Dhaka, Jan 19 (NationPress) The Chief Advisor of Bangladesh's interim government, Muhammad Yunus, revealed on Monday that police documentation from January to December 2025 recorded a total of 645 incidents involving minority groups. Out of these, only 71 incidents were classified as communal, while the remaining 574 incidents were deemed non-communal.

Yunus emphasized that the data indicates that the majority of incidents were of a criminal nature rather than communal. He noted that most occurrences affecting minorities or their properties stemmed from criminal activities that were unrelated to religion.

"Bangladesh is dedicated to addressing crime with openness, precision, and determination. A comprehensive review of police records over the year 2025 shows 645 incidents involving minority community members, compiled from authenticated First Information Reports, General Diaries, charge sheets, and ongoing investigations across the nation. While every incident warrants attention, the data clearly illustrates that the vast majority of cases were criminal rather than communal, highlighting the complexities of law and order, and the necessity of basing public discourse on facts rather than fear or misinformation," Yunus expressed in a report shared on X regarding 'Incidents Affecting Minority Communities and the Broader Law and Order Situation in Bangladesh (January–December 2025)'.

Furthermore, the findings revealed that the 71 communal incidents primarily involved acts of vandalism or desecration of religious sites and idols, alongside a limited number of other offenses. Conversely, the majority of incidents impacting minority individuals or properties were attributed to criminal activities unrelated to religious matters, such as neighborhood disputes, land conflicts, political rivalries, theft, sexual violence, and cases stemming from personal grievances," he added.

Yunus asserted that these crimes necessitate accountability. However, he highlighted that the data illustrates that most incidents involving minority victims were not fueled by communal animosity but rather by criminal and social issues. The statement confirmed that numerous cases were officially registered, with arrests made in many investigations and ongoing inquiries in others.

At the national level, Bangladesh continues to grapple with significant law-and-order challenges. Each year, an estimated 3,000-3,500 individuals lose their lives to violent crime across the country. This alarming statistic is a cause for concern, as every life lost represents a tragedy, and no society should remain complacent in light of such figures. However, these statistics must be contextualized, as violent crime impacts all communities, transcending religion, ethnicity, and geography," the statement on X noted.

Notably, there has been a rise in attacks against the Hindu community in Bangladesh since the establishment of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

Recently, a Hindu man was fatally assaulted in the Gazipur district of Bangladesh after he attempted to protect a teenage employee from an attack, according to local media reports citing police officials. This incident has sparked outrage in the local community and has raised renewed concerns regarding violence against Hindu minorities in the nation.

The victim, identified as 55-year-old Liton Chandra Ghosh, also known as Kali, was the owner of a sweetshop named Baishakhi Sweetmeat and Hotel on Baranagar Road, where the incident unfolded, as reported by the leading Bangladeshi newspaper, The Daily Star. Ghosh was present at the shop when a dispute arose on January 17.

According to police officials and eyewitness accounts, the altercation began around 11 am when a 28-year-old man, Masum Mia, entered the sweetshop and engaged in a verbal disagreement over a trivial matter with a 17-year-old shop employee, Ananta Das. What commenced as a discussion quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, media reports indicated.

Shortly after the brawl erupted, Masum Mia's parents, Mohammad Swapan Mia, 55, and Majeda Khatun, 45, arrived at the scene and allegedly joined the assault. The situation further deteriorated as the trio reportedly attacked others present at the shop.

Liton Ghosh intervened in an effort to protect Ananta Das and de-escalate the situation. However, he also fell victim to the violence during the altercation. Reports indicate he was struck on the head with a shovel, sustaining severe injuries and dying instantly. Local residents rushed to the scene following the attack, apprehended Masum Mia along with his parents, and later turned them over to the police.

Kaliganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Zakir Hossain confirmed the incident to The Daily Star, stating that the three suspects are in custody.

On January 16, Ripon Saha, who worked at a fuel station, was tragically killed by a car while attempting to prevent the vehicle from leaving the petrol pump without paying for fuel. The car reportedly ran over him before fleeing the scene.