Bangladesh says most 2025 incidents involving minorities were criminal, not communal

The interim government of Bangladesh on Monday said that most incidents involving minority communities in the country during 2025 were criminal in nature and not driven by communal motives, amid growing concerns from India over recent attacks targeting Hindus.

The clarification followed India’s statement on January 9 urging Dhaka to deal “swiftly and firmly” with violence against minorities. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had described attempts to attribute such incidents to personal rivalries, political differences, or other extraneous reasons as “troubling,” warning that this approach emboldens perpetrators and deepens fear and insecurity among minority communities.

In a statement issued by the Press Wing of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, the interim government said a year-long review of official police records revealed 645 incidents involving minority communities between January and December 2025. Of these, only 71 were identified as having communal elements. These included cases of temple vandalism, arson, theft, murder, threats to break idols, provocative social media posts, and damage to worship pavilions. Police registered cases in 50 of these incidents and made arrests in an equal number, while preventive or investigative measures were taken in the remaining 21.

The remaining 574 incidents were linked to criminal or social disputes unrelated to religion , such as neighbourhood quarrels, land conflicts, theft, prior personal enmity, rape, and unnatural deaths. Police registered 390 cases in this category, filed 154 unnatural death reports, and made 498 arrests, with additional measures taken in 30 incidents. The government said the report “does not deny challenges, nor does it claim perfection,” but aims to provide a factual, evidence-based picture of crime trends affecting minority communities within the broader national context.

According to the 2022 census, Hindus constitute about 7.95 per cent of Bangladesh’s population, numbering roughly 13.13 million. Buddhists account for 1.01 million, Christians nearly 500,000, and followers of other religions, including Sikhs and Animists, around 200,000.

Earlier this month, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC) alleged that communal violence was rising ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12, with 51 incidents of communal attacks recorded in December 2025 alone. The council warned that such violence was intended to prevent minority voters from freely casting their votes.

The interim government reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and justice of all citizens and said it was taking steps to strengthen law enforcement, protect religious sites, engage minority communities, and ensure accountability. It emphasised that while crimes against minorities are serious, the overwhelming majority were motivated by broader social or criminal factors rather than communal hostility.

India has repeatedly expressed concern over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, since the interim government headed by Yunus assumed office following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024.