Bangladesh: Cultural Warmth Meets Rising Anti-Hindu Violence

• Author, a 'bangal' from India, experiences cultural warmth in Bangladesh, contrasting with 'ghoti' perceptions in West Bengal.
• Despite historical harmony, political divisions fuel distrust and violence against Hindus, exemplified by Dipu Das's lynching and six recent killings.
• Shared Bengali language and heritage often bridge divides, fostering connection and warmth, especially when ancestral ties to Faridpur are revealed.
• A shopkeeper, Shajid, highlights that common people desire harmony, blaming politicians like Jamaat for creating animosity for electoral gains.
• While cultural ties (food, music, mishti doi) persist, the increasing violence against Bengali Hindus in rural Bangladesh mars the sense of 'homecoming'.

Why It Matters: Bangladesh offers cultural warmth but faces growing political division and violence against Bengali Hindus.