Is Violence Against Minorities Justified for Political Reasons?

Advocate Shahanur Islam 

On March 17, in an interview broadcast on Indian TV channel NDTV, the head of U.S. National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, expressed deep concern about the overall situation in Bangladesh, particularly regarding the persecution of minorities. She explicitly mentioned that the Trump administration was extremely worried about the human rights situation of minorities in Bangladesh. 

However, soon after her statement, the office of the Chief Adviser of the interim government issued a press release denying these concerns. The statement claimed that religious minorities in Bangladesh were not facing any persecution and that a harmonious environment prevailed in the country. However, the reality paints a completely different picture. 

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Continuous Attacks on Minorities in Bangladesh and Demands Immediate International Intervention

(বাংলায় বিবৃতিটি পড়তে, অনুগ্রহপূর্বক ইংরেজি ভার্ষণের শেষে দেখুন)

Paris, France | March 18, 2025: France-based human rights watchdog JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the ongoing violence and systematic persecution of religious minorities and indigenous communities in Bangladesh during the tenure of the current interim government led by former Nobel Laureate for Peace, Professor Muhammad Yunus. The recent surge in murders, rapes, religious persecution, and the destruction of homes and businesses exposes a severe human rights crisis and clear violations of fundamental rights, demanding urgent action from the international community.

Escalating Religious Violence Under Yunus's Rule: Attacks on Shrines and the Government’s Mysterious Silence

Advocate Shahanur Islam

On the night of March 16, 2025, a brutal attack took place at the Ismail Shah shrine in Amtali, Barguna, during the annual Urs celebration, leaving at least 20 people injured. Eyewitnesses report that local leaders of the Islamic Movement of Bangladesh led a group of over a hundred individuals who demanded the cessation of shrine worship and musical performances. When their demands were refused, violence erupted. The attackers set fire to the shrine’s tents and meeting halls, looted donation boxes, and viciously assaulted Sufi followers. This is not an isolated incident but part of an ongoing pattern of religious violence across the country.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Abduction and Rape of Two Sexual Minority Individuals in Rangpur and Narayanganj

Paris, France | March 16, 2025: The France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns the recent brutal acts of abduction and rape committed against two sexual minority individuals in Rangpur and Narayanganj, Bangladesh, on March 3 and March 8, 2025, respectively. The abduction, rape, and blackmail of a young man in Rangpur, along with the rape of another in Narayanganj, are appalling violations of human rights and stark reminders of the systemic discrimination and violence faced by LGBTQI+ individuals in Bangladesh.

JMBF asserts that these horrific acts highlight the urgent need for stronger legal protections, immediate judicial action, and societal change to ensure justice and safety for sexual minorities in Bangladesh. The perpetrators of such heinous crimes must be held fully accountable, and law enforcement agencies must take swift and uncompromising action to prevent further victimization.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Heinous Murder of Transgender Activist Shila in Rangamati: Calls for Immediate Justice and Legal Reforms

(বাংলায় বিবৃতিটি পড়তে, অনুগ্রহপূর্বক ইংরেজি ভার্ষণের শেষে দেখুন) Paris, France | February 06, 2025: France-based hulan rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is deeply concerned and outraged by the barbaric and targeted murder of transgender activist Shila, who was brutally killed in her home in Betbunia, Rangamati district, on February 3, 2025. Shila was a courageous advocate for transgender rights, a champion of social justice, and a beacon of hope for marginalized transgender communities in Bangladesh. Her horrific murder—marked by extreme violence and a clear intent to silence her voice—is a gross violation of human rights and demands immediate and uncompromising action.

JMBF unequivocally condemns this cowardly and premeditated act of terror, which not only took the life of a fearless activist but also sent a chilling message to the entire transgender and LGBT+ community. This crime underscores the deep-rooted discrimination, systemic violence, and impunity that sexual minorities continue to face in Bangladesh due to social stigma, legal barriers, and state negligence.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns Discriminatory Actions Against Homosexual Assistant Professor by Islamic University, Kushtia

Paris, France; January 29, 2025: The France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh Foundation (JMBF), expresses its deep concern and condemnation over the decision by Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia to place Assistant Professor Hafizul Islam on mandatory leave for one year and cancel his annual increment, following allegations of homosexuality on January 26, 2025. These punitive measures represent a gross violation of human rights, freedom of expression, and dignity.

JMBF asserts that this action, stemming from allegations alone and without transparent due process, not only tarnishes the reputation of a faculty member but also sets a dangerous precedent for perpetuating discrimination and stigmatization of individuals based on their sexual orientation. Such practices go against Bangladesh’s constitutional commitment to equality and justice for all citizens and stand in direct conflict with global human rights standards.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns and Protests the Recent Unjust Detention of Two Lesbian Women at Islamic University, Kushtia, on Allegations of Homosexuality

Paris, France; January 23, 2025: France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), is deeply alarmed and outraged by the recent detention of two lesbian women at Khaleda Zia Hall of Islamic University (IU). Among the detained women, one student was forcefully expelled from the university residence hall, while another woman was handed over to the police solely because of their sexual orientation on January 21, 2025.

JMBF asserts that the actions taken by the hall authorities—including the unjust detention of these two women, the expulsion of a lesbian residential student based on allegations of homosexuality, and the handing over of an outsider to police custody—constitute a gross violation of human rights, blatant discrimination, and a disregard for the principles of justice and human dignity.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Vehemently Condemns Violent Attacks on Indigenous Student Protesters and Police Repression in Dhaka

Paris, France; January 19, 2025 — JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its profound concern and unequivocal condemnation of the recent violent attacks on Indigenous students and their supporters during a peaceful gathering on January 15, 2025, in front of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) office in Motijheel, Dhaka. The attack carried out in response to their protest against the removal of graffiti featuring the word "Indigenous" from school textbooks, is a clear violation of human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

JMBF also strongly condemns the subsequent police crackdown on a peaceful rally organized by the "Discontented Indigenous Students" on January 16, 2025, to besiege the Secretariat in Dhaka. These actions represent egregious violations of human rights, freedom of assembly, and the right to peaceful protest, all of which are protected under both national and international law.

Statement: JMBF Expresses Grave Concern Over Harassment and Abuse of Minority Communities in Chittagong

Paris, France; December 30, 2024:  France-based human rights organisation JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern over the widespread harassment, extortion, and abuse of power targeting vulnerable Hindu religious and Dalit minority communities in Chittagong. These actions, perpetrated by law enforcement under the guise of investigating the tragic murder of lawyer Saiful Islam (Alif) at the Chittagong court premises, reveal a lack of impartiality and fairness in the investigative process.  

JMBF strongly urges the government to ensure the safety, dignity, and protection of marginalized groups, including the Harijan community. The incidents of vandalism, harassment, and communal violence following the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam must be thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators must be held accountable without delay.

Would Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu Have Been Arrested If He Had Remained Silent?

Advocate Shahanur Islam & Mosa. Jannatul Ferdaus

The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, a revered Hindu monk and vocal minority rights advocate in Bangladesh, has sparked intense debates on justice, dissent, and minority rights. Charged with sedition and allegedly desecrating the national flag during a protest against violence targeting Hindus, Prabhu’s detention raises a critical question: Would he have faced the same fate had he remained silent about the suffering of the Hindu minority?

STATEMENT: JMBF is Deeply Concerned and Condemns the Killing of Lawyer Saiful Islam and Police Brutality During Protests in Chittagong

Paris, France; November 28, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) unequivocally expresses its deep concern and condemnation of the brutal killing of lawyer Saiful Islam, a 32-year-old member of the Chattogram District Bar Association and Assistant Public Prosecutor at the Chattogram Court, during the violent clashes on November 26, 2024. This heinous crime, committed amid a chaotic confrontation between law enforcement and protesters supporting Hindu religious leader and Spokesperson of the United Sanatoni Jagoran Alliance, Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, is a grave attack on justice and the legal community.

JMBF also strongly denounces police brutality during the protests, where law enforcement agencies, including the police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), resorted to batons and sound grenades, injuring at least 10 people. The indiscriminate violence against protesters is a clear violation of their fundamental rights to peaceful assembly and expression. Such actions only exacerbate tensions and undermine the rule of law.

STATEMENT: JMBF Deeply Concerned and Condemns the Arrest and Detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das: Urges Immediate Unconditional Release

Paris, France; November 26, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization, expresses its profound outrage and strongest condemnation of the unjust arrest and detention of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a revered Hindu priest and leading advocate for minority rights in Bangladesh.

His abrupt apprehension on November 25, 2024, at Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport in Dhaka and subsequent transfer to Chattogram under fabricated charges of sedition, represent yet another dark chapter in the systematic suppression of minority voices and democratic freedoms in Bangladesh under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Suspension of High School Teacher on Grounds of Sexual Orientation

Paris, France; November 02, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns and protests the recent suspension of Haroon Or Rashid Milan, principal of Kurigram Collectorate School and College, on August 25, 2024, in Kurugram. This decision represents a troubling trend toward targeting individuals based on unproven accusations related to their sexual orientation rather than any substantiated evidence of misconduct.

STATEMENT: JMBF Vehemently Condemns Religious Disruption at JM Sen Hall Puja Mandap, Chittagong

Paris, France; October 11, 2024 – JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) vehemently condemns the shocking and deliberate disruption of religious harmony at the JM Sen Hall Puja Mandap in Chittagong on October 10, 2024. Six members of the Chittagong Cultural Academy, a group linked to the Islamic fundamentalist political party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, infiltrated the celebration of Durga Puja—a major Hindu religious event—under false pretenses. After deceptively obtaining permission to perform patriotic songs, they audaciously staged an Islamic musical performance in the middle of a dance show during the Hindu religious program.

STATEMENT:JMBF Expresses Deep Concern Over Escalating Violence Against LGBTQI+ Members in Bangladesh

Paris, France; September 16, 2024: Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its profound concern and condemnation regarding the recent wave of violence, harassment, and looting targeting LGBTQI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex) members across various parts of Bangladesh. Following the fall of the Awami League government and under the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Islamist fundamentalist groups have intensified their violent and inhumane acts against sexual minorities, violating their fundamental human rights.

STATEMENT: JMBF Gravely Concerned Over Attacks on Sufi Shrines; Urges Upholding Religious Freedom in Bangladesh

Paris, France; September 10, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is profoundly concerned about the recent surge of attacks on Sufi shrines and religious sites across Bangladesh, which have intensified following the resignation of the former Awami League government on August 5, 2024. These acts of violence and vandalism not only erode religious harmony but also jeopardize the country’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Forced Resignation of Minority Hindu Teachers in Bangladesh

Paris, France: September 02, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) vehemently condemns and protests the forced resignation of at least 49 religious minority Hindu teachers in Bangladesh due to their religious affiliation as of September 30, 2024, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Bangladesh Awami League Government.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France Joins Protest in Paris Against Minority Repression in Bangladesh

Members of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) gathered at Place de la République today on August 12, 2024 to protest against the ongoing repression of minority communities in Bangladesh. The demonstration was part of a broader international effort to draw attention to the increasing violence and discrimination faced by religious minorities in Bangladesh.

Advocate Shanur Islam, the founder and President of JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France, attended the protest, passionately advocating for the safety and rights of minority communities. He called on the Bangladeshi government to take immediate action to protect all minority groups and to impose exemplary punishments on those responsible for the atrocities.

STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns Recent Attacks on Religious Minorities in Bangladesh and Calls for Immediate International Action

Paris, France; August 8, 2024— JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) strongly condemns and protests against the recent wave of violent attacks against religious minorities across Bangladesh, as reported in multiple sources. These incidents, which have targeted homes, places of worship, and businesses belonging to Hindu, Ahmadiyya, and other minority communities, represent a grave breach of human rights and a serious threat to the principles of tolerance and coexistence.

We express our deepest concern over the reports of widespread vandalism, killing, arson, looting, and physical assault. The attacks, which have led to significant property damage, personal injuries, and the displacement of innocent individuals, must be met with the strongest possible response from national and international authorities.

STATEMENT: JMBF Condemns Cancellation of Transgender Quota at Dhaka University and Attacks on Transgender Candidates in Rangpur

Paris, France; December 26, 2023: France-based human rights organization JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses grave concern and protests over the announcement of the cancellation of the transgender quota set by Dhaka University authorities in undergraduate education, in response to the movement by reactionary Muslim students. JMBF also condemns the attack on Anwara Islam Rani, a transgender independent candidate in the Rangpur-3 constituency during the 12th national election.

JMBF believes that despite being part of the backward and neglected groups in society, the cancellation of the transgender quota by Dhaka University authorities, influenced by the reactionary Muslim students' movement, and the incident of the attack on Anwara Islam Rani, an independent candidate in Rangpur-3 constituency during the 12th National Assembly elections by the leaders and activists of the Jatiya Party, a self-proclaimed opposition party in the Jatiya Sangsad, is a clear violation of Bangladesh's supreme law, the Constitution, and the universal human rights declared by the United Nations.