The violence against minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh is likely to rise further ahead of the general elections scheduled to be held next month, intelligence agencies have warned.
According to a report by a news agency, the targeting of the minorities would only go up in the run-up to the polls. “Many parties like the Jamaat and those who back it are hoping that their radical vote base would consolidate further if the minorities are targeted,” the report claimed.
Citing the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM), the report claimed that at least 116 members of minority communities have been killed between June 6, 2025, and January 5, 2026.
The targeting of minorities in Bangladesh is not new, and the recent killings of Hindus are part of a well-planned conspiracy ahead of polls, the report claimed.
In less than a month, at least eight Hindus have been killed in Bangladesh. The most recent was the murder of Samir Das, an auto driver, who was beaten to death in Daganbhuiyan in Feni district on Sunday. Samir Das’s family claimed that he was beaten to death, even though police claimed it was a “natural death”.
This streak started with the brutal murder of Deepu Chandra Das, who was lynched to death, and his body was hung from a tree and set on fire last month.
The incident sparked massive outrage in India, with the Opposition Congress demanding that the government raise the issue with Bangladeshi authorities.
New Delhi had raised its concerns over the targeting of Hindus and demanded firm action from Dhaka.
However, the Bangladeshi interim government dismissed India’s concerns, calling them “exaggerated” and “motivated narratives.”
In a statement, the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry said, “The Government of Bangladesh categorically rejects any inaccurate, exaggerated, or motivated narratives that misrepresent Bangladesh’s longstanding tradition of communal harmony.”
The Ministry further alleged “systematic attempts” to portray isolated criminal incidents as persecution of Hindus.