Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh are commonplace with the government doing little or
nothing to prevent them. Common attacks include murders, rapes, lootings, kidnappings, and temple destructions.
In October,
The Daily Star reported that a Hindu teacher at an adult education center run by Bagerhat Hindu Welfare Trust was gang raped at gun point by a group of men belonging to the Bagerhat unit of the BNP. No arrests have been made in this case.
In November 2004, the HRCBM, quoting the Dainik Sangbad newspaper, reported the
torture of Kanan Bala in the district of Dinajpur. Six men forced Kanan Bala out of her
house, tied her hands and legs to a tree, inserted a cloth into her mouth, and tortured her.
When Kanan Bala begged for water, the men reportedly poured urine into her mouth.
One of the terrorists was arrested, while the remaining five roam free.
The Daily Star
reported a separate incident in November involving a raid on Hindus in the remote village
of Dharmai. The 30 attackers, who were looking to grab land, severely injured eight
Hindus and have still not been arrested by the police.
Such attacks occur on a regular basis in Bangladesh. Below is a brief outline of the 402
documented attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindus between January and November 2004.
January 2004:
There were 45 attacks against Hindus and their interests. The types of attacks and number of instances are below:
Murders 4
Arson 5
Kidnapping for ransom 3
Rapes 2
Land confiscation/forcible eviction 7 Attacks on Hindu temples 7 Cases of assault and attack, theft and robbery, intimidation and extortion 17
TOTAL 45
February 2004:
There were 31 attacks against Hindus and their interests:
Murders 2
Arson 2
Kidnapping 1
Rapes 5
Attacks on Hindu temples 3 Cases of physical attack, threats, intimidation, extortion, and land grabbing 18
TOTAL 31
March 2004:
There were 42 attacks against Hindus and their interests:
Murders 2
Rapes 5
Attacks on Hindu temples 6 Cases of kidnapping, physical threats, attacks, money extortion, land grabbing, and bomb attacks 29
TOTAL 42
April 2004:
There were 21 attacks against Hindus and their interests:
Murders 1
Rapes 2
Kidnappings 3
Attacks on Hindu temples 4 Cases of threats, intimidation, physical attacks, extortion, and land grabbing 11
TOTAL 21
May 2004:
There were 40 attacks against Hindus and their interests:
Murders 3
Rapes 4
Kidnappings 2
Cases of temple attacks, land grabbing, property looting, physical attacks, threats, intimidation, and extortion 31
TOTAL 40
June 2004:
There were 33 attacks against Hindus and their interests:
Murders 5
Rapes 6
Kidnappings 1
Cases of temple attacks, land grabbing, property looting, threats, and intimidation 21
TOTAL 33
July 2004:
There were 37 attacks against Hindus and their interests:
Murders 5
Rapes 3
Kidnapping for ransom 3 Cases of physical attacks, temple attacks, looting, threats, intimidation, and land grabbing 26
TOTAL 37
August 2004:
There were 38 attacks against Hindus and their interests:
Murders 5
Rapes 3
Kidnappings 7
Cases of throwing acid on individuals, temple attacks, looting, threats, intimidation, land grabbing, and money extortion 23
TOTAL 38
September 2004:
There were 38 attacks against Hindus and their interests:
Murders 2
Rapes 3
Kidnapping 4
Intimidation and assault of journalist
covering Hindu issues 1 Threats (fatwas) against Hindu and minority students by Muslim professor 7 Cases of looting, destruction of property, 21 temples attacks, intimidation, and land grabbing
TOTAL 38
October 2004:
There were 40 attacks against Hindus and their interests:
Murders (including that of a journalist covering persecution of Hindus) 4
Rapes 4
Kidnappings 2
Cases of assault and attack, theft and robbery, intimidation and extortion 30
TOTAL 40
November 2004:
There were 37 attacks against Hindus and their interests:
Murders 2
Rapes 2
Kidnappings 5
Intimidation of journalist 1 Cases of temple attacks, property looting and ransacking, intimidation, and threats 27
Source : Hindu American Foundation 2005
