Political Unrest in Bangladesh: Hindus Fear Renewed Escalation

Bangladesh finds itself in a phase of tense uncertainty following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. After a month filled with unrest, the country now anticipates the formation of a new government. The Hindu minority, considered supporters of the deposed Prime Minister, expects violent reprisals. Sheikh Hasina left the country on Monday after a violent attempt to suppress the nationwide resistance against her government failed. While thousands of demonstrators celebrated Hasina's downfall, media and eyewitnesses reported retaliatory actions against members of the Awami League and their alleged supporters, including numerous Hindus. Party offices and private homes were burned down by insurgents, and temples were vandalized. These attacks are fueling fears of further acts of violence, particularly in a phase where the country is without a functioning government and the police are absent in many areas. Among the victims of the anticipated escalations are nearly 300 people who lost their lives in the government's countermeasures. On Monday alone, at least 60 people died in new waves of violence in majority-Muslim Bangladesh. Reliable information about the perpetrators and their victims remains scarce. A particularly tragic case occurred in southern Bagerhat: Prionthi Chatterjee, a Hindu student from the capital Dhaka, reported that her family was attacked by Muslim assailants. Her father, an innocent teacher, was killed, and her mother sustained severe head injuries. Attempts to call the army or police for help were unsuccessful. Independent confirmations of the circumstances of the attack are currently not available.