General elections are going to be held in Bangladesh in 2026. These elections are also important because this will be the first election to be held after the 2024 student movement and the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power. But even before the voting, the fear of violence on religious grounds has started increasing in the country. Religious minority communities and human rights organizations say that communal tension may increase in the election environment.
The concern is that the government does not seem to have any concrete and long-term strategy to handle the situation other than police deployment. In 2024, with the support of the army, Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus took over the post of chief advisor. But the situation has not become completely normal. Especially the increasing attacks on the Hindu community have made the situation more worrying. Attacks on temples, loss of life and property and an atmosphere of fear are being continuously reported.
Statistics that scare
The figures given in the Parliament by the Government of India show the seriousness of the situation. According to Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, 23 Hindus have died since August 2024. Reports of 152 attacks on Hindu temples have come to light. Only 76 attacks were recorded between 26 November 2024 and 25 January 2025. These attacks include vandalism, arson and deadly violence.
Question on Dhaka government’s action
The Bangladesh government claimed in December 2024 that 70 people were arrested in 88 cases related to attacks on minorities, with police investigations confirming a total of 1,254 incidents. However, the ground reality is that the Hindu community is still feeling unsafe. In many areas people are afraid to express their faith openly.
old game of politics and religion
Bangladesh politics has been swinging between Awami League and BNP for decades. Both parties have been accused of using religion in elections. Although Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League was considered relatively secular, attacks on minorities did not stop completely during her rule. In May 2025, the interim government banned the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act, due to which it will not be able to contest the upcoming elections. This has further increased the political imbalance.
International concern and India’s role
In May 2025, a delegation of America’s USCIRF (United States Commission on International Religious Freedom) reached Dhaka. The report said that minorities are afraid of their safety, misinformation and rumors are promoting violence, radical Islamic parties are creating ideological pressure. The Indian government has also expressed its concern to Bangladesh.
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