July 16, 2025
DHAKA – The interim government yesterday said it found no evidence to support the recent allegations, made by two minority organisations, of communal violence.
Citing a statement by the Bangladesh Police, the chief adviser’s press wing in a statement said, “Bangladesh Police are investigating each reported incident with utmost diligence and seriousness, following the facts wherever they lead.
“So far, no evidence of communal violence has been found; only individual acts of aggression. Rest assured, the police remain committed to safeguarding the safety and security of all citizens, institutions, and religious establishments in Bangladesh.”
On July 10, the Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad (Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council) and the Minority Unity Alliance at a press conference said 27 individuals were killed in communal attacks between January and June this year. They also claimed that 2,442 incidents of communal violence occurred over the past 11 months.
According to the CA press wing, police reviewed all 27 reported deaths — 22 were registered as murder cases, and five were classified as unnatural deaths. None, police said, were linked to communal motives.
As part of the investigations, 48 individuals were arrested, 15 surrendered, and 18 gave confessional statements under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The government reiterated that none of the deaths were driven by communal motives.
The July 10 press conference also cited 20 incidents of sexual violence, including gang rapes. Police registered cases in 16 of them and arrested 25 individuals. No formal complaints were lodged in the remaining three, the press wing’s statement said.
The two organisations further claimed that the majority of incidents occurred during a two-week period from August 4 to August 20, 2024, reporting 2,010 incidents, including 1,769 attacks and assaults on minorities.
In response, police said they have verified 1,457 of these incidents across 56 districts.
Other allegations included 60 incidents of theft, vandalism, and arson at temples, as well as land grabbing and attempted evictions of minority community members.
The organisations further claimed that the majority of the violence occurred between August 4 and 20, 2024, citing a total of 2,010 incidents — including 1,769 communal attacks and assaults.
According to police, 1,457 of these incidents were verified across 56 districts.
Of the 1,769 incidents, 62 cases were formally filed, while 951 were recorded as general diaries, meaning complaints were officially documented but no formal criminal case had been filed.
Police reported that 35 individuals were arrested in connection with these cases.
Investigations revealed that 1,452 incidents (82.8 percent) took place on August 5, 2024, with 1,234 linked to political disputes. A total of 161 incidents could not be substantiated.
Between August 5, 2024, and January 2, 2025, there were 127 reported incidents involving puja mandaps. Of these, 66 cases were filed and 61 logged as GDs, resulting in the arrest of 64 suspects.
Further allegations included 60 incidents of theft, vandalism, and arson at temples, as well as land grabbing and attempted evictions of minority community members.
The Oikya Parishad stated it would release more information on additional incidents. Once those details are received, police will examine them and provide updates, the press wing said.
Responding to the press wing’s statement, Manindra Kumar Nath, acting general secretary of the parishad, told The Daily Star, “We gathered information through newspapers and our local representatives. We consider these incidents to be communal attacks.”