BANGLADESH DEC 25 : Houses belonging to at least seven Hindu families have been burned down in Bangladesh’s Raozan area over five days in what appears to be a series of coordinated attacks targeting the minority community amid ongoing unrest in the nation.
The most recent attack occurred early Tuesday morning when assailants set fire to two Hindu homes in Sultanpur village after reportedly locking the occupants inside. Eight members from the families of expatriates Sukh Shil and Anil Shil narrowly escaped death between 3:15 am and 4:00 am by cutting through bamboo and tin walls.
“We panicked and tried to rush out, but found the hooks fastened from the outside on both doors,” said Mithun Shil, a Dubai expatriate who returned to Bangladesh three months ago for his wedding. The fire destroyed seven rooms along with furniture, cash, and household pets.
Raozan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sajedul Islam confirmed that five suspects have been arrested during raids, while manhunts continue to track down remaining accused. Authorities have announced a reward for information leading to the capture of those responsible and formed a special security team to enhance safety in affected neighborhoods.
Police have also held meetings with local influential figures to promote interfaith harmony and strengthen community vigilance against such attacks.
“Two houses were burned early today and the pattern matched previous attacks,” Officer Islam stated, confirming the systematic nature of the violence. A threatening banner displayed in Bengali warned Hindu residents they were being “closely observed” and accused them of “engaging in activities against Islam,” threatening severe consequences if they did not cease their “movements, meetings and activities”.
The incidents are part of escalating violence against Bangladesh’s Hindu minority since August 2024, when student protests led to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and the establishment of an interim government under Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus. The country has also witnessed two lynchings in the past week, including 28-year-old Hindu factory worker Dipu Chandra Das and Amrit Mondal, further sparking outrage over minority safety
