The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported that 45 religious minorities were killed in sectarian violence across the country between July 2023 and June 2024.
The report was presented during a press conference held at the National Press Club on Monday.
General secretary of the council Rana Dasgupta read out a written statement at the conference, highlighting that there were a total of 1,045 incidents of attacks and rights violations against religious minorities in the past year.
He detailed the various forms of repression faced by religious minorities, which included attacks on homes and businesses, land grabbing, physical assaults, rapes, arson on homes and businesses.
There were 10 cases of attempted murders, 479 cases of physical repressions and extortions, 45 cases of land and household grabs or attempts to grab and attacks, ransacking, and arson on 102 homes and businesses during the period, Rana informed.
At least, 11 minority families were forced to leave country over the past year, he added.
Rana criticised the Awami League government for not fulfilling its election pledge to stop attacks on minorities. He noted that at least 32 sectarian attacks occurred before and after the last general elections held on January 7, and at least five rights violations occurred during local elections.
He urged the government to take immediate action to implement its pledges from the 2018 general elections, which included enacting a minority safety law, abolishing discrimination, and forming a Jatiya Minority Commission.
Rana called on the government to ensure the safety and security of religious minority communities in the country.
The press conference was also attended by BHBCUC presidents Neem Chandra Bhowmik, Nirmal Rozario, and central leaders Kazal Debnath, Bashudeb Dhar, Subrata Chowdhury, and Nikhil Mankin.
