Home

Featured Articles

Aug 07, 2025
Vladimir Adityanaath

A Century of Blasphemy Pogroms in Bangladesh: How Digital Age Blueprints Have Refined and are Accelerating Cultural Erasure Part 2

Escalation of Blasphemy-Linked Persecution Against Hindus since 5th August, 2024 Since the departure of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, Bangladesh has witnessed a deeply alarming surge in blasphemy-linked persecution targeting 13 million indigenous Hindu citizens. While communal violence and discrimination against Hindus have long marred the country’s human rights landscape, the post-Hasina era marks a sharp escalation in both frequency and severity of attacks—now marked by sophisticated digital framing, mob vigilantism, and institutional complicity. What was once state-enabled persecution through misused cybercrime laws and incitement is now being conducted with open sanction by the unelected interim government. A chilling pattern has emerged: Hindu individuals—often minors or students—are being deliberately framed using hacked or fake social media accounts, with fabricated blasphemous content posted in their names. These fabricated posts then trigger violent mob reprisals, often followed by the arrest and prosecution of the victims themselves under the Cyber Security Act (CSA). Entire Hindu communities have faced collective punishment—homes torched, temples desecrated, livelihoods destroyed, and families forced to flee in fear. Meanwhile, perpetrators frequently enjoy complete immunity. The justice system’s inversion—where victims are prosecuted while attackers walk free—signals a grave deterioration of the rule of law, digital rights, and minority protections in Bangladesh. Blasphemy charges, often unsubstantiated or falsified, are increasingly weaponised as tools of majoritarian domination—used not only to silence dissent but to erase the Hindu presence from both the digital and physical fabric of the nation. Documented Cases of Blasphemy-linked atrocities 1) Attempted Lynching of Utsab Mandal – Khulna, September 4, 2024 A mob of 3,000–5,000 Islamist protesters violently assaulted Utsab Mandal, a young Hindu man, inside the Khulna Metropolitan Deputy Commissioner’s Office, in full view of police, army, and navy personnel. He was hospitalised with severe injuries—then arrested under the CSA upon discharge. The incident began when a madrasa student provoked Mandal online with repeated derogatory comments about Hinduism. Utsab’s alleged response was labelled blasphemous. According to the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM), the case reflects a wider trend of deliberate digital provocation followed by mob-driven "justice” [13]. 2) Targeting of Kankan Biswas – Jashore, September 7, 2024 Kankan Biswas, a student of Biomedical Engineering at Jashore University of Science and Technology and President of the campus Hindu students' group, was accused by fellow students of making derogatory comments about Islam. A protest march was organised demanding his expulsion and arrest. Without a fair inquiry, Kankan was labelled a “religious provocateur” and “obscene blasphemer [14].” 3) Siege of Police Station Over Partha Biswas – Chittagong, September 30, 2024 A violent mob surrounded the Patiya Police Station, demanding the handover of Partha Biswas Pintu (22), a Hindu youth accused of insulting Prophet Muhammad on Facebook. The mob, composed mainly of madrasa students, mistakenly attacked an army vehicle after seeing army personnel accompany a young boy in civilian clothes, resulting in a soldier being injured. The complaint was filed by a man named Kamrul Islam on September 29, leading to Partha’s arrest under the Cyber Security Act. The event exemplified law enforcement under siege, bowing to mob demands over following due process [15]. 4) Suspension of Sukumar Bagchi – Bagerhat, October 8, 2024 Sukumar Bagchi, a Hindu teacher at Fazilatunnesa Mujib Mahila Degree College, was suspended for allegedly insulting Islam. On October 16th, Muslim students, joined by residents, led protests in Fakirhat Upazila demanding his arrest. The Bangladesh Army intervened and promised to detain Bagchi immediately—without verifying the allegations, in a troubling concession to mob pressure [16]. 5) Mob Assault on Hridoy Pal – Faridpur, October 28, 2024 Hridoy Pal, a Hindu Class XI student at Kadirdi Degree College, was accused of posting blasphemous content on Facebook. Pal denied the allegation, stating his phone was stolen two years ago, and the account had been hacked. Madrasa students surrounded the college, demanding that Hridoy be handed over to them for immediate “mob justice”. Pal was blindfolded, publicly humiliated, and physically assaulted while being taken into army custody. Army personnel were pelted with stones and shoes by the mob. A video of the assault went viral, sparking outrage [17]. 6) Rally Against Ganesh Chandra – Kushtia, 20th October 2024 Islamists staged a large rally in Khoksa Upazila of Kushtia District, demanding exemplary punishment for Hindu teacher Ganesh Chandra of Paikpara Mirzapur Secondary School, accusing him of insulting Prophet Muhammad. The protest quickly escalated as a mob of madrasa students and local Islamists surrounded the school. Police were rushed to the scene to control the situation and protect the teacher from possible mob violence. [18]. 7) Forced Displacement of Subho – Chandpur, October 27, 2024 A young Hindu boy named Subho, from Dakshin Dhonarpar village in Chandpur District, became the target of fabricated blasphemy allegations. On the night of October 27, a radical mob entered his home in search of him. To escape possible violence or lynching, Subho had to flee the village and go into hiding, leaving behind his family and community [19]. 8) Mob Protest Against Bandhan – Jashore, November 11, 2024 Islamist protesters staged a demonstration in Sadipur village, Bagharpara Upazila of Jashore District, demanding the arrest and public execution of a Hindu boy named Bandhan over unverified allegations of blasphemy. The protest was marked by inflammatory slogans and mob incitement, part of an increasingly common pattern of vigilante threats against minority youths [20]. 9) Arrest Without Investigation – Lalmonirhat, December 5, 2024 A Hindu youth was arrested under fabricated blasphemy charges in Aditmari Upazila of Lalmonirhat District. The police carried out the arrest without conducting a meaningful investigation or forensic verification of the allegations. The case exemplifies how vague blasphemy claims are increasingly used to target minorities without due process [21]. 10) Detention of Liton Chandra Das – Sunamganj, August 17, 2024 Liton Chandra Das, a 45-year-old Hindu resident of Naranyanpur village in Karimpur Union, Dirai Upazila, was arrested under the Cyber Security Act based on unverified allegations of blasphemy. Authorities failed to conduct any factual or digital examination before detaining him, reinforcing concerns about the arbitrary enforcement of the law against Hindus [22]. 11) Targeting of Shrestha Halder for Social Media Commentary – IUBAT, September 28, 2024 Shrestha Halder, a Hindu lecturer at the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), became the target of intense public outrage following a social media post in which she voiced concern over rising Islamist opposition to Durga Puja celebrations in Bangladesh. In her post, Halder condemned what she described as manufactured objections to Durga Puja—claims that it “blocks roads,” “disturbs the public,” or “occupies public grounds”—arguing these were veiled attempts to delegitimise Hindu cultural and religious expression. She drew attention to growing efforts by Islamist factions to compel authorities to prohibit the use of the term “Sarbojonin” (universal or inclusive) about Durga Puja, framing it as a move to deny minority communities equal space in the national cultural fabric. Halder posed pointed rhetorical questions to expose the double standards: Would similar objections be tolerated if directed at Eid celebrations or congregational namaaz on public roads? Would Muslim communities accept restrictions on the use of the term Vishwa Nabi (Prophet of the World) for Muhammad? On September 28, in response to her remarks, IUBAT students organised a street demonstration during which they performed namaaz in a public thoroughfare. Protesters called for the “harshest possible punishment” against Halder, accusing her of blasphemy and demanding disciplinary or legal action [23]. The plight of Shrestha Halder 12) Akash Singha arrested on mere allegations of blasphemy – Sunamganj, November 18, 2024 Akash Singha, a young Hindu man from Dharmapasha Upazila in Sunamganj District, was arrested on fabricated charges of blasphemy [24] 13) Widespread Anti-Hindu Violence Triggered by Facebook Post – Manglargaon, December 3, 2024 On December 3, 2024, 21-year-old Akash Das was accused of offending religious sentiments after allegedly sharing an image on Facebook. Though he promptly deleted the post, circulated screenshots fueled outrage among certain sections of the local Muslim community. Police detained Das that evening, citing concerns for his safety. However, the situation rapidly deteriorated. A violent mob assaulted law enforcement officers and launched coordinated attacks on Hindu homes, businesses, and religious sites in Manglargaon village. Documented Human Rights Violations: • The Loknath Temple, a major local religious site, was vandalised, and valuables were looted. • More than 100 homes were damaged or destroyed. • Hindu-owned shops, gold businesses, and two private temples were ransacked. • Total losses were estimated to exceed 15 lakh Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) [25]. Local witnesses also reported deliberate efforts by local authorities to suppress documentation of the violence. Gabinda Das, who recorded the destruction of his family home, was reportedly detained and forced to delete his videos by police officers. [26] Authorities filed a case under the Cyber Security Act against Akash Das, who was denied bail and remanded to judicial custody. On December 14, 2024, law enforcement arrested four individuals—Alim Hossain, Sultan Ahmed Raju, Imran Hossain, and Shajahan Hossain—in connection with the attacks. The official case listed 12 named accused and an additional 150–170 unnamed individuals. In response to the unrest, military units were deployed to stabilise the area and prevent further violence. Government Compensation was minimal and symbolic: • BDT 50,000 for the main temple; • BDT 25,000 each for two family temples; • BDT 10,000 each for ten affected families. The local Upazila administration formed Social Harmony Committees—a gesture widely perceived as symbolic public relations rather than a genuine step toward justice or institutional reform [27]. 14) Mob Violence and Police Capitulation Following Blasphemy Allegation – Pabna, November 9th and 10th, 2024 On November 9, 2024, Prashanta Kumar Saha, a 25-year-old Hindu man from Ballavpur village in the Chatmohar Upazila of Pabna District, was accused by local Islamist groups of insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a Facebook status message. The following day, November 10, Islamist groups staged two so-called "protest rallies"—one in the afternoon and another at night—during which Hindu shopkeepers were threatened and coerced into closing their businesses under fear of reprisals, even though Prashanta was reportedly residing in Dhaka at the time of the alleged incident. That night, at around 8:00 PM, the situation escalated as some of the “protestors” attacked a local Hindu temple, desecrating religious idols (pratima) and chanting violent, communal slogans. Among the slogans heard—reportedly led by local Jamaat-e-Islami leaders present at the scene—were: • "Demolish the shelters of non-believers!" • "We demand the blasphemer be hanged!" [28] Three individuals were briefly detained by police for their alleged involvement in the temple vandalism. However, later that night, an enraged mob surrounded the Handial Police Station, demanding their release. Under pressure from the Islamist demonstrators, and in a shocking display of state capitulation, the detained suspects were released without charges. [29] 15) Hindu Man Abducted and Brutally Assaulted Over Blasphemy Allegation – Chattagram, 1st January 2025 Pranta Talukder, a young 25-year-old Hindu man, was abducted from his home in the Patenga Kathgarh area of Chattagram city, Bangladesh, by a mob of Islamist extremists who accused him of blasphemy. Talukder was tortured and beaten mercilessly, suffering serious injuries. The mob dragged him to the Lalkhan Bazar Amin Centre parking lot, where they continued the assault in public view. Local police were alerted about the ongoing attack and arrived at the scene, rescuing the victim from near-fatal abuse. Talukder was immediately rushed to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital for treatment. A disturbing video showing the young Hindu man being dragged and carried by a violent mob, with clear signs of physical assault, went viral on social media platforms. The footage sparked widespread outrage, shedding light once again on the vulnerability of religious minorities in Bangladesh when mob accusations of blasphemy are weaponised without due process [30][31]. 16) Hindu Student Threatened Following Blasphemy Accusation – Netrakona, February 28, 2025 Supta Saha Anik, a 25-year-old Hindu student, became the target of an aggressive and coordinated campaign of intimidation in Kalmakanda Upazila, Netrakona District, after being accused of making "objectionable remarks" about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. The outrage was spearheaded by members of radical Islamist groups, notably Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh and Tawhidi Janata. Following the Friday congregational prayers (Jumma Namaz), on 28th February, Islamist groups organised a large-scale protest rally, demanding Anik’s immediate arrest and issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to authorities to act. During the protest, demonstrators reportedly chanted incendiary and communal slogans, including calls for violence, and invoked a readiness to make the “ultimate sacrifice” in retaliation for the alleged offence. Eyewitnesses described the tone of the slogans as genocidal, echoing rising concerns about the use of blasphemy allegations to incite mass violence against minorities. Supta Saha Anik is a student at Rajshahi University and affiliated with the Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League—an association that has drawn hostility from certain Islamist factions. A video circulating widely on social media showed a mob assembled outside Anik’s family residence in Mantal village, where his father was visibly threatened and harassed by protestors. Screenshots that surfaced online indicate that the accusation may have stemmed from a heated digital exchange, in which Anik allegedly criticised aspects of Islam in response to provocation from another user [32]. Anik was arrested on 5th March [33]. 17) Religious Intolerance on Campus: Hindu Students Expelled Amid Blasphemy Allegations in Bangladesh – Pabna, Bangladesh, March 16, 2025 In a troubling escalation of religious intolerance in Bangladeshi academic institutions, two Hindu students at the Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST) were expelled on March 16, 2025, following allegations of “insulting Islam” and committing “blasphemy.” The students—Pranay Kundu and Bikarna Das Dibya, both enrolled in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, had been involved in a Facebook debate on the night of March 14, which soon spiralled into a storm of campus-level outrage. What began as a digital disagreement quickly turned into a full-blown witch hunt, spearheaded by Islamist student groups demanding retribution. Within hours, coordinated protests erupted across the PUST campus, with demonstrators calling for the immediate expulsion of the two Hindu students. The university administration responded by issuing show-cause notices to the accused students. Although both Pranay and Bikarna had submitted formal replies, Proctor Kamruzzaman Khan later declared their explanations “unsatisfactory.” Critics, however, argue that the decision to expel them was less about administrative due process and more about succumbing to mob pressure. The incident did not end there. Islamist groups soon broadened their demands, seeking disciplinary action against five additional Hindu students—Bidyut Sarkar, Suborna Sarkar, Dipu Biswas, Tanoy Sarkar, and Ankan Ghosh. In a further bid to force administrative compliance, the protestors blockaded the university’s main gate and administrative building [34]. 18) Shankar Saha’s Home was attacked after allegations of blasphemy from a hacked Facebook Account – Tangail, March 29–30, 2025 In yet another alarming incident of anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh triggered via digital manipulation, Shankar Saha, a resident of Sakhipur in Tangail district, became the target of a coordinated mob attack after his Facebook account was hacked and used to post inflammatory content. On Saturday, March 29, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Saha discovered that unidentified individuals had gained access to his Facebook profile and uploaded objectionable material. Acting swiftly, he submitted a signed, written complaint to the Officer-in-Charge of Sakhipur Police Station, requesting urgent legal action against the cyber attackers. The following day, March 30, an Islamist mob descended on Saha’s home. What began as an act of digital sabotage quickly escalated into a full-blown physical assault: The mob looted and ransacked the house, destroying furniture and personal belongings. In a deliberate act of religious desecration, the attackers publicly burned a photograph of Goddess Lakshmi, a revered Hindu deity, symbolically targeting the faith of the victim. While police have since acknowledged the attack and launched an investigation, questions remain about their failure to provide protection, even after having prior warning [35]. 19) Muslim mob attempts to lynch Akhil Chandra Mondal after accusing him of ‘blasphemy’, police arrest the victim instead of the attackers – Tangail, April 6, 2025 A frenzied mob of Muslim extremists in Tangail District, Bangladesh, attempted to lynch a 40-year-old Hindu man, Akhil Chandra Mondal, after accusing him of hurting religious sentiments by mocking Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. According to local reports, the violence was sparked by allegations that Mondal had posted an "indecent cartoon" on Facebook. A mob of Islamists had initially cornered Akhil Chandra Mondal at his jewellery shop. Though he narrowly escaped and sought refuge in a nearby store, the mob soon tracked him down and launched a brutal assault. Graphic video footage, which later surfaced on social media, shows Akhil Chandra Mondal being stripped, beaten with sticks and rods, and bleeding heavily from the head as he was dragged by the crowd, his shirt torn, his body subjected to repeated punches and blows. Law enforcement and army personnel arrived at the scene and were able to extract Mondal from the violent mob. However, in a deeply troubling move, police proceeded to arrest the victim, while no immediate action was taken against the attackers who nearly killed him. Following their failed lynching attempt, Islamist protestors gathered outside the Tangail Sadar Upazila Parishad, continuing to demand punishment for Mondal [36]. Attempted mob lynching of Akhil Chandra Mondal 20) Widespread Anti-Hindu Violence and Forced Exodus in Dinajpur – 3-10 April, 2025 A wave of communal unrest swept through the Bantara village in Dinajpur Sadar Upazila on 6th April following allegations that a Hindu man, Sobuj Das, had made blasphemous remarks about Prophet Muhammad. In response, Muslim demonstrators—joined by hardline Islamist organisations such as Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam blocked the Dinajpur-Gobindaganj highway, demanding the arrest and execution of Sobuj Das. Despite the presence of police and army personnel, Muslim mobs rampaged through the area, unleashing widespread violence. Hindu-owned businesses were threatened, and a blanket shutdown of Hindu commercial activity was declared by the “protestors” [37]. On the night of April 3, three days before the protest, Muslim residents of Bantara reportedly imposed an unofficial boycott on Hindus—ordering the closure of Hindu shops and barring them from operating rickshaw vans. Warnings were issued that any Hindu who dared to reopen their business would face arson and destruction of property. Fearing for their lives, Sobuj Das and his family had to leave their home. The threats escalated to such an extent that more than 150 Hindu families had to flee the village, triggering a humanitarian concern over forced displacement due to religious persecution. Renowned Bangladeshi author-in-exile Taslima Nasreen highlighted ongoing crackdowns on local Hindus, citing the case of Upendranath Roy, a Hindu teacher who became a victim of vigilante violence. [38] According to reports, Roy was attacked and held hostage in his home by a mob of ‘Tawhidi Janata’—a self-styled Islamist vigilante group for speaking out against the systematic persecution of Hindus in his community. He was later handed over to the police. The prevailing fear forced the cancellation of a 16-hour-long ‘Harinam Sankirtan’, a major Hindu religious event. The atmosphere further deteriorated as radical mobs gave public speeches justifying violence and openly admitted to vandalising the house of Sobuj Das, citing his alleged Facebook comments. In a troubling display of performative reconciliation, some of the same individuals who had issued threats and incited violence returned later with calls for communal harmony, after the incidents began gaining national and international attention. 21) Hindu Youth Arrested Under Cyber Security Act Following Blasphemy Allegation – Narsingdi, February 10, 2025 On February 10, 2025, Ananta Kumar Dhar, a 20-year-old Hindu resident of Bokultala village in Narsingdi District, was arrested under Bangladesh’s Cyber Security Act over allegations that he had posted derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad on Facebook. That same night, a mob of Islamists surrounded his home, prompting fears of violence and mob retaliation [39]. .22) Arrest of Hindu Youth Sparks Unrest – Moulvibazar, May 14, 2025 On May 14, 2025, Bikash Dhar Deepta, a Hindu youth residing in Sherpur Upazila of Moulvibazar District, was arrested from his rented apartment following allegations of insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a Facebook post dated May 11. The complaint was filed by Abdul Kadir Ratan, and police booked Deepta under the Cyber Security Act. The accusation triggered chaos and tension in Moulvibazar Sadar, as members of Islamist groups—including Jamaat-e-Islami, Hizb-ut-Tahrir, and the Bangladesh National Party (BNP)—accused Deepta of making “objectionable remarks” and mobilised protests demanding his punishment [40]. 23) Sohag Das Faces Death Threats After Blasphemy Accusation – Dinajpur, June 16, 2025 Sohag Das, a 24-year-old Hindu man from Chandipur Union in Dinajpur District, was accused of insulting Islam through a Facebook post and subsequently received death threats from radical groups. The Islamist outfit Al Insaf Islami Sangh led large protests, calling for his execution. Demonstrators declared: “We love the Prophet more than our lives. Hurting his honour means hurting the entire Muslim Ummah. We demand the highest penalty—death—for this criminal.” Others issued public appeals to Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government, demanding that he order the hanging of Sohag Das. These incidents reflect a widening pattern of digital accusations being weaponised against religious minorities, often leading to immediate arrests, mob pressure, and violent threats—frequently without thorough legal review or protection for the accused [41]. Islamists are demanding the death sentence for Sohag Das. 24) Mob Assault on Hindu Barbers Over Blasphemy Allegation – Lalmonirhat, 22nd June, 2025 On 22nd June 2025, a violent Muslim mob brutally assaulted Paresh Chandra Shil (69) and his son Bishnu Chandra Shil (35) at their salon in Ward No. 9, Lalmonirhat Municipality of Rangpur Division. The attack was triggered by allegations that the duo had made derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad, a charge the family strongly denies. The altercation reportedly began over a dispute involving an underpaid haircut bill. According to the victims' family, a disgruntled customer returned two days later with a mob and instigated the attack. Disturbing visuals shared on social media show the elderly Paresh being stripped and assaulted. When Bishnu intervened to save his father, he too was beaten. The mob vandalised the barbershop and later surrounded the Lalmonirhat Sadar Police Station, demanding severe punishment for the father-son duo. Police and army personnel arrived at the scene, rescued the injured men, and took them into custody. No action was taken against the attackers, despite video evidence of the mob violence. Later, a local Imam, Md. Abdul Aziz filed a formal blasphemy case under charges of “hurting religious sentiment.” Amid rising tensions, OC Nurnabi Mia addressed the angry crowd: “Those of you who have gathered here are Muslims, and so am I. My heart burns over this incident. I will file such a case against them that they’ll either be hanged or imprisoned for life.” The video of his speech went viral, sparking outrage and concerns over prejudice and bias by law enforcement personnel. He later claimed his statement was meant to pacify the mob, not an official legal stance. Human Rights groups like Ain o Salish Kendra and Bangladesh Mahila Parishad had condemned the mob violence, demanded an impartial investigation and called for justice for the victims. Local political leaders and lawyers criticised the police officer’s inflammatory rhetoric and urged the state to investigate those who incited the violence. The family insists that the incident was entirely fabricated and rooted in personal revenge. Islamists are assaulting elderly Paresh Chandra Shil. 25) Hindu Man Assaulted and Arrested Over Blasphemy Allegations – Barishal, July 2025 In Barishal district, a Hindu man named Saikat Biswas, son of Kangal Biswas and originally from Gopalganj, was assaulted by a Muslim mob and handed over to the police on allegations of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad and Islamic beliefs. Saikat was employed at a rice hotel near the Gournadi Upazila Gate. Reports state that local Muslims accused him of making derogatory remarks about Islam and the Prophet three days prior. As the news spread, a mob confronted and physically attacked him before turning him over to law enforcement. The Officer-in-Charge of Gournadi Police Station, Mohammad Yunus Miah, confirmed Saikat’s arrest and stated that legal proceedings were underway [42]. 26) Mob Violence against Hindu Families over Unverified Blasphemy Allegations – Rangpur, July 26 – 28, 2025 At least 20 Hindu families in Betgari Union, Gangachara Upazila of Rangpur District, were left homeless and destitute after three days of targeted communal violence triggered by a blasphemy allegation against an 18-year-old Hindu youth. The attacks, marked by looting, arson and religious desecration, led to the displacement of over 50 Hindu families. At least three shops owned by Hindus, along with several Tulsi Manchas (sacred brick altars traditionally used in Hindu households for worshipping the Tulsi plant), were also vandalised. Saturday, July 26, 2025 – The Spark Ronjon Roy, an 18-year-old Hindu student, was accused of posting derogatory content about the Prophet Muhammad on Facebook using an account named ‘Ronjon Roy Lrm’. That evening, a group of local Muslims, armed with sticks and makeshift weapons, attacked and vandalised a Hindu house, mistakenly believing it to be Ronjon Roy’s residence. In an attempt to defuse the escalating tensions, the Police arrested Ronjon Roy without verifying the authenticity of the alleged Facebook post [44]. Investigative journalists, including fact-checker Shohanur Rahman, later revealed that the posts had originated from a duplicate Facebook account, created to mimic Roy’s identity. "The new profile had copied Ronjon’s photos and uploaded several posts that could be considered blasphemous", Rahman stated [43]. No action was taken against those who created the fake account and circulated the fabricated content used to frame Ronjon Roy under false blasphemy charges. Sunday, July 27, 2025 – Violence Erupts At approximately 4:30 PM, a mob of 500–600 people gathered outside Hindu homes in Betgari Union. Hindu households were systematically looted and vandalised. Three Hindu-owned shops—belonging to Dijen, Manoranjan, and Krishna Chandra Roy—were also ransacked. The food, furniture, savings, and personal belongings of 20 Hindu families were looted or vandalised, leaving them penniless and destitute. When law enforcement attempted to restore order, the Islamist mob turned on them, injuring three policemen—one of whom had to be hospitalised in critical condition. Local Hindus allege that after offering brief resistance, the police fled the scene, abandoning the defenceless Hindu families. “How will we survive now? They took everything,” a Hindu woman sobbed, standing amid the charred remains of her home. A young Hindu girl told Ajker Patrika: “Police were present when the mob arrived. At first they tried to stop them—but then they just ran away, leaving us to our fate.” Monday, July 28, 2025 – Second Wave of Attacks Mobs returned in the evening, armed with sticks and country-made weapons, launching a second round of looting and intimidation. Over 50 Hindu families fled the area, fearing further violence. Police and army forces were eventually deployed to restore order, but no significant arrests were made. Most of the perpetrators managed to escape the area. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Al Emran, head of Gangachara Police Station, admitted to allowing the mob to gather, believing it was a peaceful procession: “They attacked suddenly after afternoon prayers. One policeman was seriously injured,” he said. He further added that the Muslim mob had carried out the attack, following the conclusion of the afternoon Namaz. Local resident Pramod Mahanta told Prothom Alo: “They were supposed to protest at the market, but instead started shouting slogans and attacking homes.” 104 members of 21 Hindu families were killed. A Nation at War with Its Own Heritage Bangladesh stands today at a perilous crossroads. The High Court’s formal recommendation in November 2024 to introduce life imprisonment and the death penalty for blasphemy is not merely a policy shift—it is a declaration of intent [45]. An intent that forebodes a chilling future where allegations, often fabricated or digitally manipulated, can be weaponised as state-sanctioned instruments of terror against the country’s indigenous citizens. This is no longer a debate about free speech. It is a battle for existence—a struggle for survival for Bangladesh’s 13 million Hindu sons and daughters whose roots in this land run deeper than the nation itself. What we are witnessing is not a series of isolated communal flare-ups, but a systematic campaign of cultural cleansing, where mobs armed with smartphones and blasphemy accusations are as deadly as torches and machetes. In just the last ten months, hundreds of Hindu families have been uprooted, their homes turned to ashes, their temples desecrated, their voices silenced—forever. The weaponisation of blasphemy is no longer an aberration. It has been institutionalised, embedded deeply within the dangerous nexus of mob vigilantism and legal complicity. Every time a victim is arrested while the perpetrators roam free, Bangladesh takes a step closer to codifying majoritarian impunity into law. This crisis demands more than condemnation—it requires urgent, actionable intervention. The global human rights community must move beyond platitudes of concern. Economic leverage, diplomatic pressure, and conditional bilateral engagements with Dhaka must be recalibrated to demand tangible accountability. Within Bangladesh, a resilient yet besieged civil society still fights beneath layers of fear; it now needs robust international solidarity to shield minority rights on the ground. The path forward requires: An immediate suspension of the High Court’s move to institutionalise executions for blasphemy. The formation of an independent commission to investigate cases of digital manipulation that have incited communal violence. The revocation of arbitrary powers under the Cyber Security Act, which continues to criminalise victims instead of perpetrators. Guaranteed inclusion of minority representatives in policymaking bodies tasked with religious harmony and digital governance. Without these measures, Bangladesh’s blasphemy laws will not merely suppress free expression—they will serve to annihilate an entire cultural identity. Bangladesh’s founding ideals of secularism, pluralism, and justice are now on life support. Whether the nation rediscovers those principles or slides irreversibly into a theocratic, ethnoreligious apartheid will depend on a collective reckoning—both from within its borders and from a world that can no longer afford to look away. For if the world turns away, history will not record this as the failure of one nation’s conscience, but as a global abdication of moral duty. References [1] Carving Blocs: Communal Ideology in Early Twentieth-Century Bengal by Pradip Kumar Datta, Oxford University Press, 1999 [2] News reports from Prabasi and Mashik Bashumati [3] Partition, Bengal and After: The Great Tragedy of India, New Delhi: Reference Press, 2007 [4] Genocide in East Pakistan/ Bangladesh by S.K. Bhattacharyya, A. Ghosh, 1987 [5] Keno Udbastu Hote Holo by Debojyoti Ray, Vivekanda Sahitya Kendra, 2005 [6] “Muslim Hindu Violence Flares Again by Brady Thomas F. on 5th April, 1964, The New York Times [7]https://webarchive.archive.unhcr.org/20230527185631/https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4d5e7.html [8] https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/291001/six-years-of-nasirnagar-attacks-six-cases-await [9] https://mnabd.com/rangpur-mayhem-several-hindu-homes-burnt-1-muslim-killed-30-injured-and-33-detained/ [10] https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/crime/228811/govt-orders-actions-against-bigots-over-vandalism [11] Reports from Amnesty International, HRW and Hindu American Foundation [12] https://www.hinduamerican.org/projects/human-rights-report/bangladesh-2021 [13] Press Release issued by HRCBM on 9th September via EIN Presswire [14] https://www.hinduphobiatracker.org/app/case/04aeefc [15]https://x.com/ArifaRahmanRuma/status/1840762416390615043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1840762416390615043%7Ctwgr%5Eabec051a4ce4662161adfff9d87bc154032fc2a0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.opindia.com%2F2025%2F06%2Fbangladesh-blasphemy-cases-targeting-hindus-compilation-muslims-use-them-as-pretext-to-attack-torture-minroities-details%2F (post by Arifa Rahman Ruma, Associate Professor in Bangladesh Open University) [16] https://x.com/HinduVoice_in/status/1846458639424311712 [17]https://x.com/taslimanasreen/status/1850958140101296435?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1850958140101296435%7Ctwgr%5Eabec051a4ce4662161adfff9d87bc154032fc2a0%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.opindia.com%2F2025%2F06%2Fbangladesh-blasphemy-cases-targeting-hindus-compilation-muslims-use-them-as-pretext-to-attack-torture-minroities-details%2F [18] https://x.com/HinduVoice_in/status/1848215142477259081 [19] https://x.com/HinduVoice_in/status/1850746387656265760 [20] https://x.com/HinduVoice_in/status/1855969640226394384 [21] https://x.com/HinduVoice_in/status/1864887886807449913 [22] https://x.com/HinduVoice_in/status/1825785978033717437 [23] Social media posts of Shrestha Halder and the protestors [24] https://x.com/HinduVoice_in/status/1858874080780579316 [25] https://satp.org/terrorism-update/mob-vandalises-hindu-temple-houses-shops-in-separate-incidents-in-sunamganj-district [26] https://hinduvoice.in/the-persecution-of-hindus-in-bangladesh-by-islamists-and-the-state-after-the-arrest-of-sri-chinmay-krishna-das-prabhu-a-detailed-report/ [27] https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/facebook-post-hindu-temples-houses-attacked-sunamganj-3768041 [28]https://www.facebook.com/amadera.hosenapura/videos/1086913029126956/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v [29]https://thedailycampus.com/national/159499/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%82%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%8F%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A5%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%93%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%99%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0 [30] https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/qwwdhwda1y [31]https://x.com/nchak1008/status/1874515740830978477?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1874515740830978477%7Ctwgr%5E2bf3373aefdadc157e06e58d58557c6498e464f7%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.opindia.com%2F2025%2F01%2Fmuslim-mob-kidnaps-tortures-hindu-man-pranta-talukder-blasphmey-attack-chittagong-bangladesh%2F [32] https://www.opindia.com/2025/03/muslim-mob-hounds-hindu-supta-saha-anik-blasphemy-allegations-exposes-pattern-hindu-persecution-details/ [33] https://x.com/AyonDas619/status/1897309699181306302 [34] https://www.opindia.com/2025/03/hindu-students-pranay-kundu-bikarna-das-dibya-expelled-from-pabna-university-bangladesh-insulting-islam-blasphemy-details/ [35] https://hrcb.org/index.php/facebook-hack-hindu-saha-house-vandalized-goddess-laxmi-desecrated/ [36] https://www.hinduphobiatracker.org/app/case/aa4ae68 [37] https://x.com/saifurmishu/status/1908152564387860976 [38] https://x.com/taslimanasreen/status/1909339876501094498 [39] https://www.bd24live.com/bangla/753595 [40] https://eidin.in/bangladesh-hindu-college-student-arrested-on-false-charges-of-blasphemy/ [41] https://www.hinduphobiatracker.org/app/case/ef654a4 [42] https://www.hinduphobiatracker.org/app/case/9957cf8 [43]https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=122165058650486263&id=61564587893990&ref=embed_post [44] https://protidiner-bd.com/archives/6886 [45] https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/news/cyber-security-act-hc-suggests-death-penalty-hurting-religious-sentiment-3757811

Aug 07, 2025
Viren S Doshi

India’s Strategic Foreign Policy Under Modi: Multi-Alignment, Strategic Hedging and Global Assertiveness

India’s foreign policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade. In navigating an increasingly complex global order — defined by the dual challenges posed by a confrontational second-term President Donald Trump and an expansionist Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-occupied China, India has fortified its role as a sovereign, assertive and strategically autonomous power. Through bold reforms, global partnerships, and calibrated diplomacy, India continues to pursue its national interest through a model of multi-alignment, strategic hedging, and resilience — avoiding entanglements in ideological alliances while strengthening connectivity across the Global South, the Indo-Pacific, West Asia, Eurasia, and beyond. India's Core Strengths Fortified Under Modi’s Successive Governments 1. Economic Clout India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has reached $4.0 trillion as of 2025, surpassing Germany to become the fourth-largest economy globally. Economic growth has averaged 6.7% annually over the past five years, driven by structural reforms that include: Introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Expansion of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes in electronics, automobiles, green energy, and defence 2. Defence and Strategic Capability India is now the third-largest defence spender globally, with an annual budget exceeding $83 billion. Key developments include: Operationalisation of India’s indigenous aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant Scaling up the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft program Emphasis on self-reliant defence production (Atmanirbhar Bharat): AI-based warfare, drones, artillery and cybersecurity systems 3. Technological and Space Prowess India has pioneered state-backed public digital infrastructure embraced by other developing nations. Meanwhile, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) leads global cost-efficient spaceflight, with Chandrayaan-3’s success followed by deep-space and commercial launch activity as well as a collaborative NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) mission with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). India’s 6G pilots and blockchain-based governance tools are leading standards in the Global South. India’s Multi-Alignment Doctrine: Flexible Partnership Without Dependency India’s foreign policy has evolved from Cold War-era non-alignment into modern multi-alignment — characterised by flexibility, issue-based coalitions, and sovereign autonomy. India now actively engages platforms like: Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) – with the United States, Japan, and Australia Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS+) Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Trade Agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and ASEAN, as African countries India tailors its relationships without falling into rival strategic camps. The Strategic India–Russia Partnership: Resilience Amid Sanctions Despite growing Western pressures, India’s relationship with Russia remains foundational and deeply strategic. Trade: Bilateral trade crossed $60 billion, led by energy, military hardware, rare earths, and fertilisers Defence: S-400 air defence systems, Akula-class submarines, 5th-generation fighter cooperation Energy Security: Over 35% of India's crude oil is now sourced from Russia, at discounted rates, via rupee-ruble arrangements Technology & Space: Joint ventures in satellite communications, next-generation navigation and semiconductors This partnership offers India insulation from both CCP-occupied China’s militarism and Western leverage via conditional trade or sanctions. Trump’s 50% Tariffs: India’s Measured Yet Firm Counterstrategy Recently, President Trump’s administration escalated trade pressure, raising tariffs on Indian goods to a total of 50%, targeting: Pharmaceuticals Auto components Gems and Jewellery Textiles and garments Leather goods and processed foods This may affect up to $45 billion worth of exports from India, yet India’s calculated diplomacy has ensured: No retaliation through counter-tariffs, avoiding escalation Continued engagement on platforms like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and MALABAR naval exercises Reduced dependency on the U.S. market via aggressive FTAs and outreach to new partners The economic hit has been contained to below 0.2% of GDP, thanks to proactive diversification efforts and resilient service exports resting on a huge and increasing domestic consumption base. India Cannot Be Bent — Trump Must Recalibrate While trade tensions remain real, Trump’s own strategic logic — centred on an “America First” desire to counter CCP-occupied China and perceived leftist coalitions — may eventually lead to a softening of posture toward India. Why? The U.S. exports over $25 billion worth of goods and services to India annually U.S.-bound investments in India totalled over $100 billion, focused on pharma, energy, and defence India plays an indispensable role in Indo-Pacific balancing, joint infrastructure, critical tech supply chains and maritime operations. As Trump confronts the CCP–Leftist–Jihadi nexus in his geopolitical framing, India will increasingly be seen not as a rival—but as a foundational partner of a secure and democratic order. Expanding the Strategic Web: Middle East, Global South & IMEC West Asia & Corridor Diplomacy India has built a trilateral innovation–security–technology framework with the UAE and Israel, supported by: The India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Counter-BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) infrastructure in the Arabian Sea and Eastern Mediterranean South–South Solidarity India is the lead voice of the Global South via platforms like: Voice of Global South Summits African Union–India Technology and Agritech Corridors South America–India Pharma and Digital Cooperation Zones Handling CCP-Occupied China: Asymmetry With Resolve India stands firm against the threat posed by CCP-occupied China using asymmetric balancing: Borders and Deterrence Over 60,000 troops deployed in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh All-weather roads, tunnel projects, and UAVs deter cross-border PLA pressure Maritime Coalitions Base access and logistics agreements with Japan, Australia, France, and the Philippines QUAD naval exercises (MALABAR) enforce freedom of navigation Tech Decoupling Over 300 Chinese Communist Party occupied China-linked apps banned Major telecom infrastructure contracts stripped from CCP-occupied China's vendors Estimated loss to CCP-occupied China's tech companies: $5 billion annually India demonstrates that assertive resilience, not appeasement, is the key to managing Beijing. Conclusion: Rising India in a Multipolar Global Order India has emerged from a decade of geopolitical upheaval more confident, more connected, and significantly more autonomous. Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India has: Climbed to the 4th-largest global economy Avoided entrapment in great-power rivalry Built one of the world’s most diversified networks of strategic alliances Whether pushed by Trump’s 50% tariffs or tested on the high Himalayas by CCP-occupied China, India has not bent. Instead, it has demonstrated a self-assured foreign policy based on multi-alignment, economic nationalism, and strategic pragmatism. As the world’s balance of power evolves, India stands poised to play a stabilising role — not as a dependent ally, but as a defining force in shaping a secure, multipolar, and democratic world order.

A Century of Blasphemy Pogroms in Bangladesh: How Digital Age Blueprints Have Refined and are Accelerating Cultural Erasure Part 1

Assam’s Struggle to Reclaim Lost Lands

The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy: A Series Defying Numbers and Stats

Featured Articles

A Century of Blasphemy Pogroms in Bangladesh: How Digital Age Blueprints Have Refined and are Accelerating Cultural Erasure Part 2

India’s Strategic Foreign Policy Under Modi: Multi-Alignment, Strategic Hedging and Global Assertiveness

Reports View All

J&K government bans 25 books for allegedly promoting secessionism and glorifying terrorism

Rahul Gandhi alleges, ‘Vote Chori’, large-scale election fraud, accuses EC of aiding BJP

EU bought more Russian fossil fuels than India since Ukraine War: Finland think-tank exposes US double standards

India and Russia sign protocol to strengthen industrial and strategic cooperation

Modi says India will not compromise on farmers' interests amid Trump’s tariff hike

Russia urged caution after Trump ordered deployment of nuclear submarines over spat with Medvedev

Search

Top Authors

Archives

Featured Articles

Reports View All

Search

Podcast / Videos

Popular Posts

Top Authors

Archives