As Bangladesh prepares for its first parliamentary election since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, a dark shadow has fallen over the country's minority communities. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reports a terrifying spike in communal violence, with at least 51 incidents recorded in December alone, aimed at intimidating voters into silence.

The violence is not random; it is systematic. In the last week, Hindu temples have been vandalized, businesses torched, and families held hostage in their own homes. The murder of Dipu Chandra Das, a 27-year-old killed in Mymensingh after a false blasphemy accusation, has become a grim symbol of the lawlessness gripping the rural districts.

The "Political Marker"

Minorities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, have historically been viewed as a vote bank for the secular Awami League. With the party now in disarray and Islamist factions like Jamaat-e-Islami gaining influence, minorities are being targeted as "political enemies."

• Systematic Intimidation: "They tell us: if you vote, you die," says a resident of Dumritala village, where arsonists destroyed several Hindu homes. The message is clear: this is a majoritarian election, and minorities are not welcome.
• State Complicity? Rights groups accuse the interim government and the police of turning a blind eye. In many cases, attackers operate with impunity, confident that the "transitional justice" system will not touch them. The "Norm Erosion" is palpable—laws exist on paper, but on the street, might makes right.
• India's Concern: The violence has sparked diplomatic friction with neighboring India. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called the situation "deeply worrying," warning of a potential refugee crisis if the pogroms continue.

A Test of Democracy

The February 2026 election was supposed to be a reset for Bangladesh’s democracy. Instead, it is turning into a nightmare for its most vulnerable citizens. If the ballot box cannot protect the minorities, the international community fears that Bangladesh could slide into a cycle of religious ethno-nationalism from which it may never recover.