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US panel raises alarm over religious freedom in Bangladesh amid political turmoil
Caretaker government criticized for excluding minorities, attacks on Hindus, Buddhists, and Sufis continue
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Lalit K Jha - Tue, 22, Jul 2025
- 22:18 EDT
- 18
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus / Global Yunus Social Business
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of religious freedom in Bangladesh following last year’s political upheaval that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.
In a newly released factsheet, USCIRF highlighted a troubling rise in attacks on religious minorities—particularly Hindus, Buddhists, and Sufi Muslims—during the post-coup power vacuum and under the military-backed caretaker government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
According to police data, more than 1,700 incidents of violence were reported between Aug. 5 and 20, 2024, including mob attacks, arson, destruction of temples, and forced displacement of Hindu families. “Fear among religious minorities remains pervasive,” the report stated.
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The Commission also raised alarms over the constitutional reform process initiated in Oct. 2024. The proposed shift from “secularism” to “pluralism” in Bangladesh’s preamble has drawn strong opposition from Islamic parties, while minority groups have criticized their near-total exclusion from decision-making. Only one Hindu and one Buddhist are currently represented in the interim cabinet.
Women’s rights reforms have also sparked backlash from conservative Islamic factions. In response to proposed recommendations for a uniform civil code, hardline groups such as Hefazat-e-Islami issued inflammatory statements, though later walked them back.
USCIRF noted that Bangladesh’s legal framework—including the controversial Cyber Security Act and blasphemy laws—continues to be used to silence dissent and criminalize speech deemed offensive to religious sentiments. The arrest of poet Sohel Hasan Galib in Feb. 2025 for allegedly offending Islamic sensibilities drew significant criticism.
The situation for indigenous communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts remains dire, with communal violence, land seizures, and attacks on Buddhist temples continuing into 2025. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community also faced renewed persecution, including attempted mob lynchings and denial of burial rights.
The Rohingya refugee crisis has worsened, with over one million displaced people still living in squalid conditions. A tragic maritime incident in May 2025 led to the deaths of more than 400 Rohingya refugees at sea.
With national elections expected between Dec. 2025 and June 2026, USCIRF warned that the reinstatement of Jamaat-e-Islami and legal uncertainties surrounding the Awami League could further inflame communal tensions.
“The future of religious freedom in Bangladesh will depend heavily on whether the interim government can ensure inclusive reforms and prevent electoral violence,” the Commission said.
USCIRF recommended that U.S. policymakers continue to engage with Bangladesh’s leadership to promote religious tolerance, minority rights, and accountability for sectarian violence.
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