Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, has said that the majority of incidents involving minority communities in the country during 2025 were criminal in nature and not driven by communal motives. The clarification comes amid growing domestic and international concern over reports of violence targeting minorities, particularly Hindus.
In a statement issued by Yunus’ Press Wing on Monday, the government cited a yearlong review of official police records, stating that 645 incidents involving minority communities were recorded between January and December 2025. Of these, only 71 incidents were found to have communal elements, while the remaining cases were linked to broader criminal or social disputes.
The government said communal incidents included cases of temple vandalism, arson, theft, one murder, and threats or provocative actions such as damaging idols or worship sites. Police cases were registered in most of these incidents, with arrests made and preventive or investigative measures taken.
According to the statement, the remaining 574 incidents were attributed to non-communal causes such as neighbourhood disputes, land conflicts, theft, personal enmity, sexual crimes and unnatural deaths. Authorities said hundreds of cases were registered and nearly 500 arrests were made in this category.
The clarification follows strong remarks from India earlier this month. On January 9, New Delhi urged Dhaka to act “swiftly and firmly” against attacks on minorities, calling attempts to explain them away as personal or political disputes “troubling.” India’s comments came after the killing of several Hindu individuals in recent weeks.
Bangladesh-based minority rights groups have disputed the government’s assessment. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has alleged that communal violence has been rising sharply ahead of the February 12 general elections, claiming at least 51 incidents occurred in December 2025 alone. The group warned that such attacks may be aimed at intimidating minority voters.
The interim government said its report does not deny challenges or claim perfection, but seeks to present an evidence-based picture of crime trends affecting minorities. It reiterated that ensuring the safety and justice of all citizens — regardless of religion — remains a constitutional and moral obligation.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have remained strained since the Yunus-led interim government assumed power after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024, with minority rights emerging as a key point of diplomatic friction.
