Bangladesh: Rights Body Exposes 522 Communal Attacks, 66 Deaths in 2025, Rebukes Yunus Govt

• A minority rights body reported 522 communal attacks and 66 deaths in Bangladesh during 2025, including 61 murders, contradicting the Yunus-led interim government's claim of only 71 communal incidents.
• The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council highlighted 95 attacks on places of worship, 102 on minority homes/businesses, and 28 cases of violence against women, including rape.
• The data, compiled from media reports, was presented ahead of Bangladesh's national elections scheduled for February 12, 2026, raising concerns about minority safety.
• The Council criticized the Yunus government for downplaying the violence and misclassifying incidents, questioning why high-profile murders were not recognized as communal.
• Demands include ensuring free voting for minorities, declaring minority-dominated areas as high-risk zones, deploying security forces, and banning religious rhetoric in election campaigns.

Why It Matters: A rights body revealed widespread communal violence in Bangladesh in 2025, contradicting government claims and raising pre-election safety concerns for minorities.