As instability continues to grip Bangladesh, a powerful yet concerning moment unfolded: students, stepping up as protectors, formed a vigil outside a Hindu temple to shield it from potential attacks by Islamist protests. This remarkable act of solidarity occurred amidst the escalating violence and chaos following the resignation followed by the sudden departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India as protests surged.
A protest towards quota reformation turning fatal, the progression that this movement has seen is exhilarating, horrific and remarkable. In these few days, we found ourselves in the midst of something extraordinary. The streets of Bangladesh had become the epicenter of a modern-day revolution, led not by political activists but by the youth of this country. These young voices turned their frustrations into a force that no one could ignore. It was personal for every one of us who joined, standing shoulder to shoulder, to march towards building a new Bangladesh that was no longer shackled by fear and injustice. However, the emergence of this new chapter led to a nationwide state of lawlessness, primarily targeting minorities. The Indian media referred to this as a religious genocide. But have they covered the whole picture?
History of Violence Against Hindus in Bangladesh
There is no denying that Bangladesh has decades of history of communal tensions against Hindus. According to Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), a Bangladeshi human rights organization that documents attacks on minority communities, an estimated 3,600 attacks have taken place against Hindus in Bangladesh since 2013. These include vandalism and arson targeting over 550 houses, 440 shops, and businesses. During this period, there were also reports of several instances of sexual assault against Hindu women. Unfortunately, the judiciary system rarely prioritizes finding the perpetrators of these crimes and bringing them to justice.
Indian media’s unsubstantiated claims
Source: The Times of India
Police have not yet conducted a thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators of the recent violence. However, Indian TV and news media have been quick to assign blame and promote their own unfounded conspiracy theories. Indian news channels have blamed “Islamist forces” for the mass killings of Hindus. Articles have surfaced claiming that the Pakistani spy agency, ISI, influenced the protests in July with the aim of transforming Bangladesh into an Islamic state, collaborating with political parties like Jamaat-e-Islami. The Times of India quotes a senior leader of India’s governing party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, who says that this move will create “more than one crore refugees who are likely to enter West Bengal soon.”
The India media’s disinformation campaign suggests that the safety and protection of Bangladeshi Hindus relied solely on Sheikh Hasina’s government, and that the collapse of her regime has left this minority population in a vulnerable position. However, as history has shown, Bangladesh has always witnessed communal violence against Hindus, even during Hasina’s time in government. Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), told DW that they thought that the Hindu community would have a better life under the Awami League government, but that didn’t happen.
The claims are ironic as the RSS-backed BJP party in India is promoting Islamophobic sentiments towards the increasingly marginalized Muslim community and basically condoning violence against them. Such misinformation has only given rise to one more reason for these extremists to incite violence against the Muslim minorities. The Wire India has reported a Hindutva mob attack on Muslims living in shanties near a railway station in Ghaziabad as revenge for the violence that is happening in Bangladesh with people on the internet threatening to do more.
Social media’s role in further spread of confusion
There were protests that erupted in reaction to the violence against minorities, seeking safety and justice. As international media covered these protests, certain social media accounts, known for their provocative remarks and false claims, quickly spread misinformation about the alleged attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus by Muslims in Bangladesh. The widespread circulation of reports regarding physical attacks and instances of sexual violence against the minority Hindu population, as well as allegations of crowds setting fire to temples and Hindu sites, gained significant attention. Nevertheless, the majority of these assertions were unfounded and spread as fake news to create disharmony in India and portray Muslims as perpetrators of persecution against Bangladeshi Hindus.
Many popular news outlets, such as Al Jazeera and DW, were quick to fact-check these claims. Independent fact-checking organizations, such as Rumour Scanner, assisted in debunking social media posts containing misleading communal violence content. Rumour Scanner Investigation Unit found that 72 percent of the 50 identified X accounts are reportedly operated by individuals based in India. They have even provided the list of IDs spreading false information, which included many responsible individuals, even several of India’s mainstream media outlets.
The hashtag #AllEyesOnBangladeshiHindus had been trending on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter). Political leaders actively propagated these misleading narratives and delivered inflammatory and aggressive hate speeches. Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane, known for his consistent pattern of promoting hatred and spreading a divided ideology, seized this opportunity to incite violence. In a post in X, Rane wrote, “If Hindus are targeted and killed in Bangladesh, why should we allow even one Bangladeshi to breathe here. Hum bhi chun chun ke marenge.” (We will also kill each of them selectively)”
Let’s look at some of the viral cases that gained a lot of traction on social media.
Liton Das’ house on fire (False)
An X(formerly Twitter) post claimed that the residence of Liton Das, a renowned Bangladeshi Hindu cricketer, was deliberately set ablaze. The post provided a visual compilation of two images as supporting evidence. Even though the photo does show Liton Das, the blazing palace is not his residence. Conducting a backward search of the photograph reveals media headlines regarding the incident where protesters set fire to the residence of Mashrafe Mortaza, the former captain of the Bangladesh cricket team. He had become a target as a result of his political engagements and his strong affiliation with the Awami League.
Claims on the sexual harassment of Hindu women (False)
This post on X alleges that Bangladeshi Muslims forcibly removed the bras of Hindu females and thereafter subjected them to sexual assault. Now, he is roaming on the streets, shamelessly presenting a proof of his manhood. The claim was utterly baseless and ridiculous.
The video shows demonstrators forcing entry into the prime minister’s home. After Hasina left the country, photos and videos of protestors snatching her clothes and underwear went viral. At the end of the video, a reddish-brown building resembles Ganabhaban, Bangladesh’s prime minister’s official house. The palm trees and window shapes depicted in the photograph correspond to those observed in the final moments of the film.
Reality on the ground
According to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, there have been at least 200 attacks against Hindus and other religious minorities in the following week since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. While some were baseless and driven solely from communal extremism , international observers understand that most of these attacks might be politically driven and reflect resentment against Hasina’s party. Thomas Kean, a senior consultant at the Crisis Group, underscores that the Awami League’s historical protection of minorities may be the driving force behind the targeting of Hindus.
The fall of the previous government has given the opportunity for radical elements within society to act in an unlawful situation. Attacks have targeted Awami League supporters and workers. But since Hindus as a group in Bangladesh are vulnerable, they have had to face the most severe attacks, especially in rural areas. The Indian media has decided to highlight this particular segment of the attacks because it further validates India’s far-right theory of religious persecution in Bangladesh.
Source: X
But in the midst of such attacks, multiple images of local Muslims, including religious organizations and students from madrasas, were circulated on social media platforms, displaying their role in safeguarding temples. The photographs also depict Bangladeshi Muslims standing in close proximity to temples, demonstrating their solidarity with the priests. Anti-discrimination students’ movement, Chittagong University coordinator Russell Ahmed told Dhaka Tribune, “Miscreants are systematically attacking various public and private institutions to misrepresent the spirit of the students’ movement .” He mentions that there has been a committee formed in each district and upazila to keep watch to prevent any kind of attack on the places of worship, temples, and churches of different religions in Chittagong.
The publicity we have witnessed from the Indian media poses a significant risk, as it can lead to misunderstandings among various communities. Rather than proposing solutions to prevent such attacks or to further ensure the safety of minorities in Bangladesh, the Indian media has instead instigated more violence and confusion among Hindus and Muslims in both Bangladesh and India. Despite fact-checkers’ efforts in removing this misunderstanding, minorities are continued to be persecuted regardless, as they can only hope for the new interim government to provide them with some safety and justice.