The Hindu neighborhoods of Chattogram are devoid of men. Following the killing of a government prosecutor last Tuesday, local police filed a case accusing more than 1,500 individuals.
On Friday afternoon in the Patharghata area under Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram, Bangladesh, homes, temples, and businesses belonging to Hindus were attacked in the presence of military and police forces. The attackers are alleged to be supporters of three extremist Islamic organizations: Tawhidi Janata, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Hefazat-e-Islam. Reports indicate that further attacks occurred in other parts of the city around 2:30 PM on Friday. During these incidents, the assailants vandalized and looted Hindu homes.
In Kotwali’s Bundle Road, Methorpatty, Satish Babu Lane, Harishchandra Munsef Lane, and Banshal Road, homes and businesses of Hindus were targeted. In Methorpatty of Patharghata, both temples and residences were attacked, including the Shantaneswari Kali Temple on Harishchandra Munsef Lane and several temples, such as Jagabandhu Ashram, on Satish Babu Lane. According to locals, when the victims sought police assistance via phone, security forces were nowhere to be seen during the attack. Witnesses allege that after the attackers left the area unharmed, military and police personnel arrived but departed without conducting any investigation. The assailants have reportedly threatened to carry out further attacks at night.
The Hindu neighborhoods of Chattogram are generally devoid of men. Following the murder of a government prosecutor at the Chattogram court last Tuesday, local police filed a case accusing more than 1,500 individuals. Since then, joint forces of the military and police have been conducting repeated operations in Hindu-majority areas. Out of fear, many young men have fled the area. Allegations have emerged that Hindus are being stopped on the streets, detained under the pretext of interrogation, and subjected to abuse.
Last Tuesday, after the bail plea of Chinmoy Krishna Das, spokesperson for the Sanatani Jagaran Manch, was rejected, local Hindus joined a protest. Police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) forces used excessive force, including beating the protesters indiscriminately and dispersing them with sound grenades. During the ensuing clashes, Saiful Islam Alif, a lawyer affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami, was killed near the Rangam Convention Hall, about 600 meters from the court building. According to police, some unruly youths from Methorpatty were involved in the incident.
That same evening, in retaliation, Hindu homes and temples in Methorpatty, Patharghata, and Firingibazar were attacked, vandalized, and set on fire. Since then, almost daily attacks on Sanatani Hindus have been reported in the Kotwali Police Station area of Chattogram, allegedly carried out by extremist Islamists. Alongside these attacks, the community is also distressed by ongoing police and military operations. There are reports of Hindus being harassed in various ways, even through legal cases.
On Friday, as per their prior announcement, the extremist communal Islamic organization Hefazat-e-Islam held rallies in various areas of Chattogram after the Jummah prayers. These rallies were primarily organized under the banner of Tawhidi Janata, a coalition of Islamist extremist groups. Slogans such as "Beware of Indian agents" were chanted during these marches.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh United Sanatani Awakening Alliance issued a statement on Friday, expressing grave concern over recent attacks, legal cases, and related incidents. The statement highlighted the widespread attacks on the Hindu community across the country, including in Chattogram. Concerns were raised regarding the vandalism of temples, arbitrary arrests through mobile checks on the streets, and false cases filed against ordinary Hindus.
The coordinator of the Bangladesh United Sanatani Awakening Alliance stated in the statement that the organization had been peacefully carrying out programs nationwide to advocate for their eight-point demands. These demands do not represent any individual or specific group but rather reflect the collective aspirations of all Sanatanis in Bangladesh. Despite over three months having passed, the government has not initiated any dialogue with the Sanatanis regarding these demands.
The statement added that they had hoped Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, upon assuming responsibilities, would prioritize the safety of the Sanatani community and work towards maintaining peace and order in the country. However, while he did meet with the group and asked them to identify themselves as Bangladeshi citizens, he made no sincere commitment regarding their demands. This lack of engagement left the Sanatani community disheartened, prompting them to participate enthusiastically in the movement for their eight-point demands.
The statement concluded by asserting that the interim government cannot shirk responsibility for the ongoing situation.
The leaders of the Hindu Alliance further stated that on November 25, while traveling from Dhaka to Chattogram, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, the spokesperson for the Bangladesh United Sanatani Awakening Alliance and a key figure of the Sanatani community, was arrested at the airport. On November 26, he was presented before the Chattogram court under charges of sedition. The individual who filed the case, Firoz Khan, has been expelled from the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party). Chattogram Metropolitan BNP Secretary Nazimur Rahman has informed journalists that the BNP had no party decision regarding the case and that Firoz Khan filed it independently.
The Alliance leaders questioned the validity of the case, stating, "If his party, BNP, has expelled him and claims no involvement in the case, how is this case acceptable?" They further argued that the alleged act of flag desecration at the New Market area involved a flag that was not the national flag of Bangladesh. Video footage clearly shows that the flag had four stars in its corners. They asked, "Does our national flag have a starry crescent?" They also questioned why Firoz Khan, instead of a representative of the state, filed the sedition case and whether the government authorized such a filing.
The leaders also raised concerns about the timing of the arrest. "The case was filed in October, but why was the arrest made on November 25? On November 24, leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh and the Chattogram Metropolitan Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Shahjahan Chowdhury held an emergency meeting with the Home Affairs Advisor. Why was Chinmoy Krishna arrested the day after that meeting?"
They accused Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Hasib Aziz of ordering unprovoked attacks on Hindus, including indiscriminate baton charges, the use of sound grenades, and shooting. Approximately 500 innocent Hindus were injured in these incidents, and monks were also targeted. Seven homes in the Sevak Colony opposite the court building were set on fire, and 70 homes were completely looted. Women were subjected to harassment and assault. The Sheetala Temple and Radha Krishna Temple were vandalized, and valuables were looted. Out of fear and panic, 450 families from Sevak Colony have fled the area.
The Loknath Temple in Patharghata was attacked, and the outer premises of the Jayamata Kali Temple in Hazarigali were vandalized. Since the day of the incident, Sanatanis have faced harassment on the streets. Sanatani women have been subjected to obscene behavior, and those wearing red threads (lal sutra) have been beaten. Monks and saints dressed in red clothing have been arbitrarily arrested. The Basudev Mukund Dham in Chanhara, Patiya, was also vandalized.
The leaders stated that for the past two days, Chinmoy Krishna Das's assistant, Adipurush Das Brahmachari, has been missing. On November 28, after Chinmoy Krishna Das was taken to prison following medical treatment, two members of Pundarik Dham, including Ranganath Das, were arrested. At night, innocent Hindus are being arrested by raiding their homes. They questioned, "What is happening? Where are human rights? Where is the safety of minorities?"
The monastic leaders expressed that many innocent Hindus have been implicated in three cases. Unidentified individuals are being used to justify arrests of Sanatanis. Moreover, ordinary lawyers are being accused in murder cases, setting a dangerous precedent. They strongly condemned and protested these actions. The CMP (Chattogram Metropolitan Police) Commissioner has stated in the media that the individuals involved in the murder have been identified. If so, why are others being implicated in these cases?
The leaders further pointed out that after Friday Jummah prayers, attacks were carried out in Patharghata under the slogan "Naraye Takbeer," targeting the Bandel Road Temple and Shantaneswari Temple. However, neither the police nor the military took any action to stop the attackers. They claimed to have video footage of all the incidents and mentioned that similar attacks have occurred in Sylhet, Mymensingh, and other places. They questioned, "Where is the safety for minorities?"
They also mentioned that ISKCON Bangladesh has declared that it will not take responsibility for Chinmoy Krishna Das, and they thanked ISKCON for this clarification. "From the beginning, we have emphasized that this movement is not ISKCON's; it belongs to all Sanatanis. The responsibility for Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu lies with all Sanatanis in the country and worldwide."
In the statement, they urged, "Dear Sanatanis, prepare for a prolonged movement. If Hindu persecution does not stop, we will be forced to undertake more intense protests. We appeal to international human rights organizations, the United Nations, and all relevant bodies to investigate this matter."
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