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Dhaka: A total of 257 incidents of communal violence were reported across Bangladesh during the first six months of 2026, from January 1 to June 30, according to the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC).
The organisation also claimed that 261 people became victims of communal violence during the period.
The information was disclosed at a press conference held on Monday at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Hall of the National Press Club in Dhaka.
According to the Unity Council, the data was compiled from reports published by various news media outlets as well as information collected through its own sources.
44 People Killed in 40 Incidents
Monindra Kumar Nath, Acting General Secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, presented the organisation's written statement at the press conference.
He said 44 people were killed in 40 separate incidents during the first six months of the year.
The council also reported five incidents of violence against women, including allegations of rape and gang rape.
According to the organisation, 62 incidents involved attacks, vandalism and looting at places of worship. It also reported 15 incidents involving alleged land grabbing connected to places of worship.
In addition, the council claimed that 47 incidents involved attacks, vandalism, looting and arson targeting homes and business establishments.
There were also 10 reported incidents involving abduction, extortion demands and torture, while nine incidents involved arrests and alleged torture over accusations of hurting religious sentiments.
The organisation further reported 21 incidents of forcible land grabbing, while six other incidents were categorised as miscellaneous.
Unity Council Announces Eight-Point Demand
Alongside presenting the statistics, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council placed an eight-point demand before the government and called for urgent measures to ensure the safety and security of religious minorities, ethnic minorities and small ethnic communities.
The organisation urged the government to treat provocative and religiously hateful statements, as well as the spreading of rumours, as “harmful acts” under the Special Powers Act and take legal action against those responsible.
The council also called for the immediate cancellation of the candidacies of individuals involved in such activities and demanded that religious minorities and members of small ethnic communities be recognised as “more vulnerable populations.”
Key Demands
The eight-point demands include:
Enacting a Minority Protection Act.
Establishing a National Minority Commission.
Establishing a Ministry for Minorities.
Removing bureaucratic complexities in implementing the Vested Property Act and returning land to rightful owners in accordance with court verdicts.
Reserving 60 parliamentary seats for minorities, to be filled through direct voting by minority communities.
Enacting an Anti-Discrimination Act.
Properly implementing the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord.
Declaring three government holidays for Durga Puja, one day for Probarana Purnima and one day for Easter Sunday
Call for a Secular and Non-Communal Bangladesh
Ranjan Karmakar, a member of the council's presidium, said the organisation wants to see a non-communal and secular Bangladesh.
He said no one should have their religious sentiments hurt because of the activities of communal forces.
Nirmal Rozario, a vice president of the council, expressed hope that the government would conduct proper investigations into allegations of persecution and violence against minorities.
“We want peace. We do not like to protest constantly,” he said, adding that continued attacks on minorities could lead the organisation to announce larger protest programmes.
Rozario also said they have confidence that the government would properly investigate incidents involving alleged persecution of minorities.
The press conference was moderated by the council's Organising Secretary Dipankar Ghosh. Presidium members Kajal Debnath, Sunanda Priya Bhikkhu and other leaders of the organisation were also present.
Editor’s Note: The figures and allegations in this report are based on information presented by the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council. Independent verification of all reported incidents was not indicated in the organisation’s statement.
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