Why are Hindus in Bangladesh fearful ahead of February 12 elections?

Bangladesh is preparing for its national parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12, 2026.

And, growing anxiety within religious and ethnic minority communities has emerged as one of the defining undercurrents of the political season.

While electoral periods in the country have historically been marked by heightened tension, the months leading up to the upcoming vote have seen a surge in communal violence that has left minorities — particularly Hindus — feeling increasingly vulnerable.

Human rights organisations and minority advocacy groups argue that these developments reflect a deteriorating security environment for minorities following the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, disputes claims of systemic communal targeting and maintains that most incidents stem from general criminal activity rather than religious animosity.

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A killing that reignited minority fears

The lynching of Dipu Chandra Das in December became a turning point in the national debate over minority safety. Das, a 27-year-old Hindu garment factory worker, was accused by several Muslim colleagues of making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.

Following the allegations, a mob descended on his workplace in Gazipur. He was beaten to death, after which his body was suspended from a tree and set ablaze.

Footage of the killing circulated widely on social media platforms, prompting widespread shock and fear among Hindu communities across the country. Demonstrations erupted in Dhaka and several other cities, with protesters demanding accountability and stronger safeguards for religious minorities.

The interim administration ordered an investigation, and police later confirmed that approximately a dozen individuals had been taken into custody in connection with the incident.

Subsequent inquiries found no evidence that Das had made the alleged remarks. Human rights organisations described the killing as emblematic of mob violence driven by religious accusation, while Hindu leaders argued that it showed the fragility of minority protections in the current political climate.

Patterns of violence after the fall of Sheikh Hasina

Minority advocacy groups maintain that the killing of Das was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern that emerged after Sheikh Hasina was forced from office in a mass uprising in August 2024.

Since her removal, Bangladesh has been governed by an interim administration amid significant political realignment.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), an umbrella organisation representing minority communities, reports that more than 2,000 incidents of communal violence have been recorded since August 2024.

According to its documentation, at least 2,184 incidents took place in 2024 following Hasina’s ouster, with an additional 522 incidents reported in 2025.

These incidents, according to the group, included 61 killings, 28 cases involving violence against women — among them rape and gang rape — and 95 attacks on temples and other places of worship involving vandalism, looting, or arson.

Minority leaders accuse the Yunus-led administration of minimising the scale of these incidents and failing to provide adequate protection.

The government, however, rejects assertions of widespread communal targeting. Official figures show that authorities recorded 645 incidents involving minority community members in 2025.

Of these, only 71 were categorised as having communal characteristics, while the remaining cases were classified as criminal acts linked to personal disputes, land conflicts, or other non-religious factors.

A surge in lethal attacks during late 2025 and early 2026

Human rights organisations have documented a series of violent incidents targeting Hindu individuals and families between December 2025 and January 2026. The Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) reported 17 targeted killings of Hindu minorities between December 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026.

In January alone, multiple fatal attacks were reported across different districts. Rana Pratap Bairagi, a businessman and newspaper editor in Jashore, was shot in the head and had his throat slit.

Sarat Mani Chakraborty, who owned a grocery shop in Narsingdi, was stabbed to death.

Samir Das, an auto-rickshaw driver in Feni, was beaten to death by a mob.

Chanchal Chandra Bhowmik was killed when a garage where he had been sleeping was deliberately set on fire.

In the Chittagong region, late January saw reports of coordinated arson attacks against Hindu households.

Homes and properties belonging to at least 16 Hindu families in Mirsarai and Raozan were reportedly burned. According to RRAG, some residents were locked inside their homes before the fires were ignited.

The unrest during this period extended beyond minority communities. Between December 18 and 20, violent mobs attacked major media outlets and cultural institutions following the death of Osman Hadi, a spokesperson for the Inqilab Moncho.

The headquarters of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were stormed and vandalised. More than 150 laptops were looted, and sections of the buildings were set on fire, trapping dozens of journalists inside.

Cultural organisations, including Chhayanaut and Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, were also targeted as attackers chanted religious slogans.

How minority voters are being targeted in Bangladesh

Analysts and minority leaders note that national elections have often coincided with spikes in both political and communal violence, particularly in areas where political competition is intense and local rivalries run deep.

Over the years, religious identity has at times been used as a tool to intimidate voters, settle disputes, or consolidate political influence. Minority homes, temples, and individuals have frequently borne the brunt of such tactics, especially during periods of political uncertainty.

The upcoming election has revived these fears, particularly because it is taking place without the participation of the Awami League, which has historically enjoyed significant support among Hindu voters.

With the party barred from contesting and Sheikh Hasina living in exile in India, many Hindus fear they are being collectively associated with the former ruling party, increasing their exposure to hostility.

Beyond communal incidents, Bangladesh has seen a sharp rise in general political violence since the election schedule was announced on December 11, 2025.

Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) indicates that at least 18 people have been killed in election-related violence during this period.

In the first month of campaigning alone, 16 political activists — mostly affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami — were killed. More than 80 incidents involving clashes between rival political factions have been documented.

Islamist parties return to the political forefront

Parallel to the rise in reported attacks on minorities has been the re-emergence of Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist political party.

After years of marginalisation due to bans, arrests, and crackdowns under Hasina’s government, Jamaat-e-Islami now views the upcoming election as an opportunity to regain political relevance.

The party serves as the anchor of an 11-party Islamist alliance that includes the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP). Leaders associated with the NCP played a prominent role in the 2024 uprising that brought down Hasina’s government.

As scrutiny over the implications of Jamaat-e-Islami’s return has intensified, the party has sought to recalibrate its public image. Despite continuing to advocate Shariah, or Islamic law, it has organised rallies featuring Hindu participants and nominated a Hindu community leader as one of its candidates.

The NCP has also sought to reassure minority communities. Party leaders have pledged to support citizens facing religious discrimination and stated that, if elected, they would establish a dedicated unit within the Human Rights Commission to address minority rights.

Minority participation in the electoral process

Despite the climate of fear, minority representation in the 2026 election has increased.

According to data from the Election Commission, 80 candidates from religious and ethnic minority communities are contesting the polls. Of these, 12 are running as independents, and 10 are women, a Times of India report said.

A total of 22 political parties have nominated 68 minority candidates. The Bangladesh Communist Party has fielded the highest number, with 17 candidates.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has nominated six minority candidates, while Jamaat-e-Islami has nominated a minority candidate for the first time — Krishna Nandi. The National Citizen Party has also nominated one minority candidate.

Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, secretary general of the Bangladesh National Hindu Mahajot, is contesting as an independent from the Gopalganj-3 constituency, which includes Kotalipara and Tungipara.

His nomination was initially rejected by the Election Commission but later reinstated following an appeal.

Anti-India rhetoric and its domestic impact

Another major theme of the election campaign has been the portrayal of Hasina as anti-Bangladesh and aligned with India. Several political parties have accused New Delhi of sheltering Hasina, despite Bangladesh’s request for her extradition.

Experts note that while a significant segment of the Bangladeshi population favors maintaining strong ties with India rather than pivoting toward Pakistan, anti-India rhetoric has found traction in certain political circles.

An official familiar with the situation told IANS that anti-India and anti-Hindu messaging has resonated with some voters, particularly benefiting Jamaat-e-Islami.

According to the official, the concern is that the situation could worsen in the coming days. Continued violence, they warned, could prompt sections of the Hindu population to consider leaving the country, potentially placing additional strain on already fragile border regions.

Violence against Hindus in Bangladesh has also strained relations with India. Hindu nationalist groups in India have staged protests, while the Indian government has issued strong statements criticising Dhaka’s handling of the situation.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs accused Bangladesh of minimising what it described as a “disturbing pattern of recurring attacks” on Hindus and of attributing such incidents to personal or political disputes.

Bangladesh rejected the criticism, calling it “systematic attempts” to generate anti-Bangladesh sentiment.

Both countries have suspended certain visa services and accused each other of failing to protect diplomatic missions. Protests in India led cricket authorities to bar a Bangladeshi player from participating in the Indian Premier League, after which Bangladesh boycotted a World Cup event hosted in India.

Where minorities stand in Bangladesh

According to the 2022 Population and Housing Census and subsequent updates, religious minorities account for approximately 8.96 per cent of Bangladesh’s population.

Hindus remain the largest minority group, comprising about 7.95 per cent, or roughly 13.1 million people.

Buddhists account for 0.61 per cent, Christians for 0.30 per cent, and other religious groups — including Ahmadiyya Muslims, Sikhs, and practitioners of traditional faiths — make up around 0.12 per cent.

Bangladesh is also home to approximately 50 recognised ethnic minority groups, often referred to as Adivasis. These communities, including the Chakma, Marma, and Santal, represent about 1 per cent of the population and are primarily concentrated in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and northern border regions.

While Bangladesh’s total population has surpassed 170 million by early 2026, the proportional share of religious minorities has shown a gradual decline over the past decade compared to the 2011 census, raising concerns about long-term demographic and social shifts.

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With inputs from agencies