645 Minority Incidents Reported in Bangladesh in 2025; 71 Communal, Says Bangladesh Interim Govt’s Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus

Dhaka, January 20 — Bangladesh’s interim government has sought to address growing concerns over the safety of minority communities, with Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus on Monday stating that official police data from January to December 2025 recorded 645 incidents involving minorities, the majority of which were criminal in nature rather than communal.

Sharing a detailed report on X titled “Incidents Affecting Minority Communities and the Broader Law and Order Situation in Bangladesh (January–December 2025)”, Yunus said the findings were based on verified First Information Reports (FIRs), General Diaries, charge sheets and investigation updates from across the country. According to the data, only 71 of the 645 incidents were identified as having communal elements, while the remaining 574 cases were assessed as non-communal.

Yunus stressed that the figures underline the need for fact-based discourse, cautioning against portraying all crimes involving minorities through a communal lens. “While every incident is a matter of concern, the data presents a clear and evidence-based picture: the overwhelming majority of cases were criminal in nature rather than communal,” he said. He added that most incidents affecting minority individuals or properties stemmed from issues such as neighborhood disputes, land conflicts, political rivalries, theft, sexual violence and personal enmity, rather than religious hostility.

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The report noted that communal incidents primarily involved vandalism or desecration of religious sites and idols, along with a limited number of other offences. Yunus maintained that all crimes, irrespective of motive, demand accountability, and said hundreds of cases had been formally registered, with arrests made in many instances while investigations continue in others.

At the same time, Yunus acknowledged Bangladesh’s broader law-and-order challenges. Citing national crime data, he said an average of 3,000 to 3,500 people lose their lives to violent crime every year. “This is not a number to be proud of. Every life lost is a tragedy,” he said, while emphasising that violent crime affects all communities across religious, ethnic and geographic lines.

The statement comes amid heightened scrutiny of minority safety in Bangladesh following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government and the formation of an interim administration under Yunus. In recent months, there have been renewed allegations of attacks on members of the Hindu community, drawing domestic and international attention.

Last week, a Hindu shop owner was beaten to death in Gazipur district after intervening to protect a teenage employee during an altercation. The victim, 55-year-old Liton Chandra Ghosh, owned a sweetshop on Baranagar Road. According to police and eyewitnesses, a dispute erupted on January 17 when a man identified as Masum Mia argued with a 17-year-old employee, Ananta Das. The confrontation escalated after Masum’s parents allegedly joined the assault. Ghosh, who attempted to intervene, was reportedly struck on the head with a shovel and died on the spot. Police later arrested the three accused.

In another recent incident, a fuel station worker, Ripon Saha, was crushed to death on January 16 after trying to stop a car from leaving a petrol pump without paying for fuel.

While reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting all citizens, Yunus said transparency and accuracy must guide public discussion on minority-related violence. He maintained that recognising the criminal nature of most incidents is essential for crafting effective responses, strengthening law enforcement and preventing misinformation from inflaming communal tensions.