Hindus denied rights because of their religious identity as Bangladeshi Muslims demand closure of all eateries during Ramadan
Dhaka, Dhaka District, Bangladesh 
27 February, 2025
Case Summary
Muslim extremists of Jamaat-e-Islami organised a protest march in Dhaka, calling for the preservation of Ramazan’s sanctity. The demonstration took place at Mirpur 1 in the capital city following the Friday (Jumma) prayers. The Islamist group demanded the closure of all hotels and restaurants during fasting hours throughout the month of Ramzan or Ramadan. Dhaka Metropolitan North Ameer, Mohammad Selim Uddin, emphasised the need for strict measures to ensure that eateries remain shut during the daytime in the Islamic holy month. Several social media users took to X to share news clips and videos where Islamists have threatened non-Muslims against opening their shops and eateries during the entire month of Ramadan. A social media user going by the handle Voice of Bangladeshi Hindus has stated how Hindu business owners are facing violent intimidation at the hands of the Islamists in Bangladesh. Non-Muslims have been threatened: “If you open your shops before Iftar, you will be killed.” Hindu business owners face violent intimidation, the post read.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Restrcition/ban on Hindu practices and within this, the sub-category selected is- Restrcition on expression of Hindu identity. An example of the state-affected prejudicial and targeted orders against the Hindu community would be a government denying the right of a Hindu or a group of Hindus to hold a religious procession owing to the animosity of non-Hindu groups. Denial of the religious right of the Hindus to assuage the non-Hindu group which harbours animosity to a point where it could lead to violence against Hindus is not only a failure of law and order but is a prejudicial order against Hindus, denying them their fundamental rights to express their religious identity. An example of a hate crime against Hindus by a non-Hindu would be a non-Hindu institution forcing its Hindu employees to abandon religious symbols that a Hindu would wear as an expression of faith owing to inherent prejudice against the faith professed by the victim or a non-Hindu group of people restricting a Hindu group from constructing a place of worship simply because the demography of the area in which the temple is being built is dominated by non-Hindus. Such actions are driven by religious animosity and/or prejudice against Hindus and their faith and would therefore be categorized as a hate crime. The demand by Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamist extremists in Bangladesh to shut down all hotels and restaurants during the fasting hours of Ramzan is not merely a religious observance for Muslims—it actively infringes on the rights of non-Muslims, particularly Hindus, and constitutes a hate crime against them. Fasting during Ramzan is a religious practice for Muslims, and individual Muslims voluntarily choosing to refrain from eating and drinking during the daytime is part of their faith. However, enforcing this practice on all businesses, including those run by non-Muslims, goes beyond religious observance—it becomes coercion. Hindus and other non-Muslims in Bangladesh do not observe Ramzan, and they have every right to keep their businesses open. The Islamist group’s demand to shut down all eateries during fasting hours is not about personal religious discipline but about imposing Islamic laws on the entire population, including Hindus. Multiple social media reports and eyewitness accounts reveal that Islamists have threatened Hindu shopkeepers with violence if they do not comply with the forced closure. The explicit warning—“If you open your shops before Iftar, you will be killed”—demonstrates how non-Muslims, particularly Hindus, are being targeted and terrorized simply for running their businesses. This intimidation amounts to denying Hindus their right to livelihood based on their religious identity. Muslims choosing to keep their shops closed is a personal decision, but forcing Hindu businesses to shut down against their will is blatant religious oppression. The fact that Hindus are being directly threatened for not conforming to Islamic customs proves that this is not just an issue of religious observance but an attack on Hindu autonomy and existence. This forced shutdown is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of religious discrimination against Hindus in Bangladesh. Such demands reflect an attempt to impose Islamic supremacy in the public sphere, where Hindu businesses and livelihoods are sacrificed to satisfy Islamist demands. By using intimidation, coercion, and threats of violence to force Hindus into compliance, this act qualifies as a religiously motivated hate crime. It is an attack on religious minorities, depriving them of their fundamental rights and punishing them solely for their Hindu identity. This is why this case has been added to the tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
