Bangladesh stands at a precarious crossroads ahead of February’s national elections, where minority Hindus are the prime targets of a meticulously crafted extremist campaign. Leaked intelligence exposes politicians weaponizing hatred to consolidate power through division.
Last week’s secret gathering of party leaders mapped out violence provocation, enlisting jihadist sympathizers for street-level enforcement. Intelligence Bureau veterans describe it as a ‘blueprint for electoral mayhem,’ with minorities in the crosshairs.
Traditional campaign planks are sidelined for a barrage of anti-India, anti-Hindu propaganda. Falsehoods portray Hindus as foreign agents backed by Delhi, which allegedly harbors Sheikh Hasina. Her extradition demands mix with smears to ignite fury.
This ploy includes inventing crimes attributed to Hindus, priming communities for reprisals. Hasina’s shadow looms large, her ‘pro-India’ tag a rallying cry for detractors.
Though broad swathes of Bangladeshis prefer Indian partnerships, cynical leaders gamble on faith-based mobilization. Jamaat-e-Islami reaps dividends from the frenzy.
Generations of targeted harassment have eroded Hindu demographics. Today’s peril is amplified by overt pushes for Islamic governance over secular norms. Families huddle in dread, eyeing escape routes.
Frontier areas, sensitized by Yunus’s administration and Jamaat influence, brace for influxes. Analysts foresee unrelenting assaults through election day, risking irreversible communal fractures and regional spillover.