DHAKA– The Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM) on Tuesday voiced deep concern over a wave of communal violence that saw mobs attack, loot, and vandalize at least 21 homes belonging to Hindu families in Gangachara upazila of Rangpur district.
The attacks, which occurred over July 27–28, were allegedly triggered by a blasphemy accusation against a 17-year-old Hindu boy, who has since been taken into police custody. In a statement, HRCBM condemned the incident as an “organized campaign of pillaging, fear, and displacement,” rather than a spontaneous outburst of public anger.
“Scores of Hindu families have fled their homes in fear after mobs ransacked the Hindu-majority Aldadpur village,” the statement said. “The violence followed the arrest of a teenager over a Facebook post allegedly defaming the Prophet of Islam. What unfolded next was nothing short of a calculated effort to terrorize and uproot a vulnerable community.”
Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos and brutality. Between 14 and 21 homes were reportedly attacked, with property looted, livestock stolen, and families left destitute. “I couldn’t sleep the entire night,” said Kamalakanta Roy, a local farmer. “By morning, we were packing everything we could—rice, bedding, goats—and fleeing the village. We don’t know if we’ll have a home to return to.”
According to HRCBM, police confirmed at least 14 homes were damaged, though local officials and villagers insist the real number is higher. Victims believe the attacks were premeditated, aimed at driving Hindu families from their ancestral homes. On Sunday, following midday prayers, a mob reportedly gathered near Khilalganj market and marched toward the village, chanting religious slogans and targeting homes of Sanatan (Hindu) residents.
“This was not a spontaneous act of anger. This was calculated,” said Union Member Paresh Chandra. “These families were targeted, their homes emptied, and their sense of security shattered.”
Law enforcement and army personnel have since been deployed to the area. One police constable reportedly sustained serious injuries while attempting to control the mob. Meanwhile, rights groups are raising red flags over the arrest of the teenage boy, questioning whether digital forensics were used to verify the authenticity of the social media post in question, or if his account may have been hacked or misused.
“There is a growing concern that the boy may have been coerced into confessing without access to legal counsel or due process,” HRCBM stated.
The organization warned that this is not an isolated case but part of a broader, intensifying trend in Bangladesh. “False blasphemy allegations are being used as a pretext to target minorities, dispossess them, and force them into exile,” it said. “What we’re witnessing is a disturbing pattern—allegations, arrests, attacks, and silence—underpinned by a system that offers no justice, no protection, only abandonment.”
From Gangachara to Narail, from Shalla to Abhaynagar, HRCBM noted, the cycle continues unchecked, with perpetrators shielded by what it described as an “architecture of impunity.” (Source: IANS)
