New Delhi: Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s deposed prime minister, has warned that religious and ethnic minorities are approaching Durga Puja with a “deep sense of insecurity”, alleging persistent attacks on their lives, property and places of worship since her government’s overthrow. Her message comes as authorities strengthen security around festival venues and minority organizations press for protection backed by impartial investigations and prosecutions.
In her Durga Puja message, Hasina alleged that minority communities had faced killings, idol vandalism, attacks on temples and homes, property seizures, extortion and violence against women since August 5, 2024. She said the resulting fear had overshadowed preparations for the Hindu community’s largest annual religious festival.
Hasina, who fled to India following the student-led uprising that ended her rule, presented the festival as an expression of Bengal’s shared cultural traditions. She urged Awami League members and supporters to stand alongside Hindus, protect communal harmony and resist provocation.
“You are not alone. This country is yours too,” she told the community, calling for equal dignity and security regardless of religious identity. She also appealed for conditions in which families could celebrate without fearing for their children or requiring temples to remain under guard.
Her statement also questioned the handling of cases involving minority victims and the continued detention of the Hindu religious leader, Chinmoy Prabhu. These were allegations made by Hasina; the reports carrying her message did not establish the merits of the individual cases or include a specific official response to her latest accusations.
Hasina cited the Awami League’s 2024 election manifesto, which promised a national minority commission and legislation to protect minority communities. She invoked secularism, equality and freedom of worship as principles that should underpin the treatment of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians alike.
Concerns about festival security have also been raised by organizations within Bangladesh. At an October 2, 2026, press conference, the Bangladesh Jatiya Hindu Mohajote alleged attacks on temples and threats against Hindus, saying insecurity had prompted some community members to consider leaving the country.
The organization demanded a minority protection law, a minority commission and a central monitoring cell for Durga Puja security. It also sought government-funded CCTV cameras at permanent and temporary worship venues, alongside impartial investigations into deaths involving members of the community.
Authorities, meanwhile, have announced an extensive security operation covering nearly 33,000 puja venues. The inspector general of police, Ali Hossain Fakir, said arrangements would cover preparations, the celebrations and idol immersion, and the period after the festival.
The plan includes uniformed and plainclothes officers, specialist response teams and bomb disposal units, supported by round-the-clock monitoring cells. Police have also been instructed to respond swiftly to rumours, propaganda and misleading images circulated online that could provoke communal tensions.
Separately, the Special Response Battalion 2 announced patrols, checkpoints, intelligence surveillance and a control room, with two helicopters and drones planned for immersion day. Its commander, Naimul Hasan, said attempts to disrupt communal harmony would face firm action, while an incident-reporting app would allow worshippers to alert law enforcement directly.
The concerns have a documented background extending beyond the current political exchanges. An August 2025 assessment by the European Union Agency for Asylum, drawing on UN findings and other reporting, recorded widespread attacks on Hindu homes, businesses and places of worship following Hasina’s fall.
That assessment described overlapping motives, including religious and ethnic prejudice, political revenge, property disputes and personal conflicts, rather than a single explanation for every incident. It also noted that Hindus were frequently associated with the Awami League, making perceived political allegiance an additional source of vulnerability during the upheaval.
Hindus accounted for approximately 8 per cent of Bangladesh’s population in the 2022 census, and Durga Puja is celebrated at thousands of temporary and permanent venues nationwide. Police have instructed officers to maintain contact with religious representatives and visit festival sites frequently as the celebrations approach.