Chittagong, Bangladesh — November 5, 2024: The Bangladesh joint forces of the Army and Police unleashed a reign of terror in Hazari Lane, Chittagong, following a peaceful protest by local residents against a smear campaign targeting ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). Eyewitnesses report that the joint forces, led by Lt. Colonel Fadouse Ahmed, stormed the neighborhood without warning, mercilessly attacking unarmed civilians, including women and children.
The brutal assault appears to be a preplanned operation, as there are allegations that the government, already disturbed by the rising protests from the minority communities, used this opportunity to silence dissent. The ongoing demonstrations by the Hindu and other minority groups have highlighted the escalating violence and persecution against minorities throughout Bangladesh, making the government’s response in Hazari Lane seem like a deliberate attempt to crush the movement and intimidate the minority population.
This unprovoked attack has raised serious concerns about state-sponsored violence and the systemic targeting of religious minorities in Bangladesh, demanding immediate international scrutiny and intervention.
Unfolding of the Incident
The unrest began following a controversial social media post made by Osman Ali, a local businessman, which was perceived as offensive by the Hindu community, particularly devotees of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). The post sparked outrage, leading to a spontaneous, peaceful protest by local residents outside Osman Ali’s shop, demanding an apology.
Amid growing pressure, Osman Ali issued a written apology, acknowledging his involvement in the smear campaign and expressing regret for his actions. The apology seemed to resolve the immediate conflict, and the protest was beginning to wind down. However, shortly after the apology was made public arrived in the area and launched an unexpected and violent crackdown on the residents of Hazari Lane.
Assault on Hazari Lane: A Reign of Terror Unleashed
Upon arrival, the joint forces methodically dismantled streetlights, broke CCTV cameras, and shattered hallway lights in residential buildings, creating an environment of darkness and fear. This premeditated move aimed to disable surveillance and obscure the actions of the attackers. Eyewitnesses report that soldiers and police officers stormed the neighborhood, using brute force against unarmed civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. Many were severely beaten with batons and rifle butts, leaving several residents with broken limbs and other serious injuries.
In addition to the severe beatings, there are credible allegations of sexual violence committed by members of the joint forces. Several women have come forward, reporting harrowing accounts of physical and sexual assault during the raid, adding a deeply traumatic dimension to the incident.
A Preplanned Attack with Unusual Legal Maneuvers
The coordinated nature of the operation and the destruction of surveillance infrastructure suggest that the attack was preplanned. Human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Congress for Bangladesh Minorities (HRCBM), argue that the government, alarmed by growing protests from minority communities, used this incident as a pretext to suppress dissent and silence opposition.
In a highly unusual move to legitimize their actions, the joint forces arranged a makeshift court session at 1 AM, booking nearly 200 individuals—mostly young Hindu men—on fabricated charges. This unprecedented late-night legal proceeding has raised serious questions about the transparency and legality of the process. Community leaders and activists believe that the joint forces orchestrated the court session to conceal their own crimes and provide a veneer of legality to their brutal crackdown.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage contradict the narrative presented by Lt. Colonel Ahmed, who claimed that the joint forces were attacked by residents with acid, stones, and broken glass bottles, resulting in injuries to several officers. In reality, the residents were unarmed, and the attack was initiated by the joint forces. This fabricated allegation mirrors tactics previously used by the military and police against political opponents, where false charges were used to justify arrests and further abuses.
There are additional reports that many of those detained during the raid were subsequently taken into remand, where the risk of further torture and abuse is high. The use of such tactics—false allegations, arbitrary detentions, and secretive legal proceedings—highlights a pattern of systemic abuse designed to intimidate and silence dissenting voices, particularly from marginalized communities.
HRCBM’s Attempt to Assist and Denial of Access
The morning after the attack, HRCBM dispatched its human rights observers to Hazari Lane in an attempt to assess the situation and provide humanitarian assistance to the affected residents. However, the area was cordoned off by joint forces, who denied HRCBM’s observers entry, preventing them from reaching the battered community.
Following the denial of access, HRCBM urgently wrote to multiple organizations, including the local UN office, seeking support and intervention. Despite these appeals, no organization has stepped forward to provide humanitarian assistance or relief to the traumatized Hindu residents of Hazari Lane. The absence of aid and the lack of response from international and local bodies have left the community feeling abandoned in their time of greatest need.
The Aftermath: Trauma, Displacement, and Fear of Reprisals
The aftermath of the assault has left the residents of Hazari Lane traumatized and fearful for their safety. Many families have been displaced, with some seeking refuge in nearby areas, fearing further reprisals from the authorities. Human rights groups have documented multiple instances of arbitrary detention and harassment in the days following the incident. The heavy military presence has created an atmosphere of intimidation, preventing residents from safely returning to their homes or speaking out about the brutality they experienced.
Calls for Justice and International Intervention
The violent crackdown in Hazari Lane has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights organizations both domestically and internationally. HRCBM has issued statements denouncing the attack as a gross violation of human rights. The organization called for an independent investigation into the actions of the joint forces and demanded the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained.
“This was a clear act of state-sponsored violence against a religious minority community,” said Dhiman Chowdhury, President of HRCBM. “The denial of access to our observers and the absence of humanitarian assistance from local and international bodies have only compounded the suffering of the victims. The international community must intervene urgently to hold the perpetrators accountable and provide relief to the affected families.”
