Islamist attacks force hindu minorities to flee amid surge in violence in Bangladesh
by Aditi VermaIslamist extremists have launched a violent assault on Hindu homes in Bangladesh, compelling members of the minority community to flee for safety. The attacks have intensified fears and instability among those targeted.
The incident took place in the Shak ghat area of Sylhet district and the video went viral on August 6.
Visuals showed during the attacks by Islamist extremists in Bangladesh, Hindu homes were set ablaze, engulfing the properties in devastating flames. Intense fires roared through the houses, consuming them with a ferocity that left them reduced to smoldering ruins. The infernos, vivid and destructive, transformed once-sturdy homes into piles of charred debris, with the searing heat turning them to ash. The scene was one of chaos and destruction, as the raging fires ravaged the community.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council revealed a harrowing list of 54 incidents targeting Hindu properties across various districts in Bangladesh. The attacks span several regions, highlighting a troubling surge in violence against minority communities.
In Sherpur, the residence of the Sribordi Upazila Youth Unity Council president was vandalized and looted. Similarly, in Khulna, multiple homes belonging to prominent figures in the Hindu community were attacked, including those of Biman Bihari Amit and Animesh Sarkar Rinku. The assault extended to Feni, where the Durga Temple was desecrated, and Dinajpur, where five temples including the Kali Mandir in Parbatipur were vandalized.
The violence also reached Dinajpur, where the Fultala cremation ground was forcefully occupied, and various minority homes in Setabganj, Bochaganj, and Dhalla village were targeted. Businessman Deepak Saha’s residence and office in Lakshmipur faced similar fates of attack and looting.
In Jashore, fires destroyed three homes in Dopidi Palpara village, while 22 shops and a warehouse in Narikel Baria of Bagharpara were vandalized and looted. The spree of destruction continued in Satkhira, where shops and prominent figures’ homes, including those of Biswajit Sadhu and Dr. Subrata Ghosh, were set ablaze.
The intensity and rapid spread of these attacks signal a severe escalation of violence, with the actual number of incidents potentially being much higher than reported. The situation remains dire as the Hindu community in Bangladesh grapples with the aftermath of these assaults.