Muslim mob vandalise and loot three shops belonging to Hindus in Bangladesh
Dhaka District, Bangladesh 
4 August, 2024
Case Summary
On August 5, 2024, Bangladesh plunged into chaos after a successful coup ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, forcing her to flee the country as an enraged mob approached her residence. In the wake of the coup, Islamists exploited the unrest to launch violent attacks on the Hindu community, leading to numerous deaths, rapes, and the destruction of Hindu homes, shops, and temples. Among the incidents, a Muslim mob vandalised and looted three shops adjacent to the water pump owned by a Hindu man, Jhantu Chandra Das of Rajarbagh. They occupied one shop and threatened the tenants of the other two shops, demanding extortion.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been categorised under the prime category of 'Attack not resulting in death' in the hate tracker. The relevant sub-category is 'Attacked for Hindu identity,' as the targeted individuals were singled out specifically due to their religious 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. The removal of Sheikh Hasina from power in Bangladesh on August 5 escalated the persecution and marginalisation of the Hindu minority in the predominantly Islamic nation, intensifying what can be described as a silent genocide. Since her ouster, Islamists have carried out unchecked atrocities against Hindus, including physical violence, the destruction of temples and religious symbols, and the systematic displacement of Hindus from their ancestral lands. Over 205 attacks on Hindu temples, shops, and businesses have been recorded following Sheikh Hasina's removal as Prime Minister. Many Hindus have been brutally murdered or injured in these assaults. Among the incidents, three shops belonging to Hindus were vandalised and looted. The radical Muslims occupied one shop and threatened the tenants of the other two shops, demanding money. These incidents are 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.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
