General elections are scheduled to be held in January 2024 in Bangladesh. But before the elections, opposition parties are gearing up to gain the support and sympathy of the minority Hindu communities, which comprise more than 8% of the total population. At this moment, the ruling party led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a list of candidates in different parliamentary seats. Among the announced candidates, 20 candidates are from the Hindu minority community. 

In the announced list, it has been seen that the names of Hindu candidates are announced mainly from Hindu majority areas. Also, some new candidates are fielded. 

As per the announcement, Shri Ramesh Chandra Sen is contesting from the Thakurgaon-1 Seat, Shri Manoranjan Shil Gopal from Dinajpur-1 Seat, Shri Tushar Kanti Mondal from Rangpur-3 Seat, Shri Soumendra Prasad Pandey from Kurigram-3 Seat, Shri Sadhan Chandra Majumdar from Nagaon-1 Seat, Shri Sourendranath Chakraborty from Nagaon-3 Seat, Shri Swapan Bhattacharya from Jessore-5 Seat, Shri Biren Shikdar from Magura-2 Seat, Shri Nani Gopal Mondal from Khulna-1 Seat, Shri Narayan Chandra Chanda from Khulna-5 Seat, Shri Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu from Borguna-1 Seat, Shri Kanai Lal Biswas from Pirojpur-2 Seat, Shri Juel Aren from Maymensingh-1, Shri Asim Kumar Ukil from Netrakona-3 Seat, Shri Mrinal Kanti Das from Munshiganj-3 Seat, Shri Ranajit Chandra Sarkar from Sunamganj-1 Seat, Shri Pran Gopal Dutta from Comilla-7 Seat, Shri Kujendra Lal Tripura from Khagracherri Seat, Shri Dipankar Talukdar from Rangamati and Shri Bir Bahadur Singh from Bandarban Parliamentary Seat. 

Also, opposition parties have announced a few candidates from the minority Hindu Community. 

Notably, in the last five years, during the rule of Sheikh Hasina, Hindu minorities of Bangladesh have been continuously persecuted. Uncounted cases of rape of Hindu girls, abduction and forced conversion of Hindu girls, attacks and arson on Hindu temples and Hindu homes are available in public domain. But, in those hard times, not a single elected Hindu MP from Awami League has met or visited or stood by the sides of persecuted Hindus. Also, the elected MPs never raised their voices against Hindu persecution in parliament. 

Now, Hindus are not happy with this announcement. Many voters from minority communities are expressing their grudge on social media platforms. Many are saying that Sheikh Hasina always presents herself as a protector of the minority Hindu Community. But silently, she is appeasing the radical Islamists to win the election. For instance, Sheikh Hasina has nominated Bahar Uddin, an Islamist from Comilla Town. Fielding 20 Hindu Candidates is just an eyewash and this will bring no good for the minority Hindu Community of Bangladesh, they are saying.