- Aditya Amitabh Trivedii
As the world remains preoccupied with various global issues, the plight of Bangladeshi Hindus has largely gone unnoticed. The resignation and subsequent fleeing of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India amid mass protests has triggered a fresh wave of violence against the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, reminiscent of past atrocities.

The situation is dire. In Dhaka, Avirup Sarkar, a development professional, received a distressed call from his cousin in Netrokona, reporting that their house had been attacked and looted by a mob. This incident is not isolated. Reports of Hindu properties and temples being attacked have flooded social media, echoing a tragic history where Hindu minorities are targeted whenever political power shifts away from the secular Awami League.

In contrast to the global outcry seen during the "All Eyes on Rafah" campaign, which highlighted the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, the international community has largely remained silent on the ongoing violence against Bangladeshi Hindus. This selective attention raises critical questions about global priorities and the criteria for mobilizing international support and outrage.

The violence has not been confined to Dhaka. In Meherpur, an ISKCON temple was vandalized and set on fire. Hindu homes in various districts have been attacked, and the fear among the minority community is palpable. Despite some local Muslims forming protective rings around Hindu properties, the overall lack of law and order has left many Hindus vulnerable.

The historical context of this violence is crucial. Since 1947, the Hindu population in Bangladesh has dramatically decreased from 30% to about 8%. Repeated attacks, such as those following the demolition of the Babri mosque in 1992 and during the Durga Puja in 2021, reflect a persistent pattern of targeted violence. Ain o Salish Kendra, a human rights group, reported at least 3,679 attacks on the Hindu community between January 2013 and September 2021.

The resignation of Sheikh Hasina has emboldened Islamist factions, further jeopardizing the safety of Hindus. This has led to alarming predictions about the future of Hindus in Bangladesh, as noted by Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of India’s Economic Advisory Council.

In India, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has called for unity to protect Sanatan Dharma, highlighting the selective targeting of Hindus in Bangladesh. He emphasized the need to learn from history to prevent future atrocities.

Despite the severity of the situation, international organizations like the United Nations have remained largely inactive. The stark contrast between the global response to other humanitarian crises and the silence over the plight of Bangladeshi Hindus is troubling.

The need for a concerted international effort to address this crisis is urgent. Just as the "All Eyes on Rafah" campaign drew global attention to the suffering in Gaza, a similar movement is needed to highlight the atrocities faced by Bangladeshi Hindus. Without such attention, the violence will likely continue unchecked, further endangering the already vulnerable minority community.