US President Donald Trump is likely to reject Iran’s new Peace proposal, which offers three key points, including removing blockade of Strait of Hormuz while postponing discussions on Tehran’s nuclear programme for the later stage. US President Donald Trump has indicated that he is likely to
Being regularly active can improve your mental well-being, reduce your chances of disease and increase your lifespan. The World Health Organization recommends that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity (brisk walking, easy cycling) or at least 75 minutes of vigorous activity (running
For many chess champions, a sister made the opening moveIn 2024, Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa became the first brother-sister duo to play in the Candidates Tournament. Published on: Apr 29, 2026 7:49 AM IST By Susan NInan, Bengaluru Share via Copy link Vaishali Rameshbabu’s love for watching
President Trump has nominated G. Hunter McMaster II as Assistant Treasury Secretary for Financial Markets, a role he has been performing since July. McMaster, formerly trading chief at Key Square Group, previously served as Director of Policy and Planning and counselor to the Treasury Secretary
Bengaluru buyer eyes 33-year-old Old Madras Road flat for ₹1.4 crore: ‘Is it a good investment?’A potential homebuyer shared a list of questions about a 33-year-old property priced at ₹1.4 crore. It is located on Bengaluru’s Old Madras Road. Published on: Apr 29
How Bangladesh’s embattled Hindus are going to vote in the first post-Hasina elections
I met Tarun Sarkar* in Jagannath Hall, Dhaka University's hostel for Hindu students. I was to interview him about the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, the first after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was deposed in 2024.
“We can chat over lunch in one of the student messes,” Sarkar, 28, a former student of Dhaka University said. “But first let me give you a tour of Jagannath Hall. It is a historic place.”
The first spot Sarkar took me was a memorial for the students and professors of Jagannath Hall massacred by the Pakistan Army in 1971. One hundred and forty people – students, professors and staff – were killed as Pakistan began Operation Searchlight, their genocidal military crackdown on the territory that was then called East Pakistan.
On August 5, 2024, after Hasina fled to Delhi, Sarkar said mobs entered Jagannath Hall and vandalised a statue of Bangladesh's first prime minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, located right by the memorial.
“This place [Jaganath Hall] shed blood so that East Pakistan could become Bangladesh,” he said. “Those people want to make Bangladesh East Pakistan again.”
He disagreed with the popular triumphalist narrative around the July uprising that unseated Hasina. “For minorities, the past 18 months has been a very difficult time,” Sarkar said. “Most Bangladeshis might look forward to the election, but for Hindus, it is a very tough decision. We will vote under a pall of fear.”
Sheikh Hasina's 16-year long reign was marked by widespread allegations of authoritarianism and fixed elections. When a student-led uprising toppled her ministry, she fled to Delhi. The interim government that took power after her, banned her party, the Awami League.
For much of Bangladesh's history, the country has been a political duopoly. The Awami League, which led the country's fight for freedom, broadly stood for a secular Bengali nationalism while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, championed a sort of Bangladeshi Muslim nationalism. With the Awami League gone, the Islamist party that had supported Pakistan in 1971, the Jamaat-e-Islami, has gone from being a niche outfit electorally to being a serious competitor to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Traditionally, Bangladeshi Hindus have supported the Awami League. This even though Sarkar says the party actually failed to stop the rise of the Islamist right. “The Awami never protected us physically,” he said. “We saw constant riots under Hasina's rule. The only thing they gave us, to some extent, were jobs. Now even that will end.”
Thirty-year-old Tapti Adhikari* described Hasina's treatment of Islamists as a “betrayal of the country”. Hasina could easily have finished off the Islamists if she wanted, Adhikari contended, but “instead, she tried to finish off the BNP”.
In spite of these imperfections, the Awami League still enjoys wide support among Bangladeshi Hindus. “The development that Hasina did, Bangladesh has never seen anything like it,” Saurabh Ghosh*, a 71-year-old resident of Dhaka said. “She created an economic miracle. There was no hunger, Bangladeshis had work. See the slowdown after she left.”
He is angry that the Awami League is banned from contesting the polls, claiming that if it were allowed, it would get 40% of the vote. “That is what they [the interim government] are scared of,” he said.
With the Awami League banned from the ballot, where the Hindu vote will go is a burning question. “We would actually like to boycott the election,” said Ranjan Karmakar of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council. “And many Hindus will. They will pretend to go to the booth, to not attract attention, but then not vote and come back.”
We have always voted for a secular Bangladesh, he said. “But there is no such force like that in this election at all.”
Most people I spoke to, though, were not in favour of boycotting the election. Instead, they argued that Hindus must vote strategically to stop the Jamaat.
“Hindus will vote BNP in fear of the Jamaat because if Jamaat comes to power, our lives will be in danger,” Tarun Sarkar said. “And even if there are no killings, Hindus will be economically suppressed. No jobs will be given to Hindus.”
Hindu leaders claim that Bangladesh's 8% Hindus can influence almost 100 out of 300 seats up for election. So if the Awami League's minority vote were to move to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, that would be a significant shot in the arm for the party.
To help along this shift, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is moving to the centre. Campaign material put out by the party prominently features not only religious but also non-Bengali ethnic minorities. “The BNP is trying to occupy the Awami's secular space and is moving from being a right of centre party to a more centrist party,” said Tapti Adhikari.
Along with a parliamentary election, Bangladesh is also conducting a referendum to reform its constitution. Most measures are meant to weaken the power of the government, putting in place many more powers for the Opposition – a move that observers say will help the Jamaat, which is widely expected to be the main opposition party.
For minorities, however, what is particularly worrying is that the referendum removes the word “secularism” from the constitution and replaces it with the more milquetoast “pluralism”.
“How can we ever vote ‘yes' on the referendum?” Ranjan Karmakar asked. “It will be like cutting our own necks.”
However, a “no” vote also carries risk. “Since the interim government is itself campaigning for ‘yes', we are under pressure,” he explained. “ If we vote ‘no', minorities will be seen as traitors and violently targeted. So we are on the horns of a dilemma.”
Karmakar's statement shows that whom to vote for is the lesser worry for many Bangladeshi Hindus. A greater concern is the possibility of post-election violence, especially in rural Bangladesh. Already, the fall of Hasina was followed by widespread attacks on minorities, both Hindus as well as the country's largely Buddhist tribal communities.
In Gopalganj town, around three hours south of Dhaka, Arup Basak* says that he fears high levels of post poll violence as well as land grabbing once the election gets over. “Already, there is a crackdown here because Gopalganj is seen as an Awami hub,” he explained. “But right now they don't want to mar the election. So we are scared that [violence] will come after.”
Basak was so wary of the attention that meeting an Indian journalist would bring in Gopalganj that he refused to meet me in person and instead spoke over the phone.
Sukriti Kumar Mondal, head of what he claims is Bangladesh's only party that represents Hindus, the Bangladesh Minority Janata Party, disagreed with calls to boycott the vote. “People sitting in Dhaka don't know anything,” he said. “We will have to vote to protect ourselves. We will vote for anyone, BNP or Jamaat, who can assure us of protection after the elections.”
Saurabh Ghosh bitterly described the elections an “excuse” to perpetrate violence on minorities. “If we vote for a party and it loses, the winners target us,” he said, referring to anti-Hindu violence following the 2001 Parliamentary elections in which workers of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party attacked Hindus because they were seen as having voted for the Awami League.
“And even if our party wins, then also it does not save us from being targeted,” Ghosh said, referring to various instances of anti-Hindu violence during the past 16 years of Awami rule.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: Two killed in West Karbi Anglong amid protests seeking eviction of Hindi speakers Met Gala 2026 theme unveiled ahead of opening of The Met’s new fashion galleries Ram Gopal Varma announces ‘Sarkar 4’ Third-Year BTech Student Found Dead At Hostel Room Of Private University In Gurugram 4 Indian students injured in stabbing at Russian University hostel in Ufa Nita Ambani Is Resplendent In A Tarun Tahiliani Jamawar Saree For Gir Temple Inauguration Who Is Tarun Garg BJP appoints Tarun Chugh as central observer for election of Manipur legislature party leader Why Brittany Mahomes just entered University of Texas Hall of Fame Dhaka university students scream as escalator suddenly speeds up
May 2026 Horoscope: How the 2 Full Moons this month may impact each zodiac signAccording to an astrologer, when a month holds two full moons, the effect is not just doubled, it is layered. Read on to know their astrological significance. Published on: Apr 28
59 minutes ago
Kim Jong Un has praised North Korean soldiers who killed themselves by detonating their grenades while fighting for Russia against Ukraine, confirming a long-suspected battlefield policy. In a speech this week, the North Korean leader said those who "unhesitatingly opted for self-blasting
59 minutes ago
Do bhai, dono tabahi…Fitzpatricks give a literal meaning to the trending taglineMatt and Alex Fitzpatrick lit up the golf scene last week, picking up a fourth title for the family in a seven-week stretch Published on: Apr 29, 2026 8:00 AM IST By Joy Chakravarty Share via Copy link It’s probably
59 minutes ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Thinking of going big with your next TV? These 10 75 inch smart TVs bring the theatre homeA 75 inch smart TV offer an immersive viewing experience with large screens
59 minutes ago
Reliance Jio has introduced a new prepaid plan of Rs 459. This plan gives the user several advantages other than data and calls. This plan provides 2 GB per day for 28 days, including an additional 5 GB of bonus. This plan will be suitable for users who enjoy watching movies or playing games on
59 minutes ago
The Chhattisgarh Board of Secondary Education (CGBSE) is set to announce the Class 10 and Class 12 results tomorrow, April 29 at 2:30pm on the official websites — cgbse.nic.in and results.cg.nic.in. The results will also be available on LiveMint as well
59 minutes ago
Sugar-free products with sugar. ‘Real’ juices with artificial ingredients. Misleading food ads are fuelling a public health crisis in India. Help Scroll expose the systemic failure. Support our investigation.Sugar-free products with sugar. ‘Real’ juices with artificial ingredients
59 minutes ago
Rs 3034 crore assets of Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group of Companies attached by ED in a fresh order. ED attached the RCOM and RInfra assets, including a flat in Mumbai, a farmhouse in Khandala and Rs 7.71 crore shares of R-Infra. According to the officials
59 minutes ago
One of these films is a comedy which will go on floors in January 2027. Good news for fans of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan’s collaborations! The actor and the director are all set to make two more films after Bhooth Bangla and Haiwaan. Their previous collaborations include Hera Pheri
59 minutes ago
Manchester City faces a demanding schedule. Three games in seven days will decide their domestic treble hopes. They play Crystal Palace, then Chelsea in the FA Cup final. Finally, they visit Bournemouth. This run is vital for their title race with Arsenal
59 minutes ago
New Delhi: Delhi to witness five dry days between May and September this year. The government directed that the sale of liquor will remain prohibited across the capital during this period, in accordance with the Delhi Excise Rules, 2010.New Delhi: Delhi to witness five dry days between May and
59 minutes ago
The draft electric vehicle policy issued by the Delhi government on April 11 aims to promote electrification for vehicles through a mix of incentives, road-tax waivers and restrictions on new registrations of vehicles that use petrol and diesel. However
59 minutes ago
Every once in a while a match comes along that reminds us all why football is referred to as the beautiful game. Paris St-Germain's record-breaking 5-4 Champions League semi-final first-leg victory over Bayern Munich was one such occasion. It was the highest scoring semi-final since Eintracht
59 minutes ago
Jio Recharge Plans: If you are someone who uses a Jio SIM card, then there is some important information for you. Recent reports suggest that the telecom giant might be quietly cutting off connections of SIM cards that are solely used for the purpose of incoming calls; many users have already
59 minutes ago
2026 Honda City Facelift Details: The Honda City was introduced in India in 1998, and it has remained a popular sedan in the country ever since. The 5th generation of the popular sedan was launched in the country in 2020, and the brand is all set to launch the 2026 Honda City Facelift on May 22
59 minutes ago
No laxity in complaint handling, MCG chief tells officialsAt a review meet, officials were told to avoid superficial closure of complaints, submit timely reports, and monitor pending cases; AI-based Road Athena cited as a best practice. Published on: Apr 29
59 minutes ago
5 things to keep in mind when choosing a career path after Class 10Staying open-minded, patient, and curious will help you make better decisions over time. Simple things to keep in mind while making this important decision. Updated on: Apr 28
59 minutes ago
Reliance Industries is reportedly set to invest ₹1.6 lakh crore, or more than $17 billion, to build a 1.5-gigawatt data centre cluster and a captive solar battery storage system in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The project is expected to become India’s largest data centre cluster
59 minutes ago
India’s microfinance sector expanded steadily in the March quarter even as lenders tightened credit filters, with asset quality improving to record levels, according to a report by Equifax. The sector’s total portfolio outstanding rose 5% quarter-on-quarter to ₹3
59 minutes ago
Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet have told the Union government that the country’s aviation sector is on the verge of “stopping operations”, and have sought a revision in aviation turbine fuel prices amid the conflict in West Asia, PTI reported on Tuesday.Air India
59 minutes ago
With the cinematic debut of the Mandalorian and his sidekick Grogu and the return of the iconic Miranda Priestly, these are the films to watch at the cinema and stream at home this month. In George Orwell's novella, a farm is taken over by its four-legged inhabitants
59 minutes ago
The Trump administration is scrambling to implement new, more durable tariffs after the Supreme Court struck down previous ones. Hearings are underway to investigate forced labor and overproduction by trading partners, with potential for new import taxes to replace expiring temporary levies and
59 minutes ago
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Monday released its final guidelines on asset classification and provisioning for lenders, marking a significant shift toward a more forward-looking risk assessment framework. The rules, which were first proposed in draft form in October last year
59 minutes ago
Buddha Purnima 2026: Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima is a highly sacred festival in Buddhism, celebrated to commemorate the birth, enlightenment, and Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha. This day holds profound spiritual significance for millions of Buddhist followers across the globe
59 minutes ago
Lenovo has finally launchee the new Idea Tab Pro Gen 2 in India with a 13-inch 3.5K display, latest Qualcomm processor and some new AI features. The new tablet is designed for creators and professionals and will take on the likes of recently launched Xiaomi Pad 8 and the upcoming OnePlus Pad 4
59 minutes ago
Karisma Kapoor requests paparazzi ‘zyada zoom mat karna’ during India’s Best Dancer shoot; internet reactsKarisma Kapoor grabbed attention after a video from India’s Best Dancer Season 5 sets showed her politely asking paparazzi not to zoom in. Apr 29, 2026
59 minutes ago
The petitioner alleged that Sharma, often nicknamed the "Singham of UP" for his record as an encounter specialist, has abandoned the neutrality required of an Election Commission (ECI) observer. New Delhi: In a dramatic escalation of the electoral battle for West Bengal
59 minutes ago
