A alarming surge in the monthly average of minority homicides has been reported in Bangladesh during the first six months of this year, according to data released by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council.
From January to June 2026, a total of 44 individuals from minority communities were killed—translating to a monthly average of 7.33. This marks a nearly 33 percent spike compared to 2025, which saw 66 homicides over the entire year at a monthly average of 5.5.
The findings were presented during a press conference held at the National Press Club in Dhaka. Manindra Kumar Nath, acting general secretary of the Unity Council, delivered the written statement detailing the organization’s latest security audit.
The report also highlighted a worrisome rise in property-related crimes. Incidents involving land grabbing or attempted land seizures averaged 2.5 per month (15 total cases) in the first half of 2026, up by roughly 43 percent from the 2025 monthly average of 1.75.
However, certain metrics reflected a decline in frequency over the same period:
Gender-Based Violence: Five incidents of sexual assault and abuse were documented (monthly average 0.83), reflecting a significant 64 percent drop from the 2025 monthly average of 2.33.
Attacks on Places of Worship: Fifteen instances of vandalism, desecration, or looting targeting temples and shrines were recorded (monthly average 2.5), down from a monthly average of 7.92 in the previous year.
Assaults on Homes and Businesses: Forty-seven attacks on private residences and commercial establishments were noted (monthly average 7.83), showing a slight reduction from last year’s monthly average of 8.5.
Beyond these figures, the briefing drew attention to dozen more unreported or ongoing grievances, including abductions, extortion, workplace discrimination, and forced displacement.
Addressing the media, leaders of the council emphasized that lower numbers in select categories have not translated into a genuine sense of safety on the ground. A pervasive atmosphere of insecurity remains, exacerbated by a persistent lack of justice for victims and minimal accountability for perpetrators. The organization urgently appealed to the government to implement robust, proactive measures to safeguard the lives, properties, and religious sites of minority citizens.
Key organizational figures present at the briefing included Unity Council Presidium Members Nirmal Rosario, Kajal Debnath, Ranjan Karmakar, and Sunanda Priyo Bhikkhu.
