What began as protests against a government job quota system in Bangladesh has escalated into widespread looting and rioting, with the Hindu minority community coming under attack. Following the resignation and departure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, an interim government has yet to be formed. Social media is flooded with videos of temples being set ablaze and the homes and businesses of Hindus being attacked.

Despite the chaos, some Muslim clerics have been seen guarding a Hindu temple in Cumilla, offering a glimmer of hope.

According to a report by Bangladesh's Daily Star, mobs attacked and looted Hindu houses and businesses in at least 27 districts on Monday. In Meherpur, located in the Khulna division, an ISKCON temple and a Kali temple were vandalized and set on fire. ISKCON spokesperson Yudhistir Govinda Das tweeted about the destruction of the deities and the narrow escape of three devotees.

The violence has also claimed lives. Haradhan Roy, a Hindu councillor from Rangpur City Corporation, was killed on Sunday, one of the deadliest days since the protests began. Another councillor, Kajal Roy, was reportedly lynched. Over 100 people died on Sunday as clashes between protesters and police intensified, with demonstrators demanding Hasina’s resignation.

The lynching of Haradhan Roy was highlighted by Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Economic Advisory Council of the Prime Minister, who expressed his distress on social media.

Videos circulating on social media show a girl pleading for help in Pirojpur district and a temple being burned in Navgraha Bari, Chittagong. The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has documented 54 attacks on Hindu temples, houses, and establishments, including the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre.

This wave of violence is the most severe attack on Hindus in Bangladesh since 2021, when protests erupted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, resulting in numerous Hindu temples being attacked.

Currently, Hindus make up about 8% of Bangladesh's population, or approximately 13.1 million people. In 1951, Hindus constituted 22% of the population. According to the Hindu American Foundation, over 11 million Hindus fled Bangladesh due to religious persecution between 1964 and 2013.

Monindra Kumar Nath, senior joint general secretary of Oikya Parishad, expressed deep concern over the situation, stating that Hindus are living in fear of more attacks. "They are crying, saying they are being beaten up, and their houses and businesses are being looted. What is our fault? Is it our fault that we are citizens of the country?" Nath told the Daily Star.

With the political shift, there is a potential rise of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, raising concerns about an influx of Hindu refugees into India. Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari has warned the Mamata Banerjee-led government to prepare for potentially one crore Hindu refugees from Bangladesh.

BJP leader Sunil Deodhar emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of Hindus in Bangladesh, stressing that the widespread violence must be addressed immediately.