The report documents cases from more than 30 districts and pointed out that the similarity of the blasphemy-linked allegations against Hindus points to systemic targeting in Bangladesh.
At least 71 incidents linked to blasphemy allegations against Hindu minorities were recorded across Bangladesh between June and December 2025, according to a new report by the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM). The findings come amid heightened concern in India over what it has described as “unremitting hostility” against minorities in the neighbouring country.
The HRCBM report documents cases from more than 30 districts, including Rangpur, Chandpur, Chattogram, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Sunamganj, Khulna, Comilla, Gazipur, Tangail and Sylhet. Rights groups say the spread and similarity of these cases point to a systemic vulnerability of minorities to religiously framed accusations, rather than isolated incidents.
ARRESTS AND MOB VIOLENCE
According to the report, blasphemy allegations frequently led to police action, mob violence and collective punishment. On June 19, 2025, Tamal Baidya (22) was arrested in Agljhara, Barisal, over alleged derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad. Just three days later, Shanto Sutradhar (24) faced protests and unrest in Matlab, Chandpur, following similar allegations.
One of the most violent episodes was reported on July 27, when Ranjan Roy (17) was arrested in Betgari Union, Rangpur. Following his detention, 22 Hindu homes were vandalised, highlighting how accusations often escalate beyond the individual to target entire communities.
Overall, the report lists 71 distinct incidents, including police arrests and FIRs, mob beatings, vandalism of Hindu homes, suspensions and expulsions from educational institutions, and deaths following mob attacks between June 2025 and December 2025. It notes that over 90% of the named accused are Hindu, including minors as young as 15 to 17 years.
SOCIAL MEDIA TRIGGERS AND CYBER CASES
The HRCBM says many cases stem from alleged Facebook posts, which are often disputed, fabricated or traced to hacked accounts. Other incidents are based on verbal accusations made without forensic verification. In several cases, arrests were carried out under mob pressure, even before any formal investigation.
A significant number of complaints were registered under the Cyber Security Act, particularly against students. Universities and colleges emerged as flashpoints, with students such as Pranaya Kundu (PUST), Bikorno Das Divvya, Tonoy Roy (Khulna University) and Apurbo Pal (North South University) facing suspension, expulsion or police remand following allegations of insulting Islam.
The report also points out that violence sometimes continued even after police detention, raising concerns over the failure of state protection.
FATAL ATTACKS RAISE ALARM
The report records several fatal outcomes. On December 18, 2025, Dipu Chandra Das (30) was beaten to death and his body set on fire by a mob in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, following allegations of blasphemy.
Earlier, on September 4, 2024, Utsab Mondal (15) was brutally assaulted in Sonadanga, Khulna, allegedly in the presence of police, Ansar and RAB personnel, prompting serious questions about law-enforcement accountability.
A PATTERN, NOT AN EXCEPTION
Human rights observers quoted in the HRCBM report stress that the recurring pattern — social media accusations, rapid arrests, mob mobilisation and targeting of Hindu localities — suggests blasphemy allegations are increasingly being used as a trigger for persecution, intimidation and social exclusion.
The report concludes that minors and economically vulnerable individuals are disproportionately affected, and warns that without accountability and safeguards, such accusations will continue to endanger minority communities in Bangladesh.
INDIA FLAGS VIOLENCE AGAINST MINORITIES
The findings align with concerns recently raised by India. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) ON Friday said it was deeply disturbed by the recent lynching of two Hindu men in Bangladesh. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The unremitting hostility against minorities in Bangladesh is a matter of great concern. We condemn the recent killing of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh and expect that the perpetrators of the crime will be brought to justice.”
The remarks come after two separate incidents of lynching of Hindu men in Bangladesh this month. Just days after Dipu Chandra Das’s lynching, another Hindu man was beaten to death by a mob in Rajbari district late on Wednesday night. Police identified the victim as 30-year-old Amrit Mondal, also known as Samrat. According to local authorities, the violence stemmed from alleged extortion-related activities.
The MEA has said there have been around 2,900 incidents of violence against minorities during the tenure of Bangladesh’s interim government under Muhammad Yunus and rejected what it called a “false narrative” surrounding such attacks.
The incidents had unfolded amid political unrest in Bangladesh, following protests triggered by the death of political activist Sharif Osman Hadi. They also come as the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus faces scrutiny over law and order and minority protection.
