January 2026 | Dhaka
Bangladesh is facing a profound human-rights crisis after 116 minority citizens were killed in just seven months, from June 6 through January 5, 2026, according to a comprehensive investigation released by the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM).
The killings occurred across all 8 administrative divisions of the country and in 45 districts, revealing a nationwide pattern of lethal violence rather than isolated criminal acts.
The affected divisions include Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barishal, Sylhet, Rangpur, and Mymensingh, with killings documented in districts such as Chattogram, Dhaka, Bogura, Satkhira, Rangpur, Bagerhat, Bandarban, Barishal, Brahmanbaria, Cumilla, Feni, Gazipur, Gopalganj, Habiganj, Jhenaidah, Khagrachari, Khulna, Kishoreganj, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Madaripur, Magura, Manikganj, Meherpur, Moulvibazar, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Naogaon, Narail, Narsingdi, Natore, Netrokona, Noakhali, Pabna, Panchagarh, Pirojpur, Rajbari, Sherpur, Sunamganj, Tangail, among others.
“This is not random violence. This is a sustained collapse of minority protection across Bangladesh,” HRCBM said.
A Pattern of Lethal Targeting
The victims — Hindus, indigenous Buddhists, Christians, and other minority citizens — were killed in villages, marketplaces, farmlands, homes, riversides, and city streets.
They included farmers, shopkeepers, laborers, teachers, women, elders, and young adults, ranging in age from 19 to 90.
Selected Incidents Illustrating the Crisis
Rauzan — Concealed Killing of Minority Youth (June 2025)
Chattogram (Rauzan) — June 25, 2025: The body of Rupen Nath (37), a Hindu youth, was found on the banks of the Karnaphuli River with his head buried in sand and body covered with leaves, and a rope lying nearby — circumstances that eyewitnesses say indicate a possible premeditated killing. The method of concealment and the location of the body have intensified fears among minority families and raised urgent concerns about targeted violence and security failures in the area.
Gopalganj — Political Violence & Minority Killing
In Gopalganj district, large-scale violence erupted during and after a National Citizen Party (NCP) rally Wednesday, 16 July 2025. According to multiple reports and eyewitness accounts:
Dipta Saha, a Hindu youth, was shot dead while walking to his shop after lunch.
Ramzan Kazi, a civilian with no criminal involvement, was also killed.
At least two additional civilians were fatally shot.
Over 50 people were injured, many seriously.
Families and local witnesses allege that army and police units opened fire on unarmed civilians, including minority supporters and bystanders.
As the town descended into chaos, a curfew was imposed from 8:00 PM on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, until 6:00 PM on Thursday, 17 July 2025.
Local and international human-rights observers described the incident as a severe violation of democratic freedoms, including the right to life, peaceful assembly, and personal security. Minority communities in the region report a dramatic increase in fear and insecurity following the killings.
Chakaria — Custodial Death of Minority Youth (22 August 2025)
In the early hours of 22 August 2025, Durjoy Chowdhury (27), a computer operator and office assistant at Chakaria Government High School, was found hanging inside the police custody cell of Chakaria Police Station in Cox’s Bazar. Family members report that Durjoy, a member of the Hindu minority community, had been subjected to intense pressure and confinement for days before being handed over to police on disputed allegations. His death in detention has triggered serious concerns over custodial safety, minority targeting, and state accountability, with human-rights groups calling for an independent and transparent investigation.
Khagrachhari — Coordinated Assault on Indigenous Communities (Sept 28, 2025)
HRCBM has also reported a major episode of violence against indigenous communities in Khagrachhari, describing a coordinated assault in which homes were burned and multiple indigenous people were killed. HRCBM documented at least five confirmed deaths, with additional persons reported missing at the time of publication, and widespread destruction that forced families into fear-driven displacement.
Please read ful report at https://www.hrcbm.org/wp-new/indigenous-peoples-under-attack-in-khagrachari-homes-burned-lives-lost-in-coordinated-assaults/
Mymensingh — Lynching of Dipu Chandra Das Over False Blasphemy Allegations
In December 2025, another tragic incident highlighted how mob violence intertwined with communal prejudice can lead to fatal outcomes for innocent minority citizens.
Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu resident of Dhubaliya Para, Shialkata Union, Bhaluka Upazila, Mymensingh, was brutally lynched and his body set on fire after a mob falsely accused him of blasphemy. Local police recovered his charred body tied to a tree on 19 December 2025.
According to police reports, a group of individuals made derogatory claims against religious sentiments and incited a crowd that violently attacked Dipu Chandra. He was beaten, killed, and then burned — a pattern consistent with mob lynching and communal execution tactics.
This case has drawn significant attention from human-rights observers as a chilling example of how false blasphemy charges can become a license to kill with no immediate accountability. It reflects a broader trend of communal violence and the erasure of minority safety in Bangladesh.
For a detailed human-rights analysis of this pattern and the broader implications of blasphemy-related mob violence in Bangladesh, see the HRCBM report:
Blasphemy as a License to Kill: Mob Lynching and Burning as Communal Execution and the Erasure of Minorities in Bangladesh
Institutional Failure and Impunity
Across the 116 documented killings:
Police frequently delayed registering cases
Investigations stalled or quietly closed
Families reported pressure not to pursue justice
Many perpetrators remain unidentified or unprosecuted
“Impunity has become the operating system of violence. When murder carries no consequence, killing becomes routine,” HRCBM concluded.
Human Cost Beyond the Numbers
Behind the statistic of 116 deaths are shattered families, widows, orphaned children, destroyed livelihoods, and minority communities now living under persistent fear.
Entire neighborhoods have altered daily routines, withdrawn children from school, and sold property in efforts to flee areas they no longer believe are safe.
Urgent Call for International Action
HRCBM urges:
Independent international investigations
UN monitoring missions in high-risk districts
Judicial review of unresolved murder cases
Special protection mechanisms for minority communities
Full transparency in police and prosecutorial actions
“Without immediate intervention, this death toll will continue to rise,” HRCBM warned.
About the Report
This seven-month investigation is based on verified media reporting, field documentation, victim testimony, medical records, and police filings. Full district tables and case documentation are available for journalists, governments, and international institutions upon request.
