Islamists slaughter cow named 'Modilal' mocking Indian PM Modi in Bangladesh
Bangladesh 
9 February, 2025
Case Summary
Islamists in Bangladesh organised a long march against India, during which they slaughtered a cow named “Modilal,” a clear act of mocking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also considered a global Hindu leader. The incident occurred amid ongoing political turmoil following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Taking advantage of the instability, Islamist extremists unleashed widespread violence against the Hindu community. Mobs attacked Hindu homes, set them on fire, and abducted women. Several temples across the country were vandalised and destroyed in what appeared to be a systematic crackdown on Hindus. The situation in Bangladesh remained tense as violence escalated, raising concerns about the safety and security of the Hindu minority.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under two prime categories of the tracker. The first is- Attack on Hindu religious representation. Within this, the sub-category selected is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The second category under which this case has been placed is- Hate speech against Hindus. Under this, the sub-category selected is- Anti-Hindu slurs, mocking faith. Anti-Hindu slurs and the deliberate mocking of the Hindu faith owing to religious animosity involve the usage of derogatory terms, stereotypes, or offensive references to religious practices, symbols, or figures. One of the common anti-Hindu slurs used against Hindus is “cow-worshipper” and “cow piss drinker”. The intention of using this term is to demean and mock Hindus as a group and their religious beliefs since Hindus consider the cow holy. Additionally, some symbols and the slurs attached to them have a historical context that exacerbates the insult, hate, stereotyping, dehumanisation and oppression against Hindus. Cow worship has been used for centuries to denigrate Hindus, insult their faith and oppress Hindus specifically as a religious group. There has been overwhelming documentation about how cow slaughter has been used to persecute Hindus with cow meat being thrown in temples and places of worship. There has also been overwhelming documentation where cow meat (beef) has been force-fed to Hindus to either forcefully convert them to Islam or denigrate their faith. Apart from cow worship, the Swastika – which holds deep religious significance for the Hindus – has also been misinterpreted and distorted to use as a slur against Hindus. Similarly, the worship of the Shivling has been used by supremacist ideologies and religions to denigrate Hindus owing to religious animosity. Such slurs and denigration stem out of inherent animosity and hate towards Hindus and their faith, therefore, it is categorised as hate speech targeted at Hindus specifically owing to their religious identity. 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 hundreds of 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. Amidst this large-scale genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh, Islamists slaughtered a cow named 'Modilal' mocking Indian PM Modi. Firstly, the cow holds deep reverence in Hinduism, and its intentional sacrifice was meant to insult Hindu beliefs. This in itself is reflective of the hostility Islamists nurture against Hindus. Secondly, by slaughtering a cow named “Modilal,” the Islamists deliberately mocked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a prominent symbol of Hindu nationalism. This act was not just a political statement but an intentional insult to Hindus in India, as the country is a Hindu-majority nation and is perceived by these Islamists as a Hindu collectivity. Targeting Modi for these Islamists is, therefore, akin to humiliating Hindus collectively. By denigrating India and its leadership through the desecration of a sacred Hindu symbol, the perpetrators displayed clear hostility toward the Hindu faith. This act, occurring amidst widespread violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, reinforces the pattern of targeted persecution. Therefore, this incident has been categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime, as it was driven by animosity toward Hindu beliefs and intended to degrade the Hindu community.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 10 to 100
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
