Hindu man's shop burned to the ground by Muslim mob amid ethnic cleaning of Hindus in Bangladesh
Comilla District, Bangladesh 
8 August, 2024
Case Summary
On 9th August, a video surfaced showing the aftermath of an Islamist attack on a Hindu-owned shop in Bangladesh. The video, shared by journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, captured the agony of Bimal Chandra Dey, whose automobile shop, "City Bike Centre" in Comilla, was set ablaze amid the ongoing political turmoil. In the video, Dey expressed his heartbreak as he watched his livelihood and future go up in flames. He lamented how his hard work was destroyed in an instant. This attack was part of a broader pattern of violence targeting Hindus in Bangladesh following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Islamists attacked Hindu homes, businesses, and temples, exploiting the political chaos. Despite Hasina's resignation, the violence against Hindus persisted.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack not resulting in death. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Attack for Hindu identity. In several cases, Hindus are attacked merely for their Hindu identity without any perceived provocation. A classic example of this category of religiously motivated hate crime is a murder in 2016. 7 ISIS terrorists were convicted for shooting a school principal in Kanpur because they got ‘triggered’ seeing the Kalava on his wrist and tilak that he had put. In this, the Hindu victim had offered no provocation except for his Hindu religious identity. The motivation for the murder was purely religious, driven by religious supremacy. Such cases where Hindus are targeted merely for their religious identity would be documented as a hate crime under this category. This report underscores the deliberate targeting of Hindus in Bangladesh, highlighting how the property of Hindu shop owner Bimal Chandra Dey was looted and vandalized, singling him out specifically for his religious identity. This incident is not isolated but part of a coordinated effort to intimidate and suppress Hindus. This broader pattern of persecution reflects the systemic hostility faced by Hindus. This sort of attack specifically targeting Hindus stems from a deep-seated animosity Islamists harbour towards the Hindu faith, which is why this case has been categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Victim Details
Total Victim
1
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 1
- Female 0
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 1
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 1
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
