Clashes erupt in Chittagong as Bangladesh forces crack down on Hindus over social media post

Tensions escalated in Bangladesh’s port city of Chittagong after a series of violent clashes broke out between the Hindu and Muslim communities, prompted by an inflammatory social media post. The unrest has drawn a significant response from security forces, including the Bangladesh Army, leading to widespread accusations of biased enforcement and the targeting of Hindu residents.

The conflict began on November 5 in the Hazari Gali area when Osman Ali, a member of the radical Islamic group Jamaat-e-Islami, posted derogatory remarks about the Hindu religion and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on his social media profile. The inflammatory nature of the post quickly sparked outrage within the local Hindu community. In protest, several Hindu residents gathered outside Ali’s shop, demanding accountability and expressing their anger at the offensive remarks.

What followed was a violent clash between the two groups, which led to the deployment of heavy security, including the Bangladesh Army, to restore order. Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen shared a distressing video of the scene on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where she described the chaos: "Hazari Lane, Chittagong today. Hindus vs Military." The footage showed security forces aggressively confronting civilians, with officers seen chasing protesters, hitting them with batons, and firing blank rounds into the air in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

According to local media reports from Prothom Alo, the situation deteriorated rapidly, with protests escalating to violent confrontations. The police faced significant resistance from protesters, who reportedly threw bricks and acid at the officers. Nine police officers were injured, including one who suffered acid burns. The chaos in Hazari Gali was so intense that several CCTV cameras were reportedly dismantled by the authorities in a bid to suppress footage of the crackdown.

As of November 7, authorities have filed criminal charges against 582 individuals, and 49 people have been arrested, according to the Dhaka Tribune. Hindu community leaders, however, have raised alarm over the disproportionate use of force against Hindus, claiming that the security forces carried out indiscriminate attacks, despite the fact that members from both communities were involved in the violence.

Hazari Gali, a historically Hindu-majority business district, remains under heavy surveillance, with reports indicating that many local residents are unable to leave their homes due to the ongoing operations. In addition, there have been reports of door-to-door searches being conducted by the police, further heightening fears of escalating state repression.

This violence comes amid ongoing concerns over the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, who make up about 8% of the population. The Hindu community, long a support base for the Awami League party of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has faced increasing vulnerability in the wake of political instability. 

The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, has strongly condemned the attacks, pledging to collaborate with community leaders to ensure the protection and safety of Hindus in the region. However, the situation in Chittagong remains volatile, with many fearing that this incident may be part of a broader pattern of violence against minority groups in the country.