The attack in Thakurgaon follows a series of brutal events that paint a grim picture of the realities faced by Hindus in the country. Just days before, the nation was rocked by the murder of Haradhan Roy, a Hindu councillor, and his driver. The senseless killing is believed to be motivated by Roy’s religious identity and his position of influence within the community. This was soon followed by another disturbing episode where Gautam Chandra Paul, a respected Hindu teacher, was forced to resign from his position solely because of his faith.
The Islamist attacks against the Hindu minority in India continue.
Last night, an Islamist mob set the home of the Hindu man Pramath Roy on fire.
The attack took place in the Taltali village in Thakurgaon district.
🇧🇩 pic.twitter.com/Z5kt0Ilu7E
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) August 20, 2024
Systematic Erasure of Hindus From Bangladesh
These events are symptomatic of a much larger issue. The systematic erasure of Hindus from the social, political, and cultural fabric of Bangladesh. The numbers tell a story of their own. In 1941, Hindus constituted approximately 28% of the population in what is now Bangladesh. Today, that figure has plummeted to less than 9%. This sharp decline is not due to natural demographic shifts but is the result of a calculated campaign of violence, intimidation, and forced conversions aimed at driving out the Hindu population.
The targeting of Hindu individuals—whether they are community leaders like Haradhan Roy, educators like Gautam Chandra Paul, or ordinary citizens living in fear of the next attack. It highlights a disturbing trend of religious persecution. Despite the gravity of the situation, there is a deafening silence from certain media and political quarters. Some have downplayed these incidents. They dismissed them as sporadic acts of violence rather than acknowledging them as part of a broader, systematic issue.
Adding fuel to this fire, some global media outlets have been accused of suppressing and whitewashing these verified reports of violence against Hindus. Naomi Canton, a prominent journalist, recently took to X to question this troubling trend.
Why is the BBC trying to suppress and whitewash verified reports of Hindus and other minorities being attacked in Bangladesh?https://t.co/8CqHnb1tBy
— Naomi Canton (@naomi2009) August 20, 2024
BBC Is At It Again!
Influential media platforms like the BBC undermine the severity of the crisis and fail to give a voice to the victims of these heinous acts by downplaying these issues. Consistent reports of forced conversions, land grabs, physical attacks, and the marginalization of Hindus demand not just coverage but active international intervention.
The international community can no longer afford to ignore this human rights crisis. The persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh violates basic human rights and demands global attention and action. Governments, human rights organizations, and international bodies must urgently intervene to protect the Hindu minority in Bangladesh. The future of millions of Hindus in Bangladesh remains perilously uncertain.
The time to act is now. The world must stand up for the persecuted and ensure that the voices of Bangladesh’s Hindu community resonate globally. If history has taught us anything, it is that silence in the face of injustice only emboldens the perpetrators. The world must not remain silent any longer.
