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 Recent Police Brutality Against Anti-Rape Protesters in Dhaka

Paris, France | 14 March 2025: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a France-based human rights organization, vehemently condemns the brutal police attack on peaceful student protesters demonstrating against violence against women in Dhaka on March 11, 2025. The violent suppression of their democratic right to protest and the subsequent criminalization of student protesters through fabricated charges under the Bangladesh Penal Code constitutes a blatant violation of fundamental human rights, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression.

JMBF asserts that, at a time when students are demanding justice and accountability, the Bangladeshi authorities have resorted to violent repression, further exposing the state's systemic failure to address violence against women. The police's disproportionate use of force against protesters and the arbitrary filing of criminal charges against student leaders are deeply concerning and an outright attack on democratic principles.

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Recent Attacks on Defense Lawyers in Jamalpur Solely for Performing Their Professional Duty

Paris, France – March 12, 2025: France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), strongly condemns the brutal attack on defense lawyers in Jamalpur, Bangladesh, on March 10, 2025, solely for performing their professional duty as legal representatives of the accused. This violent incident, which left three lawyers—Advocate Khalilur Rahman, Jamalpur Bar Association Vice President Advocate Abdul Awal, and Advocate Shahjahan Ali—seriously injured, is an alarming assault on the fundamental principles of justice, the independence of the legal profession, and the rule of law. Such actions not only violate the rights of the lawyers involved but also pose a direct threat to the fair trial rights of all individuals, undermining the legal system as a whole.