Hindu temple and houses attacked and vandalised by Muslim mob amidst large scale persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh

Case Summary
Bidyadharpur village, located in Baksimoil Union of Mohonpur upazila, Rajshahi, faced communal violence on August 5, 2024, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. The central temple of Mohonpur upazila, surrounded by 95 Hindu families, became the focus of an attack during a victory procession. Residents reported that 25 houses were vandalized, and attackers armed with sticks caused widespread damage. The violence began at 7:30 PM during a power outage. Attackers entered the Hindu neighbourhood, vandalized homes, and left within 30 minutes. Villagers fled in fear, with women hiding in fields and others locking themselves indoors. Despite the severity of the attacks, no case was filed at the Mohonpur police station. Sukumar Pramanik, a schoolteacher respected by both Hindu and Muslim villagers, attempted to intervene but was beaten. His arm was broken, requiring surgery. Other homes were also targeted. Shyamal Kumar’s house had its tin roof damaged. His wife, Suchitra Rani, described their terror as attackers trying to break their gate. Bobin Kumar Sarkar and his brother Bipul had their home vandalized, with windows broken and toilet pipes damaged. Residents like Poppy Rani Sarkar hid indoors as attackers tried unsuccessfully to break down doors. Further incidents included the destruction of glass windows, water tanks, veranda roofs, and shop items. Ajit Sarkar’s tea shop was destroyed, while many homes required costly repairs. Following these damages, families lacked the courage to reopen businesses or resume normal activities. The incident left the Hindu community in Bidyadharpur traumatized. Young men began night patrols to guard their temples and homes, reflecting the ongoing fear and mistrust.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The case has been added under two prime categories of the tracker. The first is- Attack not resulting in death. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Attacked 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. The second category under which this case has been placed is- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Attack on Temples. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The removal of Sheikh Hasina from power in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, escalated the persecution and marginalisation of the Hindu minority in the 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. Amid this, this report indicates, that as many as 25 homes of Hindus and a temple were vandalised by Muslim mobs in Bangladesh's Bidyadharpur village. The Islamist mob beat several Hindus like Sukumar Pramanik, a schoolteacher who attempted to intervene. It is important to emphasise that the attack on the Hindus and their homes was entirely unprovoked, with religious identity being the sole trigger for the violence. Moreover, such attacks can be perceived as a larger attack on the entire Hindu community, as the purpose is clearly to send a broader message of hostility towards the community. It is a tactic to intimidate the community; instil fear and disrupt the cohesion and morale of the community. Such attacks are a form of symbolic aggression against the Hindu community that stems from an innate hatred for Hinduism. Further, the Muslims involved in the vandalism were fully aware that Hindu temples are sacred centres of worship for Hindus. By targeting the temple, they knowingly attacked the religious sentiments of the Hindu community. The purpose behind this was obviously to intimidate, harass, or provoke the Hindu worshippers. Furthermore, it was done primarily to target Hindus, making it a kind of religious harassment worthy of being listed in the tracker. Disclaimer: While 25 Hindu houses were attacked, due to the lack of clarity regarding the number of individuals affected within these households, we have opted not to estimate the victim count based on household data and therefore, we have chosen to mark the victim count as 'unknown'.

Case Status
Complaint not filed

Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown