'Their Islamist Ideas...': Ex-Bangladesh Minister Hits Out Over Attacks on Hindus And Christians

Former Bangladesh Information Minister Mohammad Ali Arafat warned of worsening attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. He said radical Islamist forces are targeting Hindu homes, businesses, shrines, and other communities, aiming to eliminate diversity and impose dominance. Arafat described the July 2024 events as a full-scale insurgency against Sheikh Hasina’s government and called the perpetrators ideological descendants of 1971 collaborators who helped the Pakistani army kill three million people. He added that these groups hold grudges against the Awami League and India. Claiming the government seeks to hand power to the BNP and calling elections a “show,” Arafat highlighted ongoing attacks on cultural institutions and religious minorities. He vowed to restore democracy and prevent Bangladesh from descending into destruction.