United News of Bangladesh

Majority of incidents involving minority communities in 2025 were criminal in nature rather than communal, said the government on Monday sharing the yearlong police record on minority-related incidents, law and order situation. Describing every incident as a matter of concern, the government said the data presents a clear and evidence-based picture. This underscored both the complexity of law-and-order challenges and the importance of grounding public discussion in facts rather than fear or misinformation, it added. A yearlong review of official police records for January to December 2025 documents 645 incidents involving members of minority communities, compiled from verified First Information Reports, General Diaries, charge sheets, and investigation updates nationwide, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing based on police headquarters' report. The findings show that 71 incidents were identified as having communal elements, while 574 incidents were assessed as non-communal in nature. Communal incidents primarily involved vandalism or desecration of religious sites and idols, along with a small number of other offenses. In contrast, the majority of incidents affecting minority individuals or properties arose from criminal activity unrelated to religion, including neighborhood disputes, land conflicts, political rivalries, theft, sexual violence, and cases linked to prior personal enmity. "This distinction is important. While all crimes are serious and demand accountability, the data demonstrates that most incidents involving minority victims were not driven by communal hostility, but by broader criminal and social factors that affect citizens across religious and ethnic lines," said the press wing. It said Bangladesh remains committed to confronting crime with transparency, accuracy, and resolve. Accurate classification helps prevent misinformation and supports more effective law-enforcement responses. Hundreds of cases were formally registered, arrests were made in many incidents, and investigations are ongoing in others. This reflects an institutional commitment to addressing crime and maintaining public order, particularly in sensitive cases involving religious sites or communal concerns, the government said. At the national level, Bangladesh continues to face serious law-and-order challenges, it said. Each year, an average of approximately 3,000-3,500 people lose their lives to violent crimes nationwide. "This is not a number to be proud of. Every life lost is a tragedy, and no society should be complacent in the face of such statistics. At the same time, these figures must be understood in context. Violent crime affects all communities, cutting across religion, ethnicity, and geography," said the CA’s Press Wing . Prof Yunus, global leaders to meet at UN conf on Rohingyas, other minorities tonight Importantly, it said, available indicators show that law and order in Bangladesh is improving steadily. Enhanced policing, better intelligence coordination, faster response times, and increased accountability have contributed to gradual but meaningful progress. The government and law-enforcement agencies remain committed to reducing crime further and ensuring equal protection under the law. Bangladesh is a country of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, and people of other beliefs, all of whom are citizens with equal rights, it said. 'Ensuring safety and justice for every community is not only a constitutional obligation but a moral one," said the government. It said protecting places of worship, preventing incitement, responding quickly to criminal acts, and distinguishing facts from rumor are essential to preserving social harmony. "This report is presented in the spirit of transparency and accountability. It does not deny challenges, nor does it claim perfection," said the government. Rather, the government said, it seeks to provide a factual, evidence-based picture of crime trends affecting minority communities within the broader national context.  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday night alleged that the recent communal incidents in different areas of the country are part of Awami League’s “evil design” to get over the next election hurdle. "We think it’s not possible to incite riot and destroy communal harmony without patronage of those in power,” he said. Fakhrul alleged that Awami League has started adopting various “evil tactics” to prolong its power. “They’re devising the evil designs to overcome the next elections hurdle. These incidents (sectarian violence) are the proofs of such a plan.” READ: Communal attacks: BNP forms two committees He made the remarks while exchanging greetings with members of the Hindu community on the occasion of Durga Puja. BNP arranged the programme at its chairperson’s Gulshan office. The BNP leader said the Hindu community members know those who made the attacks on them, and their worship places do not belong to opposition parties, including BNP. "We want to make it clear that the BNP always believes in the freedom of all religions and the party has already proved that,” he added. He critiicised Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for what he said pointing finger at BNP soon after the communal violence in Cumilla without any investigation. He said BNP leaders and activists have been implicated in every case filed in connection with the communal violence. “Hundreds of our leaders and activists have been made accused in those cases. Our 90 people have been arrested in Noakhali's Chauhamuni, and cases have been filed against those who can play a role during the election.” Fakhrul said the main motive behind these cases is to suppress BNP and using the cases as a weapon to weaken BNP ahead of the national election. Accusing Awami league of doing the politics of deception, he said the ruling party is again trying to indulge in a game in the name of election by spreading the “politics of hatred”. He urged the Hindu community members to get united to ensure the fall of the current “monstrous regime” to establish a pro-people government. “This country belongs to all. We won’t allow anyone to harm this country.” READ: Silence of police helped violence escalate: BNP Around 150 members of the Hindu Community from different parts of the country joined the programme. Some Hindu community members narrated how they and their worship places were attacked by criminals in Cumilla, Noakhali, Chattogram, Cox’s Bazr and other areas of the country.

BNP on Friday urged the people of the country to maintain communal harmony instead of responding to any kind of ‘provocation’ from the government. "Our party has asked the people of all communities to maintain unity and communal harmony upholding our long-lasting tradition under any provocation. We’ll maintain our strong ties, said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Speaking at a human-chain programme, he also said their party will not react to any provocation from the government. READ: Govt plot behind communal incidents, alleges BNP “Communal harmony is a long history and tradition of the Bengali nation. There have been repeated attempts to destroy that tradition,” the BNP leader said. He alleged that the incident of the desecration of the holy Quran in Cumilla is a planned one. “It was staged as part of a government’s plan.” Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding that the next national election be held under a non-party neutral government. The local administration locked into a clash with a group of people in Cumilla over an allegation of the desecration of the holy Quran at a puja mandap. Some rowdy people attacked puja mandaps in different areas of the country following the incident. On Thursday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir blamed government agencies for the communal incidents in Cumilla and elsewhere in the country, saying these are part of a plot to mislead people. Later, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader alleged that evil communal forces are trying to unleash  violence in the country with the patronage of BNP ahead of the next general election. READ: ‘AL men’ behind e-commerce scams: BNP Reacting to Quader’s remark, Rizvi said Awami League has left no misdeed undone only to hang onto power. “The incident in Cumilla was also carried out by ruling party men out of fear of losing power. The motive behind this incident is to mislead people and divert their attention to a different direction.” Rizvi opposed the Jatiya Press Club’s decision of banning all political programmes on its premises, saying it will hinder the minimum space for raising voice against ‘misdeeds and misrule’ of the government.

BNP on Thursday blamed government agencies for the communal incidents in Cumilla and elsewhere in the country, saying these are part of a plot to mislead people. Speaking at a discussion, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir demanded prompt action against the perpetrators. "The government has completely failed to maintain law and order and stability in the country…some untoward incidents happened centring the Durga Puja of Hindu brothers in Cumilla and Chandpur. Three people were killed in Chandpur as police opened fire indiscriminately,” he said. Also read: None of those involved in Cumilla incident to be spared: Obaidul Quader The BNP leader said these incidents are an outcome of the government’s ‘plot’ to destroy communal harmony and stability in the country. “We strongly condemn and protest these incidents.” About the desecration of the holy Quran in Cumilla, Fakhrul said the main intention behind this is to destabilise the country. "You’ve heard that the holy Quran was kept in the puja mandapa. Who did it? Those who’ve done it have a motive to ruin the communal harmony.” He also alleged that law enforcers opened fire on people in different places over the incident also for the same reason. “It’s a country of communal harmony. We’ve been living here very peacefully for thousands of years… These incidents have been carried out completely by the government agencies to create unrest in the country and to divert people’s attention to a different direction from the real crisis.” Jatiyatabadi Samabay Dal arranged the discussion programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, marking its 11th founding anniversary. Also read: Several identified, suspected instigators held over Cumilla incident: Home Minister He said there are many problems in the country, including the lack of democracy, freedom of expression and other rights, while a ‘terrible fascist’ regime has been in power like a ‘monster’. “When we’re talking about the problems and working on it, they (govt) want to divert the attention of people to another direction by carrying out these (communal) incidents,” he observed. Accusing the government of destroying the country’s election system, the BNP leader said elections in Bangladesh have now become a ‘laughing stock’ and people have forgotten about good elections. “The last election was held in 2001 and there has been no other election since then. What happened in 2008 was under an illegitimate government.” He said there is no scope to hold a credible and neutral election in Bangladesh unless it is held under a non-party polls-time government. Fakhrul said it will not be acceptable to people if the government constitutes the next election commission through a search committee. “Our position is clear that we won’t allow any more games in the name of election. The government must step down, handing over power to a neutral administration for holding a meaningful election,” he said. The BNP secretary general also called upon the people of all walks of life to unite to bring a change in the current situation of the country.