2021 Bangladesh anti-Hindu violence

2021 Bangladesh Communal Violence refers to the series of violent attacks on Hindu temples and the houses of Hindu communities across Bangladesh during the Durga Puja festival in 2021, from 13 to 15 October of the year. More than 80 temples and makeshift worship arrangements were vandalised during the violent attack on the Hindu population of the country on the allegation of defaming the Quran, holy book of the Muslims in a temple of Cumilla district.

Bangladesh government deployed paramilitary Bangladesh Border Guards force in 22 of the 64 administrative districts of Bangladesh to quell violence on the Hindu community. As of October 17 of 2021, at least 6 people were killed across the country, including two Hindus killed at a temple by the mob and four Muslims killed by police, in the "worst communal violence in years" as termed by The New York Times.

Background

Hindus are 10% of Bangladesh’s 165 million population.

Bangladesh prepared for the largest religious festival of the Hindu community in the second week of October 2021. Like every year, apart from the temples, makeshift arrangements to offer worship were set up across the country. In the morning of October 13, allegations of defaming the Muslim holy book Quran emerged from a makeshift temple in Cumilla district when unconfirmed report of finding a copy of Quran on the lap of an idol was circulated through the social media platforms. As an immediate reaction the government urged people to calm down and instructed the police to investigate the incident. However, soon after the report was circulated, angry mob started attacking local temples in Cumilla due to the lack of proper resistance from government officials. The religious tension soon transcended to other districts of Bangladesh.

Summary of dead, injured and temples destroyed

By 18th October at least 6 people were reported killed, at least over 150 Hindus injured and at least 80 Hindu temples destroyed across Bangladesh by Muslim mobs, additionally over 100 people injured were reported from various places in several incidences. At least 4000 were charged and 400 detained by police.

Attack on temple and minority community

Reports of attacks on the temples, houses and shops of minority, looting of the belongings and murder were documented in at least a dozen districts of Bangladesh mostly in the southern area, including Cumilla, Chandpur, Noakhali, Chattagram, Bandarban, Cox's Bazar, Narshingdi and Gazipur.

Cumilla

The incident started in Cumilla district where attacks were carried out on different temples from October 13 till October 16. Durga puja venue of Nanua Dighir Par and Chandmoni Kali temple became the target for the attackers soon after the rumor of demeaning Quran spread across the area.

Chandpur

At least 4 people died in Chandpur when Police fired at an angry mob brought out a procession and launched attack on some Durga puja venue of the district, on October 13.

Bandarban

Under the leadership of a local Awami League leader, a temple and establishments owned by Hindus were attacked by an angry mob on October 14 in Lama area of Bandarban. The Lama central Hari Mandir was attacked from a rally of angry mob who were protesting the "demeaning of Quran". They also attacked the shops of Hindu people in the Lama market area. Lama Upazila Awami League general secretary Zahirul Islam addressed the mob before they started attacking the temple according to the local police officials.

Noakhali

Jatan Kumar Saha and Panto Das, two Hindu devotees were killed in Noakhali when angry mob attacked different temples in the district. On October 15, attackers from a procession of several thousand people stormed in Bijoya Durga Temple in Begumganj area and vandalised the temple. They also beat up Jatan Kumar Saha who died in a hospital. Later, body of another 20-year-old devotee was found in a pond of an ISKCON-run temple of the district.

Feni

A clash broke out on October 16 in Feni between the local Hindu community and Muslims when a group of Hindu dwellers of the district was protesting the nationwide attack on Hindu community during the Durga Puja festival. The clash left around a dozen of people from both communities injured.

Rangpur

A Muslim mob set fire to around a dozen Hindu-owned houses in Rangpur's Pirganj upazila on October 17 after an alleged post by a local Hindu boy on Kaaba went viral. Local Muslims alleging that the post demeaned the holy place vandalized the houses, set fire and obstructed fire-fighters to douse the fire.

Government action against culprits

In October 17,2021, Bangladesh Police filed cases against over 4,000 suspects involved in the violence.

Reaction

Politicians and social activists of Bangladesh called the communal violence during Durga Puja festival "A conspiracy to destroy communal harmony" in Bangladesh.

On 16th October 2021, after the friday Muslims prayers a crowd of over 10,000 Muslims from various Mosques in Dhaka took to streets, they were carrying banners of Islamist political parties and chanting, "Down with the enemies of the Islam" and "Hang the culprits". On the same day, nearby nearly 1,000 Hindus also protested against the attacks on temples and the killing of Hindus by Muslim mobs.

Bangladesh Minister of Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan stated "Attacks on Durga Puja pandals pre-planned. It appears to us that it was a motivated act instigated by a vested group. Not only in Comilla, but attempts were also made to destabilize the country previously through communal violence in Ramu and Nasirnagar."

Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina promised to deliver justice and hunt down the culprits behind the attacks.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary general of Bangladesh Nationalist Party alleged government plot behind the attacks.

Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council observed a half-day strike in Chattagram in protest of the attacks on Durga Puja venue in Chattagram.

See also

• 1971 Bangladesh genocide of Hindus
• Freedom of religion in Bangladesh
• Human rights and persecution of non-Muslims in Bangladesh