The Bengali Hindu Genocide conference held on January 12, 2025, at the Arya Samaj in Birmingham, organised by Bengali Hindu Adarsha Sangha (UK), was aimed to shed light on the ongoing persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and its historical roots in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
The recent violence against Hindus in Bangladesh following Sheikh Hasina’s resignation on August 5, 2024, is part of a long-standing pattern of persecution. From August 4 to August 20, 2024, the Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported 2,010 incidents of attacks on minorities, including 69 temples. This wave of violence resulted in numerous Hindu casualties.
This recent outbreak is reminiscent of the historical violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, which has its roots in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. During this conflict, an estimated 2-3 million people were killed, with Hindus being also targeted. The genocide, which began with Operation Searchlight on March 25, 1971, involved mass killings, rapes, and forced displacements.
Since 1971, Hindus in Bangladesh have faced ongoing persecution:
Between January 2013 and September 2021, 3,679 attacks on the Hindu community were reported.
In 2016, the Nasirnagar attack on Hindus occurred, allegedly involving Awami League members.
In 2021, during Durga Puja celebrations, mob attacks on Hindu households and temples took place.
The Hindu population in Bangladesh has significantly decreased due to violence, forced conversions, and emigration. Despite periods of relative calm, the community continues to face discrimination and targeted attacks, as evidenced by the recent events following political upheaval in 2024.
