Following the removal of Sheikh Hasina from power in Bangladesh after a student-led uprising, reports emerged in Indian media outlets claiming that Hindu minorities in the country were being targeted by “Islamist forces”. However, these reports were found to be misleading and inaccurate. The reports suggested that there were mass murders and attacks on Hindus, but Al Jazeera independently verified that only two Hindus had been killed since Hasina’s ouster.
Hindus make up about 8 percent of Bangladesh’s population and have traditionally supported the secular Awami League party. Many Indian media reports contained exaggerated claims and unsubstantiated allegations, including suggestions that more than 10 million refugees would enter West Bengal and that the uprising was orchestrated by enemies of Bangladesh.
Local reports revealed that attacks on Hindu households were politically motivated rather than religiously driven. A leader of the Hindu community in Bangladesh confirmed that Hindu homes were only targeted if they had connections to the Awami League. Images of Muslims standing guard in front of Hindu temples and homes to protect them have circulated widely on social media, indicating solidarity between different religious groups in Bangladesh.
While there have been genuine concerns about attacks on Hindu establishments, the Indian media have been criticized for exaggerating and sensationalizing the situation. Some media outlets have been accused of using the Bangladesh unrest to further anti-Muslim rhetoric. The reporting has caused alarm in India, with calls for the protection of Hindus, despite the fact that Muslims and Hindus have been working together to safeguard religious sites in Bangladesh.
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