In recent times, we've witnessed an increase in fabrications dominated by Indian media about the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh. This has happened since the fall of Sheikh Hasina during the student-led revolt back in July-August. They have even gone so far as to label violence directed at Awami League (AL) officials as hate crimes against Hindus, refer to the burning of AL offices as the “destruction of temples,” or use arbitrary out-of-context photos in an attempt to convey a made-up story.
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| In 2016, religious zealots physically assaulted over 100 people and vandalised and looted over 100 homes and 17 temples of the Hindu community in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria. FILE PHOTO: AMRAN HOSSAIN |
In the course of their
investigations Poulomi Ghosh, a Bangladeshi fact checker, found that the
Republic Bangla television network was the most reckless as they aired 5 such
claims. At the same time, between August 12 - December 5, 2024, there were 49 other stories
fabricated by Indian journalists, for a total of 13, across 48 more networks.
Reports also indicated that Zee News, The Hindustan Times, and Live Mint
trotted out three fabrications each. Other well-known channels such as India
Today, Aaj Tak, and ABP Anand also presented their respective fabrications.
Exaggerated and partially accurate letters Said to have been written by Sheikh
Hasina after her resignation, Union chief adviser Muhammad Yunus’ faked
broadcasted illnesses and made-up arms trafficking as a whole were among them.
The center of gravity for these efforts was distorted events and fabricated
texts on news stories in most of them.
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Examining the past also makes it
clear that attacks against minorities in Bangladesh are not an easy task.
During the period from 2013 until 2021 in the mid of Sheikh Hasina’s rule, Ain
o Salish Kendra (ASK) reported several 3679 attacks on the Hindu
community. These included items such as homes, businesses, temples, and idols
being attacked through means of vandalism and arson. On the other hand, data
from 2022-2024 shows a reduction in the absolute number of such incidences, but
some sporadic attacks still need to be dealt with. For
instance, ASK noted a substantial jump in national incidents when an interim
national government took over in September 2024, reporting 21 such instances in
September and October.
It is of paramount importance to
note that the data of all the attacks considering the minorities is one of the
blackest histories in Bangladesh, which did not result from Sheikh Hasina’s
exile. These cases often arise due to land matters, political differences, or
inappropriate posts on social media. Saying that, these are still tragic and
inexcusable because they do not have the systematic, sanctioned by the state
undertone so characteristic of similar attacks in India, where most of the time
and disturbingly so has been the case, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
has been accused of encouraging agitated religious groups to conduct such
violence.
The focus on the grievances on
behalf of Bangladeshi Hindus —how and why did it come about? This Silence on
the atrocities committed against minorities, especially Hindus, during Sheikh
Hasina’s rule, is very disturbing. The sudden violence against the Indian High
Commission in Agartala and appeals for seeking UN peacemakers in the region
after the Hasina regime have been termed in the point agenda.
Hasina’s regime in Bangladesh
very well understands the concerns of Indian state ranging from seaport and
energy access to trade routes, Hasina’s exit is likely to usher in a phase of
uncertainty. It is alleged that the party and its offshoots are using the
anti-Bangladesh propaganda charge to create Hindu-Muslim tensions and project
them as defenders of Hindu interests.
What is even more embarrassing is
the recent statement by Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR) condemning Indian international moralizing as
minorities in India seem to suffer too. Sanctuary for Democratic Freedom from
Muslim Exoduses in UP to ASOM APDR suggests a patently hollow balm offered by
the BJP for constituents outside India.
Also, the new government of
Bangladesh has a two-pronged challenge of protecting its minority communities
and protecting itself from Indian propaganda attacks. This calls for
transparent probes into violence against particular communities, adequate
punishment against the offenders, and cooperation with independent fact-checkers
to debunk lies. Equally important is building alliances with secular and
democratically minded groups in India that fight religious communalism.
The way ahead requires pugnacity
and oneness from both people of the nations. All forms of communal scheming whether
by Indians or by Bangladeshis should be fought to ensure justice and
peaceful living.