The South Asia Forum for Freedom of Religion or Belief (SAFFoRB) expresses grave and urgent concern over the ongoing and escalating violence, intimidation, and targeted attacks against religious and belief minorities in Bangladesh as the nation approaches its Thirteenth National Parliamentary Election scheduled for 12 February 2026.
In recent weeks and months, verified reporting by established national and international news platforms has documented a disturbing surge in communal violence, mob attacks, and brutal killings involving members of minority communities. Notably, a Hindu garment worker, Dipu Chandra Das, was beaten to death by a mob, his body tied to a tree and set on fire in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka area after allegations of blasphemy spread within his workplace. The video of this incident sparked national and international outrage and heightened fear among minorities about mob justice and the erosion of rule of law.
Multiple reports highlight that this murder forms part of a broader pattern of violence in recent months. According to monitoring by independent groups, there have been at least 15 targeted murders of Hindu minority individuals in a 45-day period, with victims including men of working age and community members engaged in daily livelihoods, contributing to an atmosphere of heightened insecurity.
These and other incidents ranging from arson attacks and looting to mob aggression and threats have been reported across diverse districts, creating a widening climate of fear and insecurity in the runup to the elections. Civil society actors, women’s rights groups, and independent observers have also raised alarms over rising intimidation faced by women, youth, journalists and activists, including those from religious and ethnic minority backgrounds.
SAFFoRB reiterates that violence or threats targeting individuals or communities on the basis of religion or belief constitute a serious violation of international human rights law, affecting rights to freedom of religion or belief, security of person, equality before the law, and participation in public affairs. The use of allegations of blasphemy or communal prejudice to justify violence is deeply troubling and has a chilling effect on democratic participation and social cohesion.
Reports indicate that many members of minority communities are afraid to campaign, assemble, conduct business, or even travel to polling centres safely. When fear determines whether individuals can exercise their right to vote or stand for office, the credibility and legitimacy of the electoral process are fundamentally undermined.
SAFFoRB Urgently Calls On:
- The Government of Bangladesh and the Election Commission to take immediate, visible, and impartial action to prevent further violence and intimidation, to ensure accountability for all reported incidents, and to protect religious and belief minorities at every stage of the electoral period.
- Law enforcement and security agencies to proactively safeguard vulnerable communities, places of worship, human rights defenders, journalists, candidates, and voters, responding swiftly to threats or acts of violence without discrimination or political interference.
- Political parties and candidates to unequivocally reject hate speech, incitement, and the instrumentalisation of religion for political ends, and to commit publicly to peaceful, inclusive, and rights-respecting campaigning.
- The United Nations, particularly the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, the Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to closely monitor developments, engage with national authorities, and publicly raise concerns about violence affecting minorities.
- International election observation missions and human rights organisations to prioritise the situation of religious and belief minorities, to incorporate these concerns into their observation mandates, and to publicly report on violations that impede inclusive participation or safety.
SAFFoRB stresses that free, fair, and credible elections cannot take place in an environment of fear, coercion, or discrimination. The legitimacy of Bangladesh’s democratic process depends not only on polling day procedures but on the effective protection of fundamental rights, particularly freedom of religion or belief throughout the entire electoral cycle.
SAFFoRB stands in solidarity with all religious and belief minorities in Bangladesh, and with civil society actors working for peaceful, inclusive, and rights respecting elections. We will continue to monitor developments closely and engage with national and international stakeholders to uphold human dignity and democratic participation.