Hindus in Bangladesh: How many Hindus are in Bangladesh, and why their condition is continuously deteriorating?

Hindus in Bangladesh: condition is continuously deteriorating Bangladesh is currently witnessing an atmosphere of chaos and the protesters are specifically targeting Hindus. India’s neighbouring country Bangladesh has 1 crore 31 lakh Hindus, which is about 8 per cent of the population there.

Hindus in Bangladesh: Horrific atmosphere of persecution against minority Hindus in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is currently witnessing a horrific atmosphere, where the protesters are especially targeting minority Hindus. India’s neighbouring country Bangladesh has about 1 crore 31 lakh Hindus, which is about 8 per cent of the total population there. This atmosphere of persecution and violence is becoming a cause of constant anxiety and insecurity for the Hindu community.

Violence and instability in Bangladesh:

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently resigned amid violent protests and has left the country and taken refuge in India; Also, she is considering taking refuge in a country in Europe. The Bangladeshi army has talked about forming an interim government soon.

Currently, about 1 crore 31 lakh Hindus reside in Bangladesh. In this situation, the minority Hindu community is feeling itself in extreme crisis and they are worried that the situation may worsen if radical Islamic groups come to power. This instability and fear have created a serious situation for the Hindu community.

Condition of Hindus in Bangladesh

The condition of Hindus in Bangladesh has been deteriorating continuously in recent years, and this situation is no longer hidden from anyone. In 1951, the population of Hindus was about 22 per cent, but by 2011 it had come down to only 8.54 per cent. The main reasons for this decline are religious persecution and economic marginalization. The population of Hindus continues to decline, which has become a matter of serious concern for the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

In 2022, the total population of Bangladesh was more than sixteen and a half crores, and at present the population of the Hindu community is 7.95 per cent. In terms of numbers, the population of Hindus is 13.1 million. However, the population of the Hindu community continues to decline.

The Hindu community in Bangladesh is facing many serious challenges. Let us understand this through some important points:

Discrimination and communal violence: The Hindu community faces social and religious discrimination, often making them live like second-class citizens.

Property Act: Hindu-owned land and property are being lost in Bangladesh due to laws allowing government appropriation under the Property Act. This has resulted in about 60% of Hindus becoming landless.

Migration: Millions of Hindus have migrated due to communal violence and intimidation, affecting the stability of the community.

Immigration figures: About 11.3 lakh Hindus have left Bangladesh since 1964.

History of Hindus in Bangladesh

Hindu population in East Bengal and post-Partition situation

History of Hindus in Bangladesh: According to the 1901 census, the Hindu population in East Bengal (which is now Bangladesh) was more than 30 per cent. After the partition of India in 1947, East Bengal became a part of Pakistan. After this, when Bangladesh became independent in 1971, the Hindu community faced severe violence and suffering. During this time there was a large-scale massacre and many Hindus were converted, due to which many people were forced to take refuge in India.

After the India-Pakistan partition in 1947, violence against Hindus increased in East Pakistan (which is today Bangladesh). Due to this violence, several lakh Hindus were killed and a large number of Hindus were forced to take refuge in India. At the time of partition, the population of Hindus decreased from 28 per cent to 22 per cent. During the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, the Pakistani army specifically targeted Hindu villages and completely destroyed many villages. According to a report, more than 3 million Hindus were killed due to this violence. These incidents forced a large number of Hindus to take refuge in India. As a result, the population of Hindus in Bangladesh declined from 18.5 per cent to 13.5 per cent. Even after this, the violence did not stop.

Violence since partition:

The plight of Hindus over the decades: Incidents of persecution and violence against Hindus continued even after the independence of Bangladesh. After independence, the Hindu population declined from 13.5 per cent to about 8 per cent. A major reason for this violence was the occupation of their properties. According to a local newspaper, a particular pattern of violence was observed: Hindu houses in the majority of areas were set on fire, forcing families to migrate. After this, these vacant lands were occupied. This type of violence and persecution weakened the Hindu community socially and economically and made their lives insecure.

Vested Property Act and its effects in Bangladesh

Vested Property Act: The controversial Vested Property Act was in force in Bangladesh until 2021, which gave the government the right to take over “enemy property”. Under this law, the government established control over about 26 lakh acres of land. This mainly affected the Hindu families of Bangladesh, because once the government took over the land, it was often handed over to private individuals using political influence.

Some changes were made to the law after protests against it, but it was not implemented effectively. This situation kept the Hindu community insecure and economically weak for a long time.