Bangladesh says most minority attacks were criminal, not communal
Interim government points to nationwide police records to counter claims of widespread communal violence
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh’s interim government has said that most incidents involving minority communities in 2025 were criminal in nature rather than driven by communal hostility, pushing back against growing concern at home and abroad over violence targeting religious minorities.
The statement, issued Monday by the press wing of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, followed a Jan. 9 intervention by India, which urged Dhaka to act “swiftly and firmly” against attacks on minorities.
New Delhi said it was troubled by what it described as attempts to attribute recent violence to “extraneous reasons” after several Hindu citizens were killed in Bangladesh in recent weeks.
Citing a yearlong review of police data, the interim government said 645 incidents involving minority community members were recorded nationwide between January and December 2025. According to the statement, only a small fraction of these cases were linked to communal motives.
The government reported 38 cases of temple vandalism, eight incidents of arson, one theft and one murder directly connected to minority religious sites or identities, along with 23 other incidents such as threats to break idols, provocative social media posts and damage to worship pavilions. Police cases were filed in 50 of these incidents, with arrests made in an equal number, it said.
The remaining 574 incidents were described as stemming from criminal or social disputes unrelated to religion, including neighborhood conflicts, land disputes, theft, personal enmity, rape cases and what authorities classified as unnatural deaths. Police registered 390 cases in this category and made nearly 500 arrests, according to official figures.
The interim administration said the data was intended to present an “evidence-based picture” rather than deny challenges faced by minority communities, arguing that crime trends affecting minorities largely mirror broader social and criminal problems across the country.
The interim government reiterated that ensuring safety and justice for all citizens — regardless of religion or belief — remains a constitutional and moral obligation, as scrutiny over minority protection in Bangladesh continues both domestically and internationally.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
