Allegations of severe atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh have resurfaced amid growing political instability in the country. Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, reports of murders, assaults, and arson attacks on Hindu homes have been reported from multiple regions of Bangladesh.
Against this backdrop, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat delivered a strong message of resistance for Bangladeshi Hindus on Sunday while addressing an event in Worli, Mumbai. "If you decide to fight, all Hindus across the world will help," he said, while also raising concerns about infiltration into India.
The RSS organised the event, titled '100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons', at the Nehru Centre to mark its centenary. Speaking on the second day of the two-day programme, Bhagwat described the "extreme plight" of Hindus in Bangladesh but asserted that fleeing the country would not be a solution. "There are around 1.25 crore Hindus in Bangladesh. They must fight while staying there. Hindus across the world will then stand with them," he said.
Refugees, infiltration, and demographic concerns
Bangladeshi refugees have been coming to India since Partition, with numbers rising sharply during and after the 1971 war. Bhagwat said the situation has worsened due to alleged infiltration under the guise of refugees, including Rohingyas. This, he claimed, is leading to population growth and demographic changes in India.
Without naming any party, Bhagwat blamed previous Congress governments for the situation. "The country's demography is changing. Birth rates and illegal infiltration are the main reasons," he said. Supporting the BJP-led government, he added, "This government has started working on the issue. It will succeed."
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Attacks on Hindus after Hasina's ouster
The crisis in Bangladesh escalated after a quota reform movement began in July 2024, which later turned into widespread anti-government protests. The Sheikh Hasina government eventually collapsed. Since then, reports suggest that organised attacks on Hindus have intensified across the country.
Business owners, workers, and students have all been targeted. What began as sporadic street violence has reportedly turned into coordinated assaults on minority Hindu communities. Following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, who was known as a hardline anti-India student leader, allegations of open attacks against Hindus have continued. Fear and panic have driven many Hindus to leave the country.
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Official figures underline the trend. Bangladesh's population has doubled over the past fifty years, but the 2011 census showed Hindus had declined to just eight percent of the population. Human rights groups claim that around 1.10 crore Hindus left Bangladesh between 1964 and 2013, an average of nearly 2.3 lakh people every year.
Despite this, Bhagwat stressed that the solution lies in resistance from within. According to him, Hindus must stand their ground and fight to protect their existence.
