Most recent incidents involving minorities not communal: Police Headquarters

The Police Headquarters (PHQ) issued a statement today (15 July) asserting that recent incidents involving attacks on religious minorities stemmed primarily from personal, financial, or familial disputes rather than communal tensions.

The clarification came in response to claims made at a joint press conference organised by the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad and the Minority Oikya Murcha.

These groups had presented data alleging 27 minority community deaths between January and June this year, along with 2,442 reported incidents of violence against minorities over the past 11 months.

In its statement, the police headquarters said 22 murder cases and five unnatural death cases were filed in connection with the deaths during the period but the underlying causes included land disputes, financial transactions, robbery, terrorist attacks, and family conflicts.

Among them, three people committed suicide, 11 bodies were recovered and rest are still under investigation.

Besides, 48 suspects have been arrested as of yet, while 15 have surrendered, and 18 of them have given confessional statements, according to the statement.

Bangladesh Police clarified that no communal motive was found behind these killings.

Regarding the 20 cases of rape and sexual assault mentioned at the joint press conference by minority leaders, police noted that 16 cases were filed and 25 accused have been arrested.

No complaints were lodged in three cases while the allegations in two incidents in Tanore (Rajshahi) and Magura were found to be unsubstantiated.

The joint press conference also referred to 2,010 incidents of communal violence between 4 to 20 August 2024.

Police reviewed records from 56 districts and confirmed 1,457 of those incidents. Besides, 62 cases and 951 General Diaries (GDs) were filed in connection with these and 35 people were arrested.

Investigations revealed that of the 1,452 incidents (82.8%) that occurred on 5 August 2024, some 1,234 were identified as stemming from political disputes, said the statement while adding that 161 incidents could not be substantiated.

Out of 127 incidents involving puja mandaps and places of worship between 5 August 2024 to 2 January 2025, some 66 cases were filed and 64 individuals were arrested.

Concerning 60 complaints involving theft from temples, idol vandalism, arson, and communal land grabbing at temples and family shrines, police clarified that 14 cases and five GDs were filed over 20 theft incidents.

Eighteen cases were filed for 24 incidents of idol and temple vandalism and 15 were arrested.

No evidence of sabotage was found in four arson cases, and six land-related complaints were not proven to be land grabs.

Incidents like the eviction from railway land in Khilkhet and the vandalism at a cremation ground in Bogura were resolved through administrative intervention.

The Police Headquarters reiterated that law enforcement agencies are taking regular measures to ensure the safety and rights of minority communities and that every allegation is being investigated with due seriousness.