Ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned that minorities in Bangladesh are facing rising threats under the interim government, calling recent violence “barbaric and shameful.” Speaking exclusively to NDTV from India, Hasina condemned the lynching of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old Hindu man from Mymensingh, whose body was publicly set on fire following false allegations of blasphemy. Authorities later confirmed no evidence of wrongdoing, and Das’s family suggested workplace rivalry may have been the real motive.
Hasina said, “Violence in the name of religion has no place in Bangladesh, yet such acts have become disturbingly frequent. This is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of communal violence tolerated with impunity.” She accused the interim government of failing to protect all citizens equally and criticized its inaction in prosecuting perpetrators of religious violence.
December alone saw at least 51 incidents targeting minorities, according to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council. These included ten murders, multiple cases of looting and arson, torture under false blasphemy charges, and incidents of sexual violence. Victims include grocery store owners, factory workers, and small business owners.
Hasina also raised alarm over the rising influence of radical Islamic extremism, claiming the interim government has legitimized extremist groups and released convicted terrorists. She warned that this trend could destabilize Bangladesh politically, socially, and economically, potentially reversing decades of progress.
“Radicalization is no longer marginal; it has entered state structures. History shows it is far harder to reverse than to prevent,” Hasina added, stressing the urgency of restoring law, order, and secular values.
With tensions escalating, Bangladesh’s minority communities face a perilous climate, while the ex-PM’s comments spotlight the wider implications for regional stability and democratic governance.
