Between 1 December 2025 and 14 January 2026, Bangladesh witnessed a spate of serious crimes targeting members of the Hindu minority, including killings, mob lynchings, sexual violence, arson, vandalism, and arrests linked to alleged blasphemy.

Based on police reports and contemporaneous media coverage, the following is a chronological, factual account of 18 major incidents during this period. The cases span multiple districts and reflect a pattern of targeted violence, intimidation, and communal hostility, with investigations and judicial proceedings at various stages.

#1 Hindu Auto-Rickshaw Driver Samir Das Killed in Feni – 11 January 2026  

On 11 January 2026, 28-year-old Samir Das, a Hindu auto-rickshaw driver, was found beaten and stabbed to death in a field in Jagatpur village under Daganbhuiyan upazila, Feni district. Police said his body bore multiple stab wounds, indicating a violent assault. After the killing, the perpetrators fled with his auto-rickshaw. Authorities recovered the body, sent it for post-mortem examination, and launched operations to identify suspects and recover the stolen vehicle. The case was registered as murder linked with robbery.

#2 Hindu Youth Mithun Sarkar Drowns While Fleeing Mob In Naugaon – 5 January 2026 

On 5 January 2026, 25-year-old Mithun Sarkar drowned in a canal in Bhandarpur village, Mahadevpur upazila, after fleeing a mob that had accused him of theft. Eyewitnesses reported that Mithun was chased by local extremists and, in panic, jumped into the canal near Chakgauri Bazaar. Unable to swim, he cried for help while people stood by on the banks without intervening. Police later recovered his body.

#BREAKING: Yet Another Hindu Killed in Bangladesh. Minority Hindu Youth dies in Bangladesh by jumping into a canal after being chased by a mob. In Mahadebpur of Naogaon, a young man named Mithun Sarkar (25) died after drowning while being chased by locals on suspicion of theft. pic.twitter.com/leXEFgPvCf

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 6, 2026

The incident was registered as a death following mob intimidation based on unverified allegations.

#3 Hindu Grocery Shop Owner Mani Chakraborty Killed – 6 January 2026 – Narsingdi

On 6 January 2026, 40-year-old Mani Chakraborty, a Hindu grocery shop owner, was attacked with sharp weapons at Charsindur Bazar in Palash upazila, Narsingdi district. He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Police said the killing marked one of several fatal attacks on Hindus reported within weeks across Bangladesh. A case was registered, and investigations were initiated to identify those involved.

#4 Hindu Widow Assaulted and Gang-Raped in Kaliganj – 3 January 2026 – Jhenaidah

On 3 January 2026, a 40-year-old Hindu widow in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah district, was gang-raped and tortured by men identified as Shaheen and Hasan. According to police complaints, the attackers broke into her house, raped her, demanded money, and later dragged her outside, tied her to a tree, cut her hair, and filmed the abuse.

News coming in from #Jhenaidah district of #Bangladesh.

Islamists abducted and gang-raped a Hindu widow in Jhenaidah district.

Islamists also tortured her and cut her hair.

This is the horrific condition of the Hindu minorities of Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/kAkwj1Plf6

— Hindu Voice (@HinduVoice_in) January 5, 2026

The dispute reportedly stemmed from a property transaction. A case was registered after the video circulated, and authorities began search operations for the accused.

#5 Threats Against Hindu District Commissioner Annapurna Debnath – 5 January 2026 – Kurigram

On 5 January 2026, District Commissioner Annapurna Debnath faced threats and communal abuse after cancelling the nomination of a Jamaat-e-Islami candidate due to dual citizenship. Supporters of the party reportedly stormed her office, hurled slurs, and demanded her resignation, alleging religious bias. Police provided security after slogans were raised questioning her right to hold office. The administration termed the incident an attempt to intimidate a constitutional authority performing statutory duties.

#6 Hindu Editor Rana Pratap Bairagi Shot Dead – 5 January 2026 – Jessore

In January 2026, Hindu businessman and newspaper editor Rana Pratap Bairagi was shot dead in the Keshabpur area of Jessore. Police said he was lured from his workplace before being attacked, indicating a targeted killing. The assailants escaped after the shooting. A murder case was registered, and investigations were launched. Media organisations and minority groups expressed concern over the killing of a journalist belonging to a minority community.

#7 Hindu Businessman Khokan Das Attacked and Set on Fire – 31 December 2025 – Chandpur

On the night of 31 December 2025, Khokan Das, a 50-year-old Hindu businessman, was attacked by a mob while returning home after closing his medicine shop. Police reports stated that he was beaten, stabbed, doused with petrol, and set on fire near Keurbhanga Bazaar. Khokan jumped into a pond to extinguish the flames but sustained severe injuries. A case was registered, and police began searching for the attackers.

#8 Hindu Man Bajendra Biswas Shot Inside Factory – 29 December 2025 – Mymensingh

On 29 December 2025, Bajendra Biswas (42) was shot dead inside a garment factory in Bhaluka, Mymensingh district. Police said the accused fired a shotgun during a confrontation inside the factory premises. The suspect was arrested along with the weapon. Authorities registered the case as murder following a workplace dispute, though local reports noted Bajendra’s role in community protection efforts.

#9 Hindu Youth Joy Sarkar Arrested Over Social Media Post – 27 December 2025 – Faridpur

On 27 December 2025, police in Faridpur arrested 22-year-old Joy Sarkar after a complaint alleged blasphemy over his social media comment stating that Sanatan Dharma is the world’s oldest religion. Following public pressure and fears of unrest, police detained him and produced him before a court, which sent him to jail.

#10 Gobinda Biswas Assaulted for Wearing Sacred Thread – 26 December 2025 – Khulna Division

On 26 December 2025, Hindu rickshaw puller Gobinda Biswas was assaulted by a mob near the Jhenaidah Municipality Gate after being accused of espionage due to a sacred red thread on his wrist. Witnesses said rumours spread rapidly, leading to a crowd attacking him.

Gobinda Biswas—a rickshaw puller. A red thread on his wrist was enough for extremists to brand him an “RAW agent.” He kept saying he was just a rickshaw puller, but no one listened.
The young man from Jhenaidah was brutally assaulted and left critically injured—his survival… pic.twitter.com/9qvDNgl7FA

— Sahidul Hasan Khokon (@SahidulKhokonbd) December 20, 2025

He sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised. Police registered a case after the incident.

#11 Madhur Canteen Vandalised – 24 December 2025 – Dhaka

On 24 December 2025, Madhur Canteen at Dhaka University was vandalised by a man chanting slogans and damaging property. University authorities and police confirmed the incident after videos circulated online.

A Radical chanting Islamic slogans and quoting Kazi Nazrul Islam vandalised histotical Madhur Canteen in Dhaka .

Madhur Canteen is not just a café. It is a living memory of the Language Movement, the Mass uprising, and the Liberation War.

Yunus is destroying Bangladesh pic.twitter.com/g1tIEeKx5j

— Megh Updates (@MeghUpdates) December 24, 2025

The accused identified himself during questioning. A case was registered for vandalism and public disorder.

#12 Hindu Youth Amrit Mandal Lynched – 24 December 2025 – Rajbari

On 24 December 2025, Amrit Mandal (29) was beaten to death by a mob in Rajbari district after being accused of extortion. Police said the mob assaulted him with sticks and rods, leading to fatal injuries. A murder case was registered, and investigations were initiated.

#13 Two Hindu Houses Burnt in Chittagong – 22 December 2025 – Chittagong

In the early hours of 22 December 2025, two Hindu houses in West Sultanpur village were set on fire. The families escaped, but property and livestock were destroyed. Police registered an arson case and began inquiries.

#14 Gobinda Biswas Assaulted Again in Jhenaidah – 20 December 2025 – Jhenaidah

On 20 December 2025, Gobinda Biswas was assaulted in Jhenaidah after rumours accused him of being an Indian agent due to a sacred thread. Police confirmed the assault and registered a case.

#15 House of Hindu Journalist Vandalised – 19 December 2025 – Dhaka

On 19 December 2025, the house of Hindu journalist Sushant Dasgupta was vandalised by a mob in Habiganj following protests linked to an unrelated incident.

Sushanta Dasgupta is a Bangladeshi investigative journalist based in London. He has written on the financial frauds of Yunus and the targetted attacks on Hindus. This is the price his family still in Bangladesh has to pay! https://t.co/LBvAot3ze6

— Deep Halder (@deepscribble) December 22, 2025

Family members escaped unharmed. Police registered a case and investigated.

#16 Hindu Youth Dipu Chandra Das Lynched – 19 December 2025 – Mymensingh

On 19 December 2025, Dipu Chandra Das was lynched in Bhaluka after allegations of blasphemy. His body was later set on fire. Police opened a murder investigation.

#17 Freedom Fighter Jogesh Chandra Roy and Wife Killed – 6 December 2025 – Rangpur

On 6 December 2025, Jogesh Chandra Roy (75), a Liberation War veteran, and his wife were found murdered in their home in Rangpur district. Police registered a double murder case.

#18 Hindu Trader Utpal Sarkar Murdered – 5 December 2025 – Faridpur

On December 5, 2025, fish trader Utpal Sarkar was stabbed to death during a robbery near Kalitala Bridge, Faridpur. Police registered a homicide case and searched for the attackers.

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The post Tracking Anti-Hindu Crimes In Muhammad Yunus’s Bangladesh: A Timeline Of Events From December 2025 To January 2026 appeared first on The Commune.

Bangladesh has witnessed another fatal mob assault involving a Hindu man, coming just days after the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, whose killing triggered widespread outrage. According to local media reports on Thursday, a 29-year-old man identified as Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat, was beaten to death in the Pangsha area of Rajbari district, roughly three and a half hours from Dhaka.

Residents told The Daily Star that Samrat was believed to be the head of a local criminal group known as “Samrat Bahini,” allegedly engaged in extortion and other illegal activities. He had reportedly left Bangladesh following the removal of Sheikh Hasina last year and had returned recently to his native village of Hosendanga in Kalimohor union.

The incident reportedly took place around 11 pm on Wednesday when Samrat and several associates went to the home of a villager, Shahidul Islam, allegedly to demand money. Family members raised an alarm, accusing the group of robbery, prompting nearby villagers to intervene. While most of the group managed to escape, Samrat was caught and beaten by the crowd.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Debrata Sarkar of the Pangsha Circle said officers managed to pull Samrat from the mob and rushed him to a hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. Police confirmed that Samrat had multiple cases pending against him at Pangsha police station, including a murder charge. One of his associates, Mohammad Selim, was arrested during follow-up operations, and police recovered a pistol and another firearm.

The killing has further heightened tensions in Bangladesh, where concerns over minority safety have intensified following the recent lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old factory worker in Mymensingh. Das was attacked last Thursday after a co-worker accused him of blasphemy. A mob reportedly beat him to death, hung his body, and set it on fire.

The murder sparked protests and condemnation both within Bangladesh and abroad, including demonstrations in India. Authorities later stated that there was no evidence supporting the blasphemy allegation and suggested the violence may have stemmed from a workplace dispute. At least 12 individuals have been arrested in connection with Das’s killing.

Bangladesh’s Education Adviser, Professor C R Abrar, visited Das’s family earlier this week to offer condolences. Interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus said in a social media post that the visit was intended to convey the government’s sympathy and its commitment to supporting the bereaved family.

Source: NDTV

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The post Another Hindu Beaten To Death In Mobocracy Bangladesh Days After Dipu Chandra Das Was Lynched And Set Ablaze appeared first on The Commune.

Bangladesh’s interim chief Muhammad Yunus has sparked fresh controversy after gifting a book to Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairperson General Sahir Shamshad Mirza that appeared to depict parts of India’s northeastern states as Bangladeshi territory.

The incident occurred during General Mirza’s official visit to Dhaka over the weekend, amid a growing thaw in Bangladesh–Pakistan relations. Yunus shared photos of the meeting on social media, showing him presenting a book titled Art of Triumph to the visiting general. One image, which prominently displayed the book’s cover, triggered outrage for featuring a distorted map of Bangladesh including Assam and other northeastern regions of India.

This depiction aligns with the “Greater Bangladesh” narrative pushed by radical Islamist groups.

Listen India,
If you dream of a So Called Akhand Bharat & Interfere in Bangladesh Internal Affairs, then Bangladesh will also dream of a Greater Bangladesh.

The difference between you and us is that you dream and we will implement it.

Mind It. pic.twitter.com/99ySD1UWdU

— Md Fardin Karim (@MdFardinKarim) October 29, 2025

The image of the two leaders with the distorted map quickly went viral, drawing condemnation from Indian political leaders, analysts, and journalists. Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi demanded that New Delhi issue a formal protest, questioning why both the central government and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma remained silent on the matter.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not yet commented on the incident. Meanwhile, some pro-Bangladeshi social media users claimed that the image was being misinterpreted and that the cover depicted an artistic rendition of the Bangladesh national flag, not a map.

Visit Marks Deepening Dhaka–Islamabad Engagement

General Mirza’s visit is seen as the latest step in the renewed Bangladesh–Pakistan rapprochement since Yunus assumed charge in August 2024, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League amid student protests. Mirza, who also met Bangladesh’s Navy and Air Force chiefs, discussed bilateral investment, military cooperation, and connectivity.

Analysts have noted that under Yunus, Dhaka has been seeking closer engagement with Islamabad. Over the past year, multiple Pakistani defense delegations have visited Bangladesh, and Pakistani officials no longer require prior security clearance or visas to enter the country. Dhaka has also launched direct maritime trade routes with Pakistan and plans to open a Dhaka–Karachi flight route in the coming months. Trade curbs and inspections on Pakistani goods have similarly been relaxed.

Yunus’s Repeated Remarks on India’s Northeast

This is not the first time Yunus has drawn attention for his comments about India’s northeastern states.

During his April 2025 visit to China, Yunus described India’s northeast as “landlocked” and called Bangladesh the “only guardian of the ocean for the entire region.” Speaking before Chinese officials, he said, “The seven states of India, the eastern part of India… they are a landlocked country. They have no way to reach out to the ocean. We are the only guardian of the ocean for all this region. So, this opens up a huge possibility. This could be an extension of the Chinese economy.”

The remarks were widely seen as a signal encouraging Chinese strategic expansion into India’s northeast, and they drew a sharp response from New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed that the region is a strategic hub for India and central to BIMSTEC connectivity. India also cancelled a transshipment agreement allowing Bangladeshi cargo transit through Indian territory to Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar, citing security concerns.

Pattern of Provocative Statements

Tensions escalated further in May 2025, when Yunus’s close aide, Major General (retd) Fazlur Rahman, suggested that Bangladesh should collaborate with China to “occupy” India’s northeastern states if India attacked Pakistan. The remark followed the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.

In 2024, another Yunus associate, Nahidul Islam, shared a “Greater Bangladesh” map online that included West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam within Bangladeshi borders.

Despite these incidents, Yunus has not condemned or distanced himself from the statements, fueling suspicion about his political motives and Bangladesh’s shifting regional alignment.

Regional and Strategic Implications

Analysts warn that the Yunus government’s warming ties with both Pakistan and China could have security implications for India’s northeast, given the long and porous border shared with Bangladesh. India’s Chief of Defence Staff recently cautioned about an emerging China–Pakistan–Bangladesh nexus, noting that such a convergence could “pose a challenge to New Delhi.”

(Source: India Today)

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In a significant departure from previous policy, Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is preparing to give controversial Islamic preacher and wanted Indian fugitive Zakir Naik a red-carpet welcome, marking a dramatic policy reversal nine years after the Dhaka terror attack that led to his ban. The visit, scheduled from 28 November to 20 December 2025, will be Naik’s first in Bangladesh and marks a notable reversal from the Sheikh Hasina administration’s long-standing ban on his activities.

According to organisers, the tour has received official approval and logistical support from government officials. Naik is expected to address large gatherings and deliver religious sermons at multiple venues across the country during his stay.

The decision represents a striking shift from Bangladesh’s earlier stance. Following the July 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery terror attack in Dhaka, the Hasina government had banned Naik’s television network, Peace TV, after one of the attackers reportedly told investigators he had been influenced by Naik’s sermons available online. The preacher left India soon after the incident and has since lived in Malaysia, where he obtained permanent residency.

Naik faces multiple charges in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code (now replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) for allegedly promoting enmity among communities and delivering hate speeches. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) continues to pursue his extradition, but Malaysia has so far declined India’s requests.

Bangladesh’s clearance for the tour follows Naik’s high-profile visit to Pakistan in 2024, where the government extended official hospitality. During that trip, he was photographed meeting senior members of the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba, including commander Muzammil Iqbal Hashmi, Muhammad Harris Dhar, and Faisal Nadeem; all of whom were designated as international terrorists by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2008.

Video footage verified by India Today showed Naik embracing these individuals at Lahore’s historic Badshahi Mosque, where he addressed a massive gathering of more than 150,000 people under tight security arranged by the Lahore police. Naik also met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during that visit.

The Yunus government’s decision to host Naik has sparked questions about Dhaka’s evolving religious and diplomatic posture. Analysts note that this move could have regional implications, potentially straining relations with India, which continues to seek Naik’s return to face trial on terrorism-related charges.

(Source: India Today)

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Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several of her family members will be barred from voting in next year’s election as their National Identity (NID) Cards are blocked, local media reported. Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Wednesday told the reporters that “anyone whose NID card has been locked cannot vote from abroad. Those who fled abroad due to cases or for other reasons face no obstacle in voting, but their NID must remain unlocked.”

“To vote from abroad, one must register online using their NID number. A passport will not work. So if someone’s NID is locked, how can they register? They cannot. Only those who register with their NIDs will get this opportunity,” Bangladesh’s leading newspaper, The Business Standard, quoted the EC official as saying.

When asked whether Hasina will be able to vote, he said, “She cannot vote because her NID is blocked.” In April, the National Identity Registration Wing under the EC “locked” the NID of Hasina and her nine family members following a verbal instruction from its Director General, ASM Humayn Kabir.

The family members include Sheikh Rehana Siddique, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Saima Wazed, Shahnaz Siddique, Bushra Siddique, Tulip Rizwana Siddique, Azmira Siddique, Radwan Mujib Siddique, and Tarique Ahmed Siddique. Earlier in July, the EC removed the election symbol of Hasina’s Awami League party from its website in an attempt to end the party’s decades-long political existence in the country, according to local media reports.

On May 12, the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government issued a gazette notification banning all activities of the Awami League and its affiliate organisations. The ban was imposed under the “Anti-Terrorism Act” until the trial of the party and its leaders in Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is completed.

Analysts reckon the latest developments as an extension of the political vendetta pursued by the interim government led by Yunus against former PM Hasina and her family members, with a larger plan of keeping the Awami League away from taking part in the national elections.

The unceremonious exit of Hasina last August was globally seen as a major setback to the democratic set-up in the country. The interim government has also received massive criticism for providing shelter to radical and extremist Islamic outfits.

-IANS

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The post Bangladesh: Yunus-Led Interim Government Bars Sheikh Hasina And Family from Voting, Awami League Symbol Removed appeared first on The Commune.

The promise of restoring democracy in Bangladesh after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024 has given way to rising lawlessness, mob justice, and emboldened radical groups, raising doubts about the credibility of elections under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus’s interim administration.

Hasina’s dramatic downfall was hailed as an opportunity to reset Bangladesh’s politics, but the absence of strong institutions and factional divides quickly created a power vacuum. Yunus’s caretaker government, envisioned as a technocratic bridge, has instead presided over cascading disorder.

In the year following Hasina’s exit, rights groups documented 637 lynchings nationwide, with mob justice replacing formal dispute resolution, according to a report by European Times. “In January 2025, the police themselves acknowledged the scale of violence, releasing a controversial report that sought to downplay the communal dimension.

Out of 1,769 attacks against minorities, authorities claimed that more than 1,200 were “politically motivated” rather than religiously inspired, with only 20 classified as purely communal,” the report said. Police, often accused of complicity or paralysis, have failed to restore public trust. Minority communities remain the most vulnerable.

Between August 2024 and mid-2025, watchdogs recorded 2,442 incidents of communal violence targeting Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and Ahmadis, including arson, killings and sexual assaults. A February 2025 UN report warned of deliberate attacks on minorities and indigenous groups, accusing the interim government of failing to act.

Local leaders say only token investigations have been opened, with just 62 cases registered and 35 arrests made. Notably, radical voices have also gained ground. In March, thousands of Hizb-ut-Tahrir supporters marched openly in Dhaka demanding an Islamic Caliphate.

Universities and media outlets now face intimidation, while women report escalating harassment in public spaces. The deteriorating security environment has raised alarms over the feasibility of upcoming elections in the South Asian country. Analysts argue that without law and order, minority candidates and secular voices cannot campaign freely, polling officials cannot operate safely, and voters cannot participate without fear.

-IANS

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In the ongoing crackdown on Awami League leaders under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh, police have taken another party member, Shariful Islam, into custody on charges linked to last year’s July demonstrations.

The City Cyber Division of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested the Awami League leader during a raid in the Wari police station area in the capital on 18 August evening, local media reported. According to the police, Shariful has been accused in connection with multiple cases related to last year’s July protests, and legal action against him is underway.

Islam previously served as Secretary of Science and Technology Affairs for Dhaka South City Awami League and was also the Organising Secretary of Wari Thana Awami League, Bangladesh’s leading Bengali daily Jugantor, reported. On the other hand, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Monday issued arrest warrants against former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammad Javed Patwary and four other senior police officials in connection with the alleged 2016 murder of seven people in the Patartek area of Gazipur district. The order was passed by a three-member bench of the tribunal, following a petition submitted by the prosecution seeking the warrants. Among the accused are Monirul Islam, former chief of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and former Superintendent of Police (SP) and Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Bogura district.

However, the authorities did not disclose the names of the other accused, reportedly to facilitate their arrest. Analysts reckon the developments as a major political vendetta being pursued by the Yunus regime, as several cases were filed against the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her party members and the working officials during her tenure on frivolous grounds immediately following her ouster in August 2024. The unceremonious exit of Hasina last August was globally seen as a major setback to the democratic set-up in the country. The interim government has also received massive criticism for providing shelter to radical and extremist Islamic outfits.

-IANS

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The Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of the Awami League, has launched a scathing attack on the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, accusing it of dismantling democratic institutions and pushing the nation toward becoming a “failed and fragmented state.”

The student body claimed that Bangladesh has effectively turned into a “graveyard of democracy” under the current regime. The student body asserted that the defeated anti-liberation forces “Jamaat-Shibir, fundamentalist-communal groups, and terrorist-militant factions” under the command of Yunus, have continued their “spree of killings, attacks, terrorism, and destruction” that began in July-August 2024. “Democratic norms, the rule of law, freedom of speech, human rights, and voting rights – all are now on life support in the ICU. Exploiting the emotions of the people, the ideals of justice and values, the collective strength, the protesting spirit and participation of the youth- killers infiltrated, struck at the heart, awakened pain, spread anger through brutal killings, lynched police officers, unleashed terror, and took society, the state, the law, and democracy hostage,” read a statement issued by the Students’ League.

“By attempting to assassinate Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister elected by the people’s vote, they have turned August 5, 2024, into a dark day of democracy, student, people, and police killings,” the statement added. Slamming the Yunus-led interim government, the student body alleged that “jungle law has been established” in Bangladesh, as by granting indemnity, Yunus has provided “state protection to his terrorist-militant forces”, allowing them to “commit crimes against humanity under state patronage”. “The killers of democracy, students, people, and police have been seated on the throne of power. The people have been reduced to worthless, honorless, hopeless beings. Venom of despair and hatred has been spread across minds and communities. The air is heavy with heart-wrenching cries, silent sobs, and suffocating groans,” the Students’ League mentioned.

“With deep respect for the collective strength of the people’s aspirations, rooted in the values of Bangladesh’s great Liberation War, and pledging justice for the victims and injured of this meticulously planned killing mission, we vow to put an end to this oppression and backwardness. Justice will be served,” it added. The Students’ League vowed to uproot “all anti-Bangladesh evil forces” while restoring democracy, voting rights, the rule of law, progress, and human dignity. Describing 5 August as “Democracy, Student-People-Police Killing Day”, the student body extended condolences to all the people killed and expressed solidarity with the injured, calling them its source of “strength and courage”. 

-IANS

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An exhibition depicting the ongoing “gross human rights violations” in Bangladesh, including the arrest of prominent Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das, under the current Muhammad Yunus regime concluded at the United Nations in Geneva during the regular session of the 59th Human Rights Commission.

Geneva-based human rights organisation International Forum for Secular Bangladesh, Bangladesh Minority Alliance (Switzerland Chapter) and Tumuku Development and Cultural Union jointly organised the three-day poster exhibition during the UNHRC session. It highlighted the “current crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations in Bangladesh”, the organisers detailed.

“A total of 30 posters depicting the gross human rights violations of the current Muhammad Yunus regime in the past 10 months were displayed in the exhibition,” Sajeeb Wazed, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son, posted on X.

“A large number of foreign diplomats, thousands of foreign NGO workers and hundreds of human rights activists who came to the human rights session expressed their heartfelt feelings after seeing the horrific, heartbreaking pictures of the poster,” Wazed added.

According to the organiser of the exhibition, Geneva-based human rights activist Rahman Khalilur Mamun, the pictures were divided in five categories to raise global public opinion on the current human rights situation in Bangladesh.

The categories included, Bangladesh communal violence and minority oppression; Freedom of the press; Suppression of voices and journalistic oppression; Demand for the unconditional release of Chinmoy Das Prabhu; Mob terrorism and sexual abuse of women and children; and, Sheikh Hasina, world conscience – mother of humanity.

“Yunus has tarnished the Nobel Peace Prize by sponsoring such a demonic flow of events. It is important to form a world opinion on such a terrible human rights violation,” Pashtun community leader and human rights activist Fazlur Rahman Afridi said during the event.

The forum stated that the General Secretary of the Swiss Socialist Party in Geneva, Sylvain Thevot also expressed sympathy with all victims of mob violence and raised concerns regarding Bangladesh under Yunus. Thevot said that he will discuss his concern in his party forum meeting regarding the situation in Bangladesh. Claudia Wadlich, a leader of a German-based human rights organisation, also expressed grief about the current situation in Bangladesh.

Growing mob violence, human rights violations, persecution of minorities, torture of innocent political prisoners, ban on political parties and suspension of freedom of the press and expression in Bangladesh was prominently highlighted during the exhibition. According to the forum, numerous human rights activists and diplomats commented on the ongoing minority persecution and crimes against human rights in Bangladesh, emphasising that, after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, the current Yunus-led interim government is heading towards a “dysfunctional failed state and civil war due to the increasing terrorist policies”.

–IANS

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Hundreds of protestors gathered outside the Heathrow Airport and also at a Central London hotel as Bangladesh interim government’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus began a four-day visit to the United Kingdom on Tuesday. Carrying black flags and banners – many of which read “Yunus is a killer of freedom fighters of Liberation War” – protestors shouted slogans like “Go back Yunus”, labelling him as a promoter of militancy and radicalism in Bangladesh. Many also demanded immediate release of detained Hindu priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, asserting that it should be Yunus instead who should face the trial and be behind the bars.

Several eyewitnesses said that demonstrators, most of them from the Awami League and comprising of Bangladeshis living in the UK after being forced to flee the country since Yunus’ accession to power 10 months ago, even hurled shoes and eggs at the convoy of Yunus as it moved from the airport to the hotel. The protestors maintained that they will stay put outside the hotel and rally at the venues where Yunus holds meetings during his stay, including outside the Chatham House on Wednesday and an all-day demonstration outside the UK Parliament on Thursday. The demonstrators are also deeply unhappy with the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for reportedly scheduling a meeting with Yunus this week, warning that any formal meeting lends legitimacy to an unelected and unconstitutional administration.

In this regard, a formal letter from the Awami League’s UK branch has been sent to Downing Street, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the King’s Foundation, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, urging British officials not to recognise the Yunus administration. The letter stated that at a time when Bangladesh is experiencing economic decline, escalating political repression, and growing human rights abuses – particularly against women and girls – the UK government’s decision to engage with Yunus threatens to send a damaging signal about the primacy of democracy and the rule of law.

“Tensions have escalated due to the recent banning of the Awami League by the Yunus government, which represents a deeply alarming departure from democratic norms. The Awami League is one of Bangladesh’s founding parties and is still supported by tens of millions of citizens and expatriates. Last week Yunus announced general elections in April 2026. Even if this promise is fulfilled, the Awami League’s forced exclusion from political participation will render this election inherently undemocratic,” it mentioned.

Bangladeshis in the UK alleged that even the freedom of press back home is under unprecedented attack as journalists backing Awami League have been arrested, and politically motivated charges have been brought against at least 140 others. The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also highlighted a disturbing practice by authorities of filing vague or mass criminal complaints, enabling the arbitrary arrest of thousands, mostly, targeting Awami League supporters.

In the wake of the student-led quota movement, the country has descended into violence and instability. In the three months following last summer’s protests, over 2,000 attacks against Hindus and other minorities were recorded, and this figure has only risen. Women and girls are also being disproportionately affected: child rape cases rose significantly in early 2025, while a girls’ football tournament was cancelled under pressure from Islamist factions. At the same time, civil unrest continues to grow.

Most recently, public sector workers have taken to the streets to oppose unpopular reforms, adding to widespread discontent. The nation’s once high-growth economy, credited with lifting millions out of poverty, has been downgraded by the IMF, which warned GDP growth had fallen from 5.1 per cent to 3.3 per cent “reflecting economic disruptions caused by the popular uprising, a tighter policy mix, and heightened uncertainty that weighed on investment”. The IMF has also warned Yunus that he needs to improve his regime’s governance and transparency and that his legal reforms “should align with international standards”.

“It is ironic and extraordinary that an unelected leader is visiting the home of modern parliamentary democracy and expecting a warm welcome. This visit risks inflaming tensions in both Bangladesh and the UK, home to a large Bangladeshi diaspora. By offering credibility to such a government, Keir Starmer would compromise the UK’s reputation as a defender of democratic values,” said Mohd. Arafat, a spokesman for the Awami League. “We urge the UK Government and His Majesty the King to press Yunus to commit to elections that are free and fair, rather than rigged against his critics. He must lift the ban on the Awami League, enable multi-party participation, and respect the democratic will of the Bangladeshi people,” he said.

Significantly, Bangladesh’s Islamist radical party Jamaat-e-Islami continues to make inroads in the UK with its substantial following and organizational structure among the Bangladeshi diaspora. In April, the top Jamaat leadership, including its Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, reportedly held a meeting with Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at Tarique Rahman’s residence in London. Yunus has formally invited BNP leaders to a meeting on Friday, revealed party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. The meeting will take place at the hotel where the Chief Adviser is currently staying in London. On Tuesday, around 60-70 Jamaat supporters were also present outside the hotel where the Chief Advisor is staying with banners reading “Welcome Yunus”.

–IANS

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The post “Yunus Is A Killer”: Bangladesh’s Unelected ‘Leader’ Begins UK Visit Amid Massive Protests In London appeared first on The Commune.