Come Down Hard On Religiophobia

The vandalism, loot and attack on Dhaka's Iskcon Radhakanta temple on March 17 must be unequivocally condemned. This attack, on the day before Dol Yatra/Holi, follows a disturbing pattern of festival-time attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, the last large ones being reported in October 2021 during Durga Puja. The Bangladesh government must take action against the perpetrators and ensure the security of all minorities. The irony of the latest attack coming two days after India made a statement on the UN resolution for an International Day to combat Islamophobia that singling out hatred against one religion is constrictive. What should be fought is phobia towards all religions, especially minority faiths, including non-Abrahamic ones.

Bangladesh's Hindu population has been steadily declining - from 20% in the early 1970s to 8-9% in 2011. Since 1977, when secularism was removed from its Constitution, Islam has been its state religion. In 2010, the Bangladesh Supreme Court ruled the deletion illegal, restoring secularism in its Constitution guaranteeing freedom of all faiths even as Islam remains the state religion. But minorities, particularly Hindus, remain targets. Despite directives by prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Islamicists continue to be a force in Bangladeshi politics. A study by economist Abul Barkat finds nearly 2 lakh Hindus having lost 22 lakh acres of land and property between 2001 and 2007, half of the nation's GDP at that time.

Ensuring security and freedom of minorities - whether for Hindus in Bangladesh, Shias in Pakistan, Christians in Sri Lanka or Muslims in Myanmar and India - is critical for the stability and growth in the region. India must work with its neighbours to come down hard on all forms of religiophobia.