On 12th February this year, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) published a 104-page report [pdf] detailing atrocities committed against vulnerable Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. The report titled ‘Human Rights Violations and Abuses related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh’ is crucial since the interim government in Bangladesh, led by Muhammad Yunus, is pandering to Islamists.

Yunus’ regime has released Islamic hardliners and convicted terrorists and tried to downplay attacks on Hindu minorities as ‘fake‘, ‘exaggerated‘ or ‘politically motivated‘. The findings of the OHCHR expose the grim reality that Muhammad Yunus tried to brush under the carpet.

A further worrying trend is the increasing dehumanization of Hindus and creeping Islamization of Bangladesh with the tacit support of the Bangladeshi state apparatus as noted in a post by TheTreeni, a profile in the the social media portal, X.

It is noted through a television broadcasting clipping which shows that the media and Bangladeshi agencies are now intentionally fueling ideas of “beheadings,” “stone-pelting,” “chopping off hands and legs,” and imposition of Shariat on Hindus. Notably, this pattern is similar to what occurred during the Zia-ul-Haq regime in Pakistan.

Here, we will delve upon the multi-faceted developments happening in Bangladesh with point towards a bleak future for Hindus unless external agencies don’t interfere in the matter.

Attack on Hindus in Bangladesh since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina

According to report by OpIndia, there have been at least 205 attacks on Hindu temples, shops and businesses within 3 days of the fall of Dhaka. It was observed that Muslim students have forced as many as 60 Hindu teachers, professors and government officials to resign from their positions.

The recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu and his aides, attempts at banning Hindu organisation ISKCON and stiffling Hindu protests with cases of ‘sedition’ highlight systematic persecution under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus.

There have been multiple instances of attacks on Hindus under the pretext of ‘blasphemy.’ The recent cases of Hridoy Pal, Utsab Mandal, Partha Biswas Pintu, Akash Das, Pranta Talukder and Utsab Kumar Gian are shining examples of targeted persecution.

Rise of blasphemy allegations and calls of death penalty

Bangladesh, under the reign of Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, is gradually following the footsteps of Pakistan in terms of radical Islamisation.

On Thursday (13th February), the detective branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested poet Sohel Hasan Galib on allegations of ‘insulting’ Prophet Muhammad. He was thereafter taken to the office of the Detective Branch for questioning.

Galib was produced before the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate court on Friday (14th February), following which he was sent to jail. The poet’s only mistake was that he wrote a satirical poem on the antics of the radical Islamic outfit ‘Tawhidi Janata.’

His bail application was rejected and the Detective Branch of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police sought his 10-day custody for interrogation. The targeting of the poet is just based on one social media post. The police have, however, claimed that the arrest of Sohel Hasan Galib was based on his ‘derogatory comments’ about Prophet Muhammad in a poem, which is part of the collection ‘Amar Khutbaguli’. The poet was booked under Section 54 of CrPC.

Bangladesh had fallen into the hands of Islamists since the undemocratic ouster of Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister. They want to penalise ‘blasphemy’ which concerns insult to Quran, Islam and Prophet Muhammad. Currently, the maximum punishment imposed by the blasphemy law in Bangladesh is 2 years imprisonment and a fine of 5 lakh Taka. The country’s High Court now recommends increasing the maximum punishment to non-bailable charge, life imprisonment and death penalty.

Role of ISI in spreading radical Islamism in Bangladesh

The clandestine relationship between Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Islamist Bangladesh 2.0 has recently garnered significant attention, raising concerns regarding regional stability and security. Recent reports indicate a well-planned ingress by the ISI in Bangladesh to bolster its influence. This entails both direct and indirect strategies to achieve its strategic objectives and weaken Bharat.

The spillover of these actions reaches far beyond Bangladesh, potentially unsettling neighboring Bharat and influencing the geopolitical dynamics of South Asia. However, the circumstances are intricate and demand thorough examination because of the possible consequences. Although these operations may appear confined, their impact could reverberate across the entire region and even at a global level.

One of the most troubling aspects of these developments is the alleged support of Muhammad Yunus (the Nobel Peace Prize recipient), a prominent figure in Bangladesh’s political arena. Yunus, who currently holds considerable sway in the interim government, has faced accusations of facilitating ISI operations. His advisors have purportedly made incendiary statements regarding the “occupation” of Bharat’s northeastern states; this assertion has, therefore, further exacerbated Bharat-Bangladesh relations. Although such rhetoric, coupled with allegations of complicity in covert activities, has garnered extensive criticism, it remains uncertain how these tensions will progress. However, the ramifications of these occurrences are significant.

The ISI’s tactics extend beyond physical operations to include cyber and psychological warfare. Moreover, a well-structured cyber unit operating in Bangladesh has been dispatching menacing messages to numerous Hindu individuals (labelling them “Bharatiya agents”) and alleging that they support Bangladesh’s struggle for independence. This cyber harassment aims to instill discord and fear among minority groups; however, it further undermines the social cohesion of Bangladesh. Although the intent may be to intimidate, the consequences are far-reaching, affecting the very essence of community life.

The expanding influence of the ISI in Bangladesh presents significant implications for Bharat and the wider region. Bharat’s northeastern states (which are already susceptible) due to insurgent activities face heightened threats from ISI-supported networks. Cross-border terrorism, arms smuggling, and radicalization efforts could destabilize Bharat’s internal security and strain bilateral relations with Bangladesh; however, the ISI’s collaboration with Rohingya and other militant groups has the potential to create a ripple effect of violence across the region (targeting Myanmar and other neighboring countries). Although this situation is precarious, it demands immediate attention because the consequences could be far-reaching.

Bangladesh: A second Pakistan?

The aforementioned development raises the question whether Bangladesh has already become or is on the way of becoming a second Pakistan of the Bharatiya subcontinent.

This was also an observation made by the advisor and son to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sajeeb Wazed after the forceful ousting of the Bangladesh PM due to the scourge of the protestors. Sajeeb condemned the violent protests that gripped the country and led to the prime minister resigning and fleeing abroad. He expressed concerns over the “anarchy” in the country, and pointed to the attacks on minorities. Speaking exclusively to WION diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Sajeeb said, “After all she has done, after all the development, Bangladesh will now become Pakistan”. The comments came a day after the 76-year-old PM was flown in a military helicopter on Monday with her sister to take refuge in Bharat.

While the persecution and genocide of Hindus in Bangladesh is not a new phenomenon, the rabid rise of Islamist forces in Bangladesh is a serious concern and the neighboring state of Bharat needs to get its act together to helm the tide of radicalization and anti-Hindu bigotry in the region if the Bharatiya subcontinent needs to have long-term peace and stability.