The Voice News: Muslim Mob Sets Hindu Homes on Fire After Local Politician’s Death, Lawlessness Persists Under Muhammad Yunus’s Watch
On May 22, 2025, a Muslim mob attacked and set fire to more than 20 Hindu homes in Dahar Mashihati village, Abhaynagar upazila, Jessore district, Bangladesh. This violent incident followed the killing of Tariqul Islam, a 50-year-old leader of the Krishak Dal party, who was shot and hacked to death over a land ownership dispute involving a fish enclosure.
The conflict was between Tariqul Islam and Piltu Biswas, both claiming rights over a piece of land whose lease had expired. After Islam’s murder, a group of Muslim extremists targeted Hindu households, vandalizing homes, shops, and vehicles. At least 10 people were injured, and numerous belongings were looted or destroyed. The attacks also involved the abduction of a 25-year-old Hindu youth, Sagar Biswas, who was later rescued.
Journalists visiting the village found total destruction: homes reduced to ashes, looted valuables, and six vehicles damaged. Male members of the Hindu community fled fearing for their lives, while some women remained behind amid the devastation. Many victims belong to the Matua community, a Hindu minority group.
Police, army, and fire services arrived two hours after the attacks, deploying forces to restore order. However, victims report severe losses, including cash, gold, appliances, and personal documents. Survivors describe brutal violence and looting by mobs that grew to over 150 people.
This incident is part of a troubling pattern of anti-Hindu violence in Bangladesh following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Since then, more than 200 attacks on Hindu temples, shops, and individuals have been reported. These include forced resignations of Hindu teachers and officials, coercion into Islamist groups, vandalism of religious idols, and arrests of Hindu activists.
Human rights advocates and exiled bloggers warn of systematic persecution of the Hindu minority under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Attacks are often justified by false accusations of blasphemy, with several Hindu youths beaten or arrested under such pretexts.
The ongoing violence highlights growing insecurity for minority communities in Bangladesh and raises concerns about law enforcement’s ability to protect vulnerable populations.