Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister and chief of the Awami League, released a message on Sharadiya Durgotsav that highlighted a sharp rise in violence against Hindu and other minority communities across the country since the political shift on August 5, 2024. In her remarks, she detailed a pattern of killings, temple vandalism, idol defacement, and the seizure of minority-owned property, painting a picture of widespread fear among those communities.
The former leader cited three high‑profile incidents to underline her concerns. Ganapati Chakraborty, a respected teacher from Rangpur, was murdered, and the investigation was described by Hasina as lacking credibility. In Bhaluka, local activist Dipu Chandra Das was allegedly targeted, with the accused granted bail despite serious allegations. She further pointed to the detention of Sanatan saint Chinmoy Prabhu, who was held on false charges and allowed only five hours of parole to conduct his mother’s funeral rites.
Hasina contrasted the current climate with the Awami League’s 2024 manifesto, which promised the establishment of a National Minority Commission and the passage of a Minority Protection Act. She argued that these commitments were abandoned after the party’s ousting and that the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, has been complicit in fostering impunity and politically motivated prosecutions.
Her appeal extended beyond political rhetoric: she urged Awami League members, activists, and secular supporters to stand alongside Hindu communities, defend communal harmony, and refuse provocation. Hasina invoked the secular ideals of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War and the vision of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, insisting that religious identity should never dictate a citizen’s security.
Concluding her message, Hasina wished for peace, wellbeing, and prosperity for all citizens, especially those celebrating Durgotsav. She pledged that the Awami League would continue to fight for the rights of minorities and that the interim administration would be held accountable for the violence that has gripped the nation.