A total of 149 places of worship for Hindus were attacked, vandalised and set on fire in all eight divisions across Bangladesh in a period of 17 days starting from August 4, said a report submitted by Indian intelligence agencies to North Block in Delhi.
Bangladesh is divided into eight divisions - Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Barishal, Mymensingh, and Syllhet.
The latest report reveals a striking discrepancy compared to the claim made by Bangladesh’s interim government just 24 hours ago, which stated that only 88 incidents of violence took place between August 5 and October 22, with 70 individuals apprehended.
According to reliable sources, a more comprehensive account suggests a significantly larger scale of unrest during the same period. While the government’s figures have been widely circulated, this exclusive report by News Arena India, uncovers a broader pattern of violence that has yet to be fully recognised or acknowledged in the public domain.
“But no arrest was made in connection with the attack on minorities in Bangladesh. Shafiqul Alam, the press secretary of Bangladesh’s chief advisor Mohammed Yunus, failed to refer to any case number or identity of the arrested accused while making the claim yesterday,” said an Indian intelligence officer.
Among the victims of atrocities in our neighbouring country, 167 families got their homes and business outlets attacked, looted and vandalised by extremists - a combination of Bangladesh Nationalists Party (BNP) and Jamat-e-Islami, the report mentioned.
“Besides, there are 170 families who have lost their homes, money, business establishments and everything. They are now living a miserable life with their families under the open sky. The data is available with us till August 20. In three years, countless numbers of minority families have become homeless and the number of total incidents of atrocities on minorities have increased by at least 10 folds,” said a source in the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
According to the findings of the intelligence wings, most of the attacks on minorities took place in Khulna division followed by Rajshahi, Rangpur and Mymensingh.
“In Khulna, 367 incidents of house attack, looting and vandalism took place in 17 days in August. During the same period, the number of business outlets, which met the same fate was 424,” said an officer of the intelligence bureau (IB).
In Rajshahi, the number is 134 and 135, respectively. In Rangpur division, 145 houses were vandalised and 109 business outlets were set ablaze.
The IB report said the plot to carry out organised attacks on minorities’ homes and business establishments was being chalked out from August 4 night as it was clear by then that the former Prime Minister would have no option left other than fleeing Bangladesh.
“Hasina fled Bangladesh the next afternoon. But sporadic attacks started taking place from August 4 evening. Indian foreign secretary Vivek Misri raised all these issues mentioning the figures during his meeting with Bangladesh counterparts on August 9 meeting but the foreign secretary of our neighbouring country Mohammed Jasimuddin said his country did not want any foreign country’s intervention in Bangladesh’s internal affairs,” said another source in Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
TOTAL INCIDENTS - 2,113
Murder: 9
Gangrape: 4
Attack, vandalism and setting fire on worship places: 149
Attack, vandalism, looting and setting fire on houses: 915
Attack, vandalism, looting and setting fire on business outlets: 953
Encroachment of House: 1
Encroachment of land and business outlets: 21
Physical torture equivalent to attempt to murder offence: 61
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