History of Hindu persecution in Bangladesh

The history of Hindu persecution in Bangladesh is complex and multifaceted, involving both historical and contemporary issues. Historically, Hindus in Bangladesh have faced significant persecution, particularly during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, where they were targeted for their perceived support of the secession from Pakistan. This led to widespread violence, including executions, rapes, and other human rights abuses. The Hindu population in Bangladesh has significantly declined from 22% in 1951 to around 8.5% in 2011, largely due to migration and ongoing persecution Minority Rights Group. More recently, there have been reports of violence against Hindus, often linked to political events such as national elections. For instance, after the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there were claims of widespread attacks on Hindus, but investigations revealed that many of these reports were exaggerated or fabricated, often spread by social media accounts from India The Business Standard. Additionally, the Hindu American Foundation reports that 11.3 million Hindus have fled Bangladesh due to religious persecution between 1964 and 2013, with ongoing issues of land grabbing and violence Harvard International Review. While there are genuine instances of persecution, it is crucial to differentiate between verified incidents and those that are politically or communally motivated fabrications.