In Dhaka, a human chain was formed outside the National Press Club as citizens protested the ongoing persecution of the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. Demonstrators voiced their discontent regarding the perceived inaction from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government, which recently took power. Mrityunjay Kumar Roy, the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote, stated that the community is rallying against the severe violence faced by Hindus, including reports of murders, rapes, and looting. He pointed out that nearly one month after the BNP assumed power, such atrocities have not ceased.

Rise in Violence Post-2024 Elections

Since the BNP’s victory in the 2024 elections, incidents of violence against Hindus and other minority communities have reportedly surged. In the past week alone, two Hindu men were murdered in separate incidents. Additionally, four others, including a temple priest, were injured due to an explosion from a crude bomb detonated within a temple, as documented by the Bangladesh Jatio Hindu Mohajote.

Recent Attacks on Hindu Community

The reported violence included the killings of two individuals in Bogura and Cox’s Bazar on March 6 and March 7. Furthermore, on March 8, crude bombs were thrown at a Hindu temple in Cumilla city during a religious ceremony, inciting widespread panic among attendees. The Bangladesh Jatio Hindu Mohajote detailed that the bombings occurred during a worship service dedicated to Shani Dev in the South Thakurpara region of Cumilla city, leaving the temple priest and several others with serious injuries.

Details of the Temple Attack

According to reports, around 6:30 pm on March 7, a bomb was detonated during the religious observance, which resulted in injuries to the priest and several worshippers. Keshob Chakraborty, the injured priest, is currently receiving treatment at a hospital. The officer-in-charge of the Kotwali Model Police Station, Touhidul Anwar, confirmed that the priest was among those injured following the explosion. Additionally, Sajol Kumar Chanda, the president of the temple committee, indicated that the blast disrupted the ongoing religious service.

Witness Accounts and Subsequent Violence

Witnesses reported that the attack caused panic in the vicinity. In the aftermath of the initial explosion, there were allegations that two additional crude bombs were detonated in proximity to a nearby Buddhist temple and a private office. Eyewitness accounts detail a masked individual entering the temple shortly before the explosion and leaving behind a bag. Following the event, injured priest Keshab Chakraborty recalled seeing a white object fall in front of him after the blast, later realizing it was a bomb.

BJP’s Parliamentary Success and Its Implications

In the most recent general elections, the BNP and its allies secured a two-thirds majority in parliament, leading to Tarique Rahman’s appointment as Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The political shift has raised concerns about the safety and welfare of minority groups, particularly the Hindu community, as they continue to face escalating violence in the current climate.

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