. The statement issued by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’ Press Wing came days after India, on January 9 asked Bangladesh to “swiftly and firmly” deal with attacks on minorities.

Citing official police records throughout 2025, the interim government said a total of 645 incidents involving minority communities were recorded between January and December 2025 across Bangladesh.

According to the statement posted on the Chief Adviser’s verified social media handle, of the 645 incidents, 71 were identified as having communal elements. These included 38 cases of temple vandalism, eight of arson, one of theft, one murder and 23 other incidents such as threats to break idols, provocative social media posts and damage to worship pavilions.

“While every incident is a matter of concern, the data presents a clear and evidence-based picture: the overwhelming majority of cases were criminal in nature rather than communal. While all crimes are serious and demand accountability, the data demonstrates that most incidents involving minority victims were not driven by communal hostility, but by broader criminal and social factors that affect citizens across religious and ethnic lines,” the statement reads.

Police cases were filed in 50 of these incidents, and arrests were made in an equal number, while other preventive or investigative measures were taken in 21 cases, the statement said. The remaining 574 incidents were linked to criminal or social disputes unrelated to religion, including neighbourhood disputes (51), land-related conflicts (23), theft (106), prior personal enmity (26), rape (58) and 172 cases of unnatural death. Police registered 390 cases in this category, filed 154 unnatural death reports and made 498 arrests, with additional measures taken in 30 incidents.

Hindu killings in Bangladesh

Recent attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh have raised concerns about minority safety. In January 2026, a Hindu businessman, Liton Chandra Ghosh, was beaten to death in Gazipur district over a banana dispute, while another Hindu, Ripon Saha, was crushed by a vehicle attempting to escape without paying for fuel. These incidents follow a series of violent attacks on Hindus, including the killing of Dipu Chandra Das, who was lynched over blasphemy allegations.

According to reports, at least 15 Hindus were murdered between December 2025 and January 2026, with some cases involving premeditated violence and targeting of victims’ assets. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) reported 51 incidents of communal violence in December 2025 alone.

India’s reaction to attacks on Hindu minority in Bangladesh

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), has expressed “grave concern” regarding what it describes as a “disturbing pattern of recurring attacks” on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. India has strongly condemned recent incidents, including the “barbaric” killing of a Hindu youth, Dipu Chandra Das, in Mymensingh and other reported lynchings.

On January 9, 2026, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged the Bangladeshi authorities to deal with communal incidents “swiftly and firmly”. India has criticised attempts by the Bangladeshi administration to attribute these attacks to “personal rivalries,” “political differences,” or “extraneous reasons,” stating that such disregard only emboldens perpetrators and deepens insecurity among minorities.

The MEA noted that over 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities—including killings, arson, and land grabbing—have been documented by independent sources during the tenure of the interim government.

According to the 2022 census, the Hindu population in Bangladesh is approximately 13.13 million, which accounts for about 7.95% of the country’s total population. The Buddhist population is approximately 1.01 million (0.61%), Christians nearly 500,000 and other religions, including Sikh and Animist, approximately 200,000 (0.12%).

While the Indian High Commission in Dhaka continues to monitor the situation closely, the MEA has reiterated that the “primary responsibility” for protecting the life and liberty of all citizens, including minorities, rests with the Government of Bangladesh.

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