Rights body RRAG alleges arson attacks on 16 Hindu houses and 17 killings in Bangladesh since December 2025, warning of targeted violence against Hindu minorities amid election unrest and urging urgent government action.
A New Delhi–based human rights organization has raised serious concerns over what it describes as a pattern of targeted violence against minority Hindus in Bangladesh, alleging arson attacks on at least 16 Hindu-owned houses and the killing of 17 individuals since December 1, 2025.
The Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG), in its latest report released on Saturday, claimed that Hindu minorities are facing systematic violence, including arson and murder, allegedly carried out under the cover of election-related unrest. According to the group, Islamist extremist elements are exploiting political instability to target religious minorities across several regions of the country.
The report stated that homes, temples, and other properties belonging to Hindu families were set on fire in multiple districts, including Mirsarai and Raozan in Chittagong district, as well as Pirojpur and Sylhet. Of the 16 reported arson incidents, seven occurred within the past week alone, indicating a sharp escalation in attacks.
The Hindu victims whose houses were allegedly burnt include Tapan Dhar, Amio Dhar, Kanu Nath, Ashok Dhar, Anup Dhar, and Mridul Saha from Mirsarai; Sukh Shil, Anil Shil, Bimal Talukdar, Rubel Das, Sadhan Barua, Sona Pal, and Kamini Mohan Pal from Raozan; one individual surnamed Saha in Pirojpur; and Bikash Ranjan Deb in Sylhet.
RRAG Director Suhas Chakma described the attacks as calculated and brutal. “Fires were deliberately set to temples, residential homes, and haystacks. In several cases, the doors of Hindu and Buddhist houses were locked from the outside before being set on fire, with the apparent intention of burning occupants alive,” Chakma said. He added that the Chittagong region, particularly Mirsarai and Raozan, has emerged as the epicenter of such arson attacks.
Beyond property destruction, the rights body also alleged that at least 17 Hindu minorities were murdered in targeted attacks between December 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026. According to RRAG, the killings display extreme brutality and point toward religious targeting rather than random violence.
Chakma claimed that several victims were murdered in a Taliban-style manner, including by slitting of throats. Among those named in the report are Rana Pratap Bairagi, Shanto Chandra Das, Jogesh Chandra Roy, and Suborna Roy. In another case, Chanchal Chandra Bhowmik was allegedly burned alive while sleeping in a garage.
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The RRAG report further criticized the response of Bangladeshi authorities, alleging that officials have consistently downplayed or denied any religious motivation behind the attacks. Chakma stated that even Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has dismissed claims that Hindu minorities are being targeted on religious grounds.
Human rights observers warn that the alleged incidents reflect a worsening climate of insecurity for religious minorities in Bangladesh. RRAG has urged the Bangladeshi government to conduct independent investigations, ensure accountability for perpetrators, and provide immediate protection and rehabilitation for affected minority communities.
