The fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime has left Bangladesh’s governance fragile, paving the way for radical Islamist elements to intensify assaults on vulnerable minorities, particularly Christians and Hindus. A compelling new report sheds light on the plight of Catholic families in rural areas, who are voicing urgent demands for safety as attacks proliferate.
On New Year’s Day, five families linked to St. Francis Xavier Church in Tetulia village, Satkhira district, formed a human chain to protest relentless harassment. Crux reports that these families have been targeted at least four times in the last year by local Muslim groups. The most recent assault struck immediately post-Christmas.
Speaking out, Sabuj Golder described the ordeal: ‘Fifty attackers wielding local arms came at us. We are just five families in this community.’ He appealed passionately: ‘As citizens of this country, why are we denied justice? We need government protection for a secure life.’
Rooted in a protracted land dispute, the violence has disrupted daily life. A Christian educator from a nearby village noted to Crux that Christmas saw heightened aggression, but local politicians are being engaged to mediate. Shockingly, the attackers even barred the families’ children from school on January 1, despite book distributions.
Police official Jahangir Hossain acknowledged the events, assuring local and administrative efforts to mediate. Broader concerns echo in a Union of Catholic Asian News report from December, which documented fear gripping Christian communities after attacks on Dhaka institutions.
Bangladesh’s Muslim-majority landscape amplifies these vulnerabilities. With the Yunus-led interim setup struggling for stability, the report warns of potential escalation unless decisive action shields minorities. Community leaders urge immediate safeguards to prevent a deeper rift in social fabric.
